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Let’s be honest. If you’re trying to lock in ten brilliant Christmas Day brunches and dinners in Dubai, the clock is already ticking. December here feels made for long, happy meals; cool, clear air, sparkly nights and chefs who go big on roasts, seafood towers and nostalgic puddings. The aim is simple. Help you choose quickly, book smartly and enjoy the day without a single “where should we go?” debate at the table.
Why booking early matters
Christmas Day falls on Thursday 25 December 2025, and the city will be busy from late morning right through to sunset. Prime lunch seats and breezy terraces disappear first, especially at places with sea views or Burj Khalifa sightlines. Many venues run fixed seatings, take deposits and offer different timings for families and adults-only groups. When you make your reservation, note anything important up front; vegan or gluten-free guests, prams and high chairs, terrace seating or a quieter corner for grandparents. In Dubai, clear notes usually translate into a smoother service on the day. It is also worth checking whether the package is buffet, family-style or set menu, whether there is live music or children’s entertainment and what time food and drinks actually stop.
The top ten brunches and dinners to know about
Suq, Four Seasons Jumeirah
Polished, festive and relaxed, Suq is the sort of place where everyone at the table finds something they genuinely like. Live stations, a proper carvery and desserts that taste as good as they look keep plates circulating all afternoon. The Four Seasons setting adds a quiet sense of occasion without ever feeling stuffy. If you want a reliable “something for everyone” choice for visiting family or a mixed group, Suq is hard to fault.
Flow Kitchen, Fairmont The Palm
Flow Kitchen is a classic crowd-pleasing Dubai buffet, and Christmas Day is when it really shows its strengths. Expect turkey with all the trimmings, roasts, seafood and generous patisserie, plus broad international options for fussy eaters. The room has that gentle family hum from the first plate to the last, and being on the Palm gives things a little resort-holiday feel. It is an easy, lively and festive option, especially if you are staying nearby or want something straightforward for a big group.
Brasserie Boulud, Sofitel The Obelisk
If your idea of a perfect Christmas brunch leans more towards unhurried conversation and well-made food than sheer volume, Brasserie Boulud fits the brief. The cooking is French-leaning, the flavours are considered rather than showy and sharing plates make the table feel convivial without being chaotic. The dining room is elegant but not intimidating, with just enough theatre from the open kitchen to keep things interesting. It is a great pick for couples, smaller families or anyone who would rather savour than sprint.
Al Qasr Christmas Day Brunch, Jumeirah
This is the grand Dubai Christmas brunch that many people picture when they think of the festive season in the city. Huge spreads, live stations, flowing drinks and music all wrapped into one big event across several outlets. You get that “we did Christmas properly” feeling as you walk through the hotel, past the decorations and the water canals. It is busy, buzzy and unapologetically extra, and if your relatives have flown in and you want to impress them in one afternoon, Al Qasr normally delivers the story they will tell back home.
Pierchic, Jumeirah Al Qasr
Perched out over the water, Pierchic is one of those places that feels special before the first course arrives. You walk along the jetty, the skyline stretches around you and Christmas lunch suddenly feels like a mini holiday. The cooking leans towards refined, seafood-focused plates with an Italian and Mediterranean accent, and the pacing is deliberately unhurried. For couples, small groups or anyone who wants a romantic, camera-ready backdrop with proper chef-driven food, this is hard to beat.
BrewDog, Bluewaters rooftop
If your perfect Christmas dinner in Dubai involves good laughs, great playlists and skyline photos rather than white tablecloths, BrewDog on Bluewaters is a strong contender. The rooftop has an easygoing, festive energy, with generous plates, burgers, roasts and sharing dishes rather than dainty portions. There is usually plenty of space for groups of friends, and nobody will look twice if Christmas jumpers appear. Think relaxed, sociable and fun rather than formal, with the bonus of those big city views.
Bounty Beets and Latest Recipe, Mina Seyahi
Between Bounty Beets and Latest Recipe, Mina Seyahi caters well for mixed-diet groups. Plant-forward dishes feel like part of the main event, not a token add-on, and vegan or vegetarian guests are treated properly. At the same time, traditionalists still get their turkey, roasts and familiar festive flavours. The overall mood is breezy and bright, with lots of natural light and a resort-style setting. It is a sweet spot if your guest list includes a bit of everything, from wellness-focused friends to relatives who simply want their Christmas pudding.
BASTA!, The St. Regis Downtown
BASTA! brings a big-hearted Italian mood to Christmas Day, right on the canal in Downtown Dubai. The food is built for sharing; bowls of pasta, platters of roasts and pizza emerging from the oven to keep conversation flowing. It feels comforting, friendly and the right side of indulgent, with that St. Regis polish in the background. If your Christmas fantasy involves passing bowls of food around the table and an extra espresso after pudding, this will suit you perfectly.
Mezzerie, Waldorf Astoria The Palm
Mezzerie is a refined beachfront buffet set inside one of the Palm’s smartest resorts. On Christmas Day you can expect classic roasts, Middle Eastern dishes and a dessert spread that tempts even the sensible ones at the table. The ambience sits somewhere between sophisticated and relaxed; smart enough for a dressier outfit, but not so formal that children feel out of place. It is ideal for larger gatherings who want variety executed well, plus the option of a walk by the beach once you finally push back your chair.
LPM Restaurant and Bar, DIFC
If you want Christmas Day to feel like an elegant treat rather than a sprawling brunch, LPM is a smart choice. The room is lively and chic, with French-Mediterranean flavours, polished service and a buzzing DIFC crowd. Menus tend to favour fresh, beautifully balanced dishes over heavy plates, so you leave satisfied rather than defeated. It works well for a long Christmas lunch with grown-up family or friends or a chic evening dinner once the presents are open and the city lights are glowing.
Quick but genuinely useful pointers
First, decide the pace you want. Buffets and roaming live stations keep children and grazers happy, because there is always something new to try and nobody has to wait for courses. Chef-led set menus suit slower, lingering meals where you are more interested in conversation than in making three trips to the carving station. Most Christmas Day brunches in Dubai work from midday to late-afternoon sittings, and some have an evening option, so think about whether you are a lunchtime or sunset crowd.
When you book, mention whether you prefer a terrace, a window table or a quieter indoor corner, and ask what is actually included in the price; soft drinks, sparkling wine, specialty coffees or mocktails. Packages and child pricing vary a lot, so a two-minute email now can save a long chat with the waiter later. If anyone in your group is vegan, gluten-free or has allergies, flag it clearly when you reserve and again closer to the day so the kitchen can plan properly. For groups of six or more, confirm the deposit terms and cancellation deadlines and ask whether you can pre-order a few platters or a particular roast; it keeps the meal flowing and makes life easier for everyone.
Your Festive Game Plan
In the end, it comes down to three questions. Do you want grand buffet energy, chef-driven calm or a rooftop party with a view? Once you know that, the rest falls into place. Pick one of these spots, send a quick message with your details and get the booking confirmed before someone else nabs your favourite time. Then let the day run itself. Clink a glass, pass the roast, steal a spoon of someone’s dessert and let Dubai’s festive glow do the rest. You have got this.
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