There are brunches, and then there’s Mangiamo at Ballarò Terrace; a love letter to indulgence written in the language of live music, flamboyant food stations, and the infectious clink of glasses.
The Venue
From the moment I stepped onto the sun-drenched terrace at Conrad Dubai, I knew this wasn’t going to be your average Saturday. The scent of wood-fired pizza and slow-grilled meats drifted through the air, mingling with the upbeat tempo of a live saxophonist serenading the afternoon crowd. It wasn’t long before I was immersed in a spirited, almost cinematic celebration of gastronomy.
Mangiamo, Italian for “let’s eat”, is precisely that: an uninhibited invitation to feast. Whether you’re gathering with friends, spending time with family, or enjoying a leisurely afternoon with your partner, this brunch is designed to bring people together over an extraordinary fare and vibrant entertainment.
Food Highlights
The selection is nothing short of breathtaking. There’s a live pasta station where silky, golden strands are tossed to order, a pizza station turning out bubbling creations straight from a wood-fired oven, and a burrata station offering the creamiest bites you can imagine. Fresh seafood glistens on ice at another corner; a sprawling cheese station tempts you with wedges of gorgonzola and parmesan, and a rustic bread table displays crusty loaves worthy of a countryside picnic. There’s even a carpaccio station for those who love delicate, melt-in-the-mouth textures, and an ice cream bar for cooling off between courses.
If you’re the kind of person who judges a brunch by its dessert table (guilty), Mangiamo raises the bar. A dazzling, almost dreamlike spread of tiramisu, cannolis, and pastries is laid out like tiny works of art, almost too pretty to eat. Almost, because resistance was utterly futile. This was hands down the widest array of desserts I’ve ever come across at a brunch, and each bite was more irresistible than the last.
The Verdict
From 1 PM to 5 PM might sound like a marathon, but trust me, you’ll be eating and loving every bite for the full four hours. Just when you think you need a little breather, the live performances swoop in to lift the energy again: DJs spinning lively sets, singers surprising the crowd, and even staff armed with Polaroid cameras offering fun photo ops to capture the day’s joy. It felt less like a brunch and more like a chapter from a particularly stylish Italian summer.
Mangiamo isn’t just a brunch; it’s a slice of la dolce vita, brought to life in the heart of Dubai. Come hungry, come curious, and come ready to stay a while, because at this brunch, there’s no rush, no shortage of magic, and no better way to spend a Saturday. Just be warned: one visit won’t be enough.
