There is something quietly restorative about coming home. After an overseas interlude where copious amounts of Pad Thai and Singha were consumed barefoot on the beach, nothing says ’home’ quite like a Dubai brunch and Sushisamba delivers on every level.
This was not a dramatic, cinematic kind of return. Rather, a gentle easing back into familiar rhythm – school routine, morning coffee and the group chat that finally turns into a date in the diary. For us, that return took shape high above the city, on the 51st floor of the St. Regis Dubai, The Palm where Sushisamba sits perfectly alongside the refined elegance of the hotel.
It had been quite a while since we’d gathered like this: Charlotte and Rich, Jolie and JP, and the two of us. So when the idea of a brunch surfaced, it felt less like a casual outing and more like a small celebration. The kind that doesn’t need an occasion beyond good company and a table with a view.
And what company! And what a view it is!
A Table Above the City
Arriving at Sushisamba is part of the experience. We meet in the foyer waiting for the lift and it’s a delightful reunion already, warm greetings for good friends. From here the ascent alone – smooth, swift and slightly anticipatory- builds a sense of occasion. And as we’re shown to our table, we’re met with a panorama that stretches far beyond expectations.
From our table, Dubai unfolds in layers. In front of us to behold is the slow arc of the coastline, punctuated by the unmistakable silhouette of Ain Dubai rising over Jumeirah Beach Residence. Beyond that, the fronds of The Palm stretch to the hazy outline of the Gulf meeting the sky. Swing your gaze in the other direction and the city begins to reveal its icons. The Burj Al Arab stands proud against the water, and further still, the distant but unmistakable spire of the Burj Khalifa anchors the skyline.
It’s the kind of view that demands a pause.
The Rio Brunch: A Journey on a Plate
The Rio Brunch at Sushisamba is not your standard buffet affair. Instead, it’s a curated journey through Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian influences, a culinary identity that Sushisamba has refined into something both distinctive and cohesive.
The menu unfolds in waves.
It begins lightly, almost teasingly, with a Chef’s selection of sushi at the counter. We line up to make our choices of fresh maki, nigiri and sashimi – trays of delicate, precise and impossibly fresh morsels. There’s a quiet confidence in the way they are presented; no need for theatrics when the ingredients speak so clearly for themselves.
As we arrive back at the table, small plates of further selections have been laid out. These are designed to awaken the palate. Guacamole, salmon tiradito and Peruvian corn salad flavored with simple yet flavorful ingredients such as fresh herbs, ponzu and red chili.
Then comes more – Miso eggplant anticucho, Japanese A5 wagyu taquitos and my personal favorite, hamachi ceviche round off the selection. The flavors nod to Japanese cuisine with a delicacy and flavor that elevates even these refined traditions.
The conversation flows. Charlotte, ever the enthusiast, quickly steers us toward standout dishes with the confidence of someone who has done this before. Rich, meanwhile, is quietly methodical, ensuring he samples everything with equal diligence. Jolie and JP lean into the experience, embracing the variety and the pace, while we found ourselves somewhere in between, simply content to let the afternoon unfold organically.
By now, we have all settled on a favorite drink. Charlotte, Jolie & Jason happily sip the welcome cocktail and then move onto wine. Rich sticks to soft drink while JP & I work our way through the cocktails on offer: Sparkling Hanami, Bossa Nova, Coconut & Pandan and Samba Margarita. I give the Sparkling Hanami a miss but am happy to flip a coin amongst the other three. When we enquire further, it turns out that the Coconut & Pandan uses Cachaça, a distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice, the most popular spirit in Brazil. In the spirit of a Rio Bruch, I order another…
By the time the sharing plates of the main course arrive, our brunch has truly found its rhythm. Teriyaki BBQ chicken and dilectible fillets of black cod coated in a sticky sauce of white miso, hajikami and shichimi are placed in the centre of the table, encouraging that familiar, convivial choreography – passing plates, recommending favourites and insisting that ‘you must try this’! These are accompanies by sides of arroz chaufa, crispy cassava and chargrilled brocollini.
The Unexpected Star
If the savoury courses set the tone, the dessert course steels the show.
There is often an unspoken assumption with brunch, that dessert is an afterthought, a polite conclusion rather than a highlight. Sushisamba challenges that notion entirely.
The dessert selection is playful, indulgent and surprisingly refined. Think sharp citrus notes woven through delicate raspberry textures, creamy cheesecake made even more indulgent with crisp toffee and wafers, and cinnamon doughnuts that burst open to reveal a liquid caramel centre. All this plus presentations that feel almost too beautiful to disrupt – almost.
There’s a moment, somewhere between the second and third desserts, where the table collectively pauses again, not for the view this time, but for the realisation that this is the standout course of the day.
It’s rare for dessert to command that level of attention in a brunch setting. Rarer still for it to feel entirely deserved.
An Afternoon Rhythm
What sets a brunch apart is not just the food, but the pace.
At Sushisamba, the Rio Brunch strikes that balance effortlessly. There’s no rush, no sense of being turned over for the next sitting. Instead, the afternoon stretches comfortably, allowing conversations to ebb and flow naturally.
We talk about everything and nothing – the disruptions of the past couple of months, travel, work and half-formed ideas for the pending summer. There’s a particular ease that comes with long-standing friendships, where silence is as comfortable as conversation and laughter comes easily.
Outside, the light begins its slow shift. The sharp brightness of midday softens into something warmer, casting the city in a golden hue. The skyline, already impressive, takes on a new dimension as shadows lengthen and the first hints of evening began to emerge.
As the restaurant empties, we sip our final sips and move across the road to Jolie’s to extend the occasion into the evening.
A Sense of Occasion
There’s a tendency to reserve places like Sushisamba for special occasions—birthdays, anniversaries, visiting guests. And while it certainly lends itself to those moments, there’s something to be said for choosing it simply because you can.
Because sometimes, the occasion is the return itself. The return to routine, to friendship, to a city that continues to surprise you even when it’s familiar.
Brunch here doesn’t feel transactional. It feels intentional.
The service at Sushisamba mirrors the setting- polished, attentive, but never intrusive. Dishes arrive seamlessly, glasses are topped up without fuss, and there’s an intuitive understanding of when to engage and when to step back.
The atmosphere strikes a similar balance. It’s vibrant without being overwhelming, sophisticated without feeling formal. For us it’s deliberate pause in the week, a chance to reconnect – not just with each other, but with the place we call home.
Good To Know
Dubai is not short on brunch options. In fact, it’s one of the city’s defining social rituals. But standing out in a crowded field requires more than just good food or a great view.
It requires a sense of place which Sushisamba delivers that in abundance.
Located within the St. Regis Dubai, The Palm, on the Palm Jumeirah, access is straightforward via the hotel entrance, with valet parking available. The dedicated lift to the 51st floor adds to the sense of arrival.
The Rio Brunch typically runs on Saturdays and offers several package options, including non-alcoholic and alcoholic selections. Booking in advance is highly recommended, particularly for window tables, which offer the best views across the Dubai skyline.
Other Dubai brunches of note:
Would I Return?
Yes.
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