Mediterranean bliss

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With a menu created by chef Izu Ani, Maison de la Plage on Palm West Beach is located within a picturesque beach house that has an open market concept in the brightly decorated venue. The service is impeccable and the food made from the finest, fresh ingredients. While there’s an array of dishes to choose from, seafood and vegetables really shine here. Start with a vegetable basket freshly picked from Le Marché and pair with the olive tapenade, hummus and tzatziki. For starters, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the grilled harissa prawns, both smoky and tender and the Spanish carabineros shrimp (recognisable as the flesh stays ruby red even after cooking) simply paired with ponzu sauce and salt. The famous Izu Burger is also available here – with its Emmental cheese and Wagyu beef – and we highly recommend you order it in a baguette. It makes all the difference. You are likely to wipe the tiramisu bowl clean and the Hokkaido cheese ice cream is a soft serve dream. Be warned though: this comes in 400g or 600g portions so it’s perfect for sharing.

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Another feather in the cap of the St. Regis Gardens on Palm Jumeirah, Leña by Dani García is a Spanish concept that wholeheartedly embraces the ethos of grilled and smoke-infused cuisine. Plus, the interiors with its dark panelling and gold accents are a visual treat and perfect for an intimate meal. I must mention the sourdough bread that comes with sheep butter infused with leek ash – the sour and tangy flavour imparted to the bread is exceedingly moreish. We tried the new lunch weekend menu which offers a wonderful crash course on the restaurant’s dishes. The grilled avocado from Málaga paired with coriander pesto and feta cheese is a welcome surprise – the vegetable is elevated with its grilling in a way I did not expect. While at Leña, do try the Picaña steak (although you can’t go wrong with any cut, really); it was cooked (medium), beautifully achieving an enviable crisp while remaining tender and juicy inside. With desserts, the Savarin is finished off tableside lending itself to Instagrammable shots, and the torta di rose cake with brown butter ice cream will leave you satiated.

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It’s all about dreamy coastal vibes at Riviera by Jean Imbert, housed within The Lana, Dubai’s inaugural Dorchester Collection hotel in Business Bay. With sweeping vistas of the Dubai Water Canal, and an ambience that evolves from sunlit haven during the day to an intimate, mood-lit retreat at night, plus a curated soundtrack, the setting and overall atmosphere transports you to the Med. Known for challenging industry norms, and his innovative and artistic fare, chef Imbert has made sure that certain courses are presented with just the right amount of tableside theatre. Take the delicious tuna tartare for example, or his signature salt baked sea bass – which is cracked open carefully to reveal arguably the best iteration of this dish in the city. The confit capsicums with burrata are also memorable – delicate, beautifully put together and showcasing a variety of flavours. For dessert, go straight to the lemon tart – it’s bright and zesty but definitely big enough to share. This doesn’t have to be the end of your experience either; head upstairs to Imbert’s High Society rooftop lounge for a post-dinner drink.