Dubai has no shortage of weekend brunches, but few come with a view like this one. The IL SABATO brunch takes place every Saturday at Lion in the Sun, the restaurant on the 62nd floor of Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai.
The idea is simple. Mediterranean sharing plates, homemade pasta and seafood and meat from the open fire, served slowly over a long afternoon with live music and the skyline as a backdrop.
In this article
What is the IL SABATO brunch?
IL SABATO is Italian for “the Saturday”, and the name sets the tone. This is not a frantic all-you-can-eat buffet. It is a seated, leisurely meal designed around the way Italians and other Mediterranean families eat at the weekend: course after course, with plenty of time to talk.
The brunch runs every Saturday from 12:30pm to 4pm. Menus change with the seasons, so the dishes on the table in November will differ from those in spring.
- When: every Saturday, 12:30pm to 4pm
- Where: Lion in the Sun, 62nd floor, Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai
- Style: Mediterranean sharing plates, homemade pasta, open-fire grill
- Atmosphere: live music and seasonal menus
Lion in the Sun: a Kenyan story in Downtown Dubai
Lion in the Sun takes its name from the original Lion in the Sun retreat in Malindi, on the Kenyan coast, developed by former Formula One team principal Flavio Briatore. The Dubai restaurant borrows that relaxed, sun-soaked mood.
Guests are welcomed on the 61st floor and climb to the restaurant above. In its review earlier this year, The National described wooden ceilings, ceiling fans, shuttered windows and subtle African motifs, closer to a colonial bungalow than a typical hotel restaurant.
The dining room seats around 80 inside, with more space on the Moon Bar terrace. Windows frame the Burj Khalifa, while the open-fire kitchen gives the room its energy.
What to expect on the table
The menu for the IL SABATO brunch is built in three movements. It starts with plates to share, moves on to pasta, then finishes at the grill.
Sharing plates. Expect raw and lightly dressed dishes in the Italian style, salads and starters that suit the middle of the day. The regular menu at Lion in the Sun includes bluefin tuna tartare, sea bass carpaccio and fried calamari, which gives a sense of the kitchen’s style.
Homemade pasta. Fresh pasta is made in-house. On the à la carte menu, gnocchetti with Mazara prawns is one of the dishes that regulars return for.
From the fire. Seafood and meats are flame-grilled over the open fire. The kitchen is known for its Wagyu, and the smoky, charred finish is the signature of the restaurant.
Desserts at the IL SABATO brunch are kept light and seasonal. A slice of cheesecake with fresh mango is the kind of ending that fits a warm afternoon.
Why a Saturday brunch?
Friday has long been brunch day in Dubai. Since the UAE moved to a Saturday and Sunday weekend in 2022, Saturday afternoons have become the new focus for long lunches.
The IL SABATO brunch fits that rhythm. It ends at 4pm, which leaves the evening free, and its pace suits families and friends who want to talk rather than queue at a buffet.
The IL SABATO brunch is also a different proposition from the party brunches found elsewhere in the city. Here, the music is live but not loud, and the view does most of the talking.
How to book the IL SABATO brunch
Reservations for the IL SABATO brunch are made through Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai. Tables by the windows are the most requested, so book early and ask for one when you confirm.
- Arrive a little before 12:30pm to enjoy the view before the room fills.
- Check the current price and drinks packages when booking, as they can change by season.
- Plan to stay until the end: the light over Downtown changes beautifully through the afternoon.
The verdict
Lion in the Sun already offers one of the most dramatic dining rooms in Dubai. IL SABATO gives it a reason to open its doors at lunchtime and invites guests to slow down.
For anyone tired of loud, crowded weekend brunches, the IL SABATO brunch is a welcome alternative: good Mediterranean cooking, a measured pace and one of the best views in the city.
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