Brunch in Bloom

Birthday celebrations in Dubai often come with lofty expectations. There are rooftop venues, extravagant buffets and brunches where the spectacle occasionally overshadows the food. For Jason’s birthday this year, however, we find Brunch in Bloom refreshingly different.

Tucked within the DoubleTree by Hilton at Jumeirah Beach Residence, Gastro Kitchen’s Brunch in Bloom reimagines the beloved Dubai brunch with a gentler touch. Rather than endless buffet stations and crowded dining rooms, the experience unfolds across four carefully curated courses delivered directly to our table. It is a brunch designed to be savoured rather than conquered.

On a warm afternoon overlooking JBR, we settle into our seats and prepare for several leisurely hours of eating, drinking and doing very little else.

First Blossoms

The opening course arrives as a colourful collection of appetisers, each showcasing the kitchen’s “fresh is best” philosophy.

There is ceviche mixto with prawns, octopus, sea bass and aji amarillo tiger milk; pickled bell pepper, beef cesina and buffalo mozzarella sourdough flatbread; corn and cheese empanadas with salsa olivada; slow-cooked honey miso soy chicken wings; and a local multicoloured heirloom tomato salad with burrata and date vinaigrette.

Every dish is beautifully presented, but two stand out immediately.

The ceviche is vibrant and bright, the seafood delicate and perfectly chilled beneath a generous drizzle of aji amarillo tiger milk. Each spoonful delivers a lively balance of citrus, spice and freshness. Equally memorable is the heirloom tomato and burrata salad. Sweet local tomatoes paired effortlessly with creamy burrata and the subtle richness of a date vinaigrette. It is simple, seasonal and utterly delicious.

As we linger over the first course, I am already well into what becomes my drink of the afternoon: the Indigo Gimlet. Made with Tanqueray gin, blueberry liqueur, basil leaves, red apple juice and tonic water, it somehow manages to be sweet yet savoury, indulgent yet refreshing. It is one of those cocktails that keeps revealing new layers with every sip.

Garden Greens

The second course invites guests to select from a range of salads and grain bowls. We chose the Blooming Greens and Nature’s Grains.

Each arrives with a choice of dressing and an accompanying protein. While the additions were perfectly prepared, the dishes themselves were substantial enough to stand on their own. Next time, I would happily skip the protein altogether and allow the fresh vegetables and grains to take centre stage.

By this point, the pace of the brunch had settled into something wonderfully relaxed. There is no rush between courses, no pressure to move on to the next dish. Instead, we find ourselves doing what brunch should encourage: talking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company as much as the food.

Mains in Bloom

For the main course, I select the beef antichuchos while Jason opts for the truffle honey mustard grilled lamb chops.

The antichuchos arrive skewered and lightly charred, accompanied by a vibrant chimichurri. The beef is tender and smoky, while the herbaceous sauce delivers a bright burst of flavour that lifts every bite. Across the table, Jason’s lamb chops disappear with impressive speed, always a reliable sign of approval.

Alongside the mains comes a collection of side bites: broccolini with almond butter, buttered local carrots, spicy potatoes and a mini corn and basil casserole. Thankfully, the portions are sensible. Large enough to sample everything, yet restrained enough to avoid excessive food waste that often accompanies oversized brunch servings.

The standout is undoubtedly the corn and basil casserole. Slightly sweet, wonderfully comforting and unexpectedly moreish, it is the sort of dish that lingers in your memory long after the meal has finished.

By now, I am firmly at capacity. Jason kindly volunteers to finish my final skewer and we sit back to enjoy a brief pause before dessert.

A Quiet Afternoon

One of the most surprising aspects of the afternoon is how peaceful it feels. Only a handful of tables are occupied inside the restaurant, with a few more guests relaxing around the pool outside. For Dubai brunch standards, it is remarkably subdued. On another day, a quieter atmosphere might have diminished the experience. Here, it works to enhance it.

The service remains impeccable throughout. Attentive without being intrusive, friendly without ever feeling forced. Today Gastro Kitchen feels less like a bustling brunch venue and more like a hidden neighbourhood gem.

Floral Treats

Eventually, curiosity overcomes fullness and dessert menus are consulted.

Jason selects the pistachio and kunafa chocolate pot, while I can’t resist the crepe served with cardamom ice cream, berries and figs.

The chocolate pot arrives with its own mallet, inviting a moment of playful brunch theatre as I do the honors of cracking through the shell to reveal the treasures inside.

My crepe is elegant and beautifully balanced, but it is the cardamom ice cream that steals the show. Intensely aromatic and packed with flavour, it delivers one of the boldest cardamom experiences I’ve encountered. Somehow, the delicate crepe and fresh fruit soften its intensity, creating a dessert that feels both sophisticated and comforting.

Poolside Until Sunset

With brunch complete, we migrate poolside where the celebration continues in the most relaxed way imaginable.

I settle into a lounger with my book and uninterrupted views towards Ain Dubai. Jason orders a beer and begins researching ideas for our upcoming summer holiday. Between chapters and travel plans, we slip into the pool whenever the afternoon heat becomes too much.

Hours pass almost unnoticed.

The sun gradually sinks behind the skyline, the crowds thin, and the golden light gives way to evening. Still, neither of us seem particularly eager to leave.

Perhaps that’s the true measure of a successful brunch. Not simply the quality of the food or drinks, although both were excellent, but the way it encourages you to slow down and savour a day that might otherwise rush by.

For Jason’s birthday, Gastro Kitchen delivers exactly that. A leisurely afternoon of exceptional food, thoughtful cocktails, attentive service and the luxury of having absolutely nowhere else to be.

Good To Know

Brunch in Bloom is served at Gastro Kitchen, Double Tree by Hilton, JBR. Timing is 1pm – 4pm Saturdays. Packages from AED199 includes 4 course set menu, unlimited drinks with pool and beach access.

Would I Return?

Yes.