6 Reasons to Try Al Dawaar Revolving Restaurant & Lounge

When the people at Hyatt Regency Dubai told me a few months ago that their revolving restaurant was undergoing a makeover, naturally I was thrilled.  After all, Al Dawaar is one of my favorite fine dining places so I was excited to see how it would look like.  But of course I just knew it would be amazing. 

Fast forward to last Sunday, my family and I excitedly stepped into the hotel lobby of Deira's iconic hotel after receiving an invitation to try the dinner buffet at their newly renovated restaurant.  As soon as the doors opened on the 25th floor, I immediately saw the huge change.  Practically everything was different!  In a good way, of course.  I was impressed the entire time Ji Eun (Al Dawaar's Assistant Manager) showed us around as she explained the transformation it had gone through.

Here's a rundown of the major and fantastic changes I noticed, as well as the reasons why you should book your next meal there ASAP:

1) Ambiance. 
The solid white interiors, marbled walls, and touches of green gives the restaurant a more spacious and sophisticated colonial European feel to it.  And now, not only were there the regular tables and chairs, comfortable couches were available as well so you can sit back and relax while enjoying the food and views.

2) Live Kitchen and Buffet Spread. 
The food was still delicious as I remembered, but now with their live open kitchen, diners can actually see how the chefs prepare the food before serving them into the chafing dishes.

Usually the restaurant offers a mix of international cuisines, but because we visited on the last night of the holidays, we got to enjoy their Eid Al Adha dinner which was mostly Arabic food.  Of course Hubby was very happy when he saw the lamb ouzi ☺ Aside from their lavish buffet, they have daily specials you could ask to have especially cooked for you. From their choices that night, we tried the Prawn Risotto and Beef Tenderloin Medallion.  It took a while for them to be served, but fortunately the way they were perfectly cooked more than made up for it.

The walls that used to cover the entire middle  of the restaurant (where the kitchen was) had been taken down, so the spread was displayed in a way that people could easily see what was available, and allowed ample space for diners to walk around comfortably to get whatever they wanted. 

I honestly can't remember if there are more food options compared to before, but they were certainly arranged to make them look more appealing now.  Just look at this fresh seafood spread!

No need to guess which part caught the eyes of our little one! ☺

3) Bars. 
Another new addition to the restaurant were the two bars where you could get your fix of alcohol, cocktails, or whatever drink you fancy.  Each bar has its own wide assortment of beverages you could choose from. 

This bar was just near the seafood, sushi & maki area, and the other was near the open kitchen in the...

4) Smoking Room. 
Yes, you read right.  Al Dawaar now has a separate room where guests can escape for a few minutes to have their nicotine fix while enjoying some handcrafted cocktails as they sit on a bar stool, chair or couch.  You didn't think the restaurant added "Lounge" to its name for nothing, did you?☺

5) Service. 
I'm happy to discover that the quality of service by the staff didn't change.  Whenever we were done or just as we stepped away from the table, our server Anna promptly took our plates and folded our napkins, and our drinks were immediately replaced when the glasses were emptied.  Occasionally,  Ji Eun passed by our table to ask us how we were or if we needed anything else.  And to our girls' delight (because they didn't see any available on the buffet), Anna gave them ice-cream for dessert.

6)  The Amazing Views. 
This didn't change either, but I have to add this to the list because it's always my reason to visit Al Dawaar and, well, this should be one of, if not THE reason for anyone to try the only revolving restaurant and lounge in Dubai, right?  Whether you visit during the day or night, you are guaranteed to enjoy spectacular and breathtaking views of the city skyline, Burj Khalifa, the creek, and the sea.  All 360 degrees! ☺

So have I convinced you yet?  Book your next lunch, dinner or brunch at Hyatt Regency Dubai's rooftop restaurant now!
Lunch is served for Dhs179 per person (food only)
Dinner is served for Dhs199 per person (food only)
Friday brunch will start from September 15 and will be priced Dhs199 (including soft beverages, Dhs299 (including wines and beers), and Dhs499 (including champagne)

Disclaimer: We were invited to dine at Al Dawaar Revolving Restaurant & Lounge as guests.  However, all views and opinions are my own.

Al Dawaar Revolving Restaurant & Lounge
Hyatt Regency Dubai
Deira Corniche
Phone: 04-2096914