Dubai’s culinary scene is turning over a new leaf as a plant-based wave surges across the city – with restaurants transforming the brunch experience to a wholesome celebration of vegan cuisine.
Gone are the days when meat-free dishes were a mere footnote on menus. Now, they’re leading the charge, from sumptuous vegan pastries to vibrant smoothie bowls and mouth-watering tofu scrambles.
But it’s not just about swapping meat for plant substitutes. It’s about creativity and innovation, about using fresh, planet-friendly ingredients to concoct dishes full of flavours and textures.
Strap in for a culinary journey through Dubai’s best vegan brunch spots, where sustainability and taste don’t just coexist but thrive together.
Social Sunday at Akira Back
Every week, Akira Back at the W Dubai The Palm welcomes diners to experience the future of food with its Social Sunday menu, served alongside unrivalled views of the Dubai Marina skyline over the Palm’s sun-soaked fronds.
The brunch caters to everyone, with plenty of expertly crafted meat and fish dishes on the menu, but pays special attention to the vegan community with the incorporation of innovative plant-based meats and an extensive array of meat-free offerings.
In the opening sushi platter, the combination of marinated tomato, grilled nazu, smoked mango, and grilled asparagus in the rainbow roll bursts with freshness.
Meanwhile, the spider roll brings together enoki tempura and avocado, harmonising them with sweet soy and chipotle aioli.
But the real showstopper is the Tindle Tobanyaki, featuring plant-based chicken, a revolutionary ingredient that truly shines when paired with Japanese mushrooms and chojang miso.
If you’re not already full from the unlimited plant-based dishes, the meal ends with an inventive dessert called Spice Souq, featuring a spiced cake, cashew cream, candied cumquat, and a refreshing strawberry sorbet. A true plant-based treat.
- Where is Akira Back in Dubai? Akira Back, W Dubai – The Palm, West Crescent, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
- When is the Akira Back Social Sunday brunch in Dubai? Sundays from 1pm-4pm
- What is the price of the Social Sunday brunch at Akira Back in Dubai? AED299 (soft beverages), AED399 (house beverages), AED499 (premium beverages)
- What is the phone number for Akira Back in Dubai? +971 4 245 5800
Weekend brunch at Just Vegan
Just Vegan in Jumeirah offers an all-you-can-eat Weekend Brunch at the bargain price of AED49, and with a meat-free menu that changes every week, you’re in for a whole new plant-based experience every visit.
Brunch kicks off with a tantalising array of starters and mezze platters, plus a hearty bowl of the soup of the day, before diving into the main course.
Here, you’ll find a rotating selection of delicious vegan dishes such as vegan chick’n popcorn, soft shell tacos, madras curry pizza, and a shawarma plate.
A standout dish is the BBQ curry with chicken-style sauce, as well as a rich korma curry featuring a vegan meat sauce.
Just when you think the meal can’t get any better, a series of delectable vegan desserts including mini sweet tarts and creamy ice creams are brought to the table.
It’s not just a treat for vegans, but also a good opportunity for flexitarians and those keen on exploring meat-free options to dip their toes in the plant-based pond.
- Where is Just Vegan in Dubai? Just Vegan Jumeirah, Shop No. 2, Jumeirah Street, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- When is the Just Vegan weekend brunch in Dubai? Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon-6.30pm
- What is the price of the weekend brunch at Just Vegan in Dubai? AED49
- What is the phone number for Just Vegan in Dubai? +971 4 546 3392
Vegan brunch at BOCA
With a commitment to sustainable, farm-to-table cuisine, BOCA in DIFC has curated some of its best vegan offerings from current and previous menus, presenting them in an a la carte brunch package paired with a rotation of vegan wines from their extensive list.
Delight in the icy Manzanilla olives, with citrus and herb accents complemented by sweet potato hummus served with a crunch of peanuts and a drizzle of arbequina olive oil.
Then savour the crispy quinoa and snap peas with creamy avocado and zesty Dijon mustard vinaigrette, before diving into the Torta Di Ceci – a chickpea and olive oil pancake served with a tangy yellow pepper chutney.
Moving onto mains, the star attraction is undoubtedly the BOCA Vegan Paella. An ode to traditional Spanish fare, the dish features a medley of local vegetables, herbs, and Bombita rice, brought together by a unique black garlic aioli.
Complement this with BOCA Potato Chips, served with a creamy cashew aioli and bravas sauce, and BOCA-Touille, a comforting dish of roasted vegetables with balsamic glazed red onion and Herbs de Provence.
No meal at BOCA would be complete without a sweet ending – the dessert platter featuring an artistic composition of fresh fruits and house-churned sorbets. The refreshing flavors provide a palate-cleansing finale to an unforgettable vegan brunch.
- Where is BOCA in Dubai? BOCA, Gate Village 6, DIFC, Dubai
- When is the BOCA vegan brunch in Dubai? Saturdays from 1pm-4pm
- What is the price of the vegan brunch at BOCA in Dubai? AED285 (soft beverages), AED375 (house beverages), AED425 (premium beverages), AED525 (champagne)
- What is the phone number for BOCA in Dubai? +971 4 323 1833
NoH Drama brunch at Tabu Dubai
Perched on the rooftop of The St. Regis Downtown Dubai hotel in Business Bay, the grown-up and sophisticated Tabu offers a gourmet Japanese culinary experience with the NoH Drama Brunch, an all-afternoon feast which has a menu designed specifically for plant-based connoisseurs.
Th brunch starts with a selection of bites including spicy edamame as well as an asparagus tempura served with black truffle, tangy takuan, and a zesty yuzu-avo sauce.
Explore the tastes of the ocean with a mix seaweed gomae, dressed with crispy leek and pomegranate – or tuck into crispy tofu dish adorned with fiery togarashi and smoky gochujang, packing a flavour-filled punch in every bite.
The miso eggplant, prepared with relish kimchi, fragrant sake, and gomae, is another standout dish that evokes Japan’s rich and complex culinary heritage.
Main course options include Japanese rice and shimeji mushrooms paired with succulent vegan meatballs, with the alternative being a portobello mushroom elevated with a touch of truffle that lends earthy undertones.
The dessert selection changes each week, with the chef serving up a selection of the best dishes from the kitchen to diners.
But given the consistently high quality of the rest of the vegan brunch menu at Tabu, you can be sure that it’ll be difficult not to order seconds.
- Where is Tabu in Dubai? Tabu, The St Regis Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai
- When is the Tabu NoH Drama brunch in Dubai? Saturdays from 12.30pm-4pm
- What is the price of the Noh Drama brunch at Tabu in Dubai? AED390 (soft beverages), AED490 (soft beverages), AED690 (champagne or sake)
- What is the phone number for Tabu in Dubai?: +971 52 950 1309
