During the UAE’s fresh sunny winters, the last thing you want to do is dine inside. But finding an outdoor brunch that offers the perfect balance of gorgeous views, lively vibes and, of course, delicious food and drink, can sometimes be harder than you might imagine.
Thankfully, the new Saturday brunch at African Lounge offers all the above, and more.
The Venue
Perched above Flamingo Room by tashas Abu Dhabi, the concept by the Tashas Group is like no other bar/restaurant in the city.
Inspired by the soul and spirit of Africa, the beautiful canopied interior instantly impresses. Like stepping into an African safari tent, and completed with luxury lifestyle boutique Collective Africa, you’ll struggle to find a venue that has a more powerful or immersive theme.
But, as lovely as the inside is, the terrace is the real star of this unique and exclusive hideaway.
Looking out over the blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, and with the statuesque skyline of Downtown in the distance, it really makes you pause and appreciate the beauty of Abu Dhabi.
Surrounded by greenery, shaded from the sun, and completed with vibrant colourful booths and quality outdoor furniture, it’s the ideal setting for an afternoon of leisurely dining and mingling.
While it’s quiet when we first arrive (we can never stand to be late for brunch), it soon fills up and the mood is upbeat and buzzing throughout.
The live DJ adds to the atmosphere, and the friendly staff provide superb service, too.
If you’re a cocktail lover, you’ll be delighted to know that the house package (AED 465 per person) includes Aperol Spritz, margaritas and other classics, and so there’s really no need to splash out on
the premium option – unless you fancy some refreshing bubbly, of course.
While some brunch beverages can feel a bit rushed and watered down, African Lounge serves up nothing but the best, and we never had to wait long before someone offered to top us up either.
The Food
I’ll admit, I expected this brunch to be more about drinks and ambiance than food. But I was pleasantly surprised.
As guests with hearty appetites, I also imagined that we might find the portions a bit on the small and delicate side, but in reality, the total opposite was true.
Presenting a choice of two starters and two mains per person, the servings were very generous, and we struggled to finish it all.
Everything we tried was absolutely superb, and we loved that the creative and interesting sharing-style dishes provided something different to your typical brunch signatures like sushi and calamari.
For example, we adorned the sweet-yet-salty miso-grilled aubergine, along with the spicy corn fritters and herb aioli. The hummus was delightful too, and its kimchi, red pepper and marinated cucumber topping made it unique to any other version we had tried before. All served with warm, freshly made flatbread, the appetisers were all genuinely faultless, providing the perfect start to the experience.
For the mains, we couldn’t resist trying the calamari Mozambique, a customer favourite at Flamingo Room by tashas. The sauce delivered a pleasant spicy kick, while the contrasting textures of the soft squid and crispy shoestring fries worked wonderfully.
The baked mac and cheese was another highlight. Cleverly baked into a pie with large rigatoni pasta, it presented a special and elegant take on one of the world’s most iconic comfort foods, while the mammoth chicken skewers were packed with juicy and tender meat and fresh veg.
Tasty, intricately presented, and not too heavy, it was a spectacular feast to go with our jaw-dropping views.
Although full to bursting by the end, we of course had room to test out the desserts.
Our favourite was the strawberry mille-feuille. Bringing a dash of French sophistication to the international menu, we loved its light and fruity layers, while the sticky toffee was an absolute treat, too.
The Verdict
Only launched in November, African Lounge offers one of the most exciting new brunches that the capital has seen in a long while.
Make sure you test it out soon while the weather is still at its most dreamy
