Just like Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford, who made afternoon tea popular in 1840, we love indulging in an afternoon tea experience and are always on the hunt for the ultimate afternoon tea. Silvia and I have tried many afternoon teas in Dubai but the one that stands out the most and ticks all our boxes is Burj Al Arab Afternoon Tea at Skyview Bar & Restaurant of the famous 7-star hotel. While far from being a budget experience, it is definitely worth indulging at least once to experience unsurpassed hospitality and a sophisticated menu consisting of 7 courses while enjoying a breathtaking view of Dubai skyline.
Booking
Burj Al Arab Afternoon Tea is popular both among tourists and residents alike, so we strongly recommend booking at least a week in advance, especially if you want to come on a weekend. The first seating is at 1pm and 1.15pm until 3pm and 3.15pm respectively and the second seating is at 4pm and 4.15pm until 6pm and 6.15pm. Please bear in mind that the 4/4.15pm slot is more popular because you can experience the sunset while enjoying your afternoon tea so these slots tend to get fully booked quickly. We booked the first seating of the day at 1pm and it was a beautiful experience, even though we didn’t get to see the sunset.
Another thing to bear in mind when making your booking is that in addition to the afternoon tea at Skyview Bar & Restaurant there is another cheaper afternoon tea option on the first floor at Sahn Eddar, however you won’t get to enjoy the view of Dubai skyline (Skyview Bar is located on the 27th floor) and there will be more people walking around so it is less private.
Arrival
In order to get to Burj Al Arab you need to check in with security at the gates who will let you in if you have a booking. Remember to have your booking confirmation ready as security will ask for it to let you enter the hotel grounds. The hotel never sent us an email confirmation (we had amended our original booking) but they let us through after we quoted the name under which we made our booking. It took a bit of time though as the security guard had to look through some papers to find the reservation, so please allow enough time for that just in case.
If you want to walk around and explore the common areas of the hotel it’s worth arriving a bit early. Just beware of the tourists lurking around and constantly snapping photos if you don’t want to be in one of them!
When it is time for your afternoon tea, you will be taken to the 27th floor in a lift (there is just enough time to take a few selfies if you feel like it!). We arrived at Skyview Bar 10 minutes before our slot but were still given the best table with the view of Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the city. Luckily, Silvia and I didn’t have to wait until 1pm and were promptly seated upon arrival. Please note that the policy has changed since then and according to the hotel website you need to pay extra to get a window table. There are window tables at the other end of the restaurant overlooking Palm Jumeirah and Mina A’Salam and Al Qasr hotels, however we were not impressed with that view. Other window tables in the middle have the sea view and there are also tables near the bar which don’t offer nice views.
Afternoon Tea
We started off with a nice sparkling date drink (a non-alcoholic alternative to champagne) and a couple of delicious stuffed dates. Burj Al Arab Afternoon Tea consists of 7 courses, including caviar on a freshly made blini, beef entrée, sorbet, finger sandwiches, scones and sweets, and each course is presented separately, which is different to other afternoon experiences here.
The finger sandwiches were nicely presented and there were a total of 5 of them per person. While most of them looked like your typical finger sandwiches, the smoked salmon one stood out with its creative design featuring a gold leaf with caviar. After we finished sampling our sandwiches we were presented with a delicate sorbet with rose petals to clear our palates.
The sorbet was followed by an individually presented beef entrée. The next course consisted of scones and sweet treats. We were already full by that time so only managed to try a couple of scones with clotted cream and strawberry and rose jam.
It’s worth noting that you can have unlimited drinks and re-fills from the extensive coffee & tea menu (if you still have space after all that indulgence!). I recommend their iced coffee with caramel which was simply delicious. We have also tried some of the teas, including an oolong with peonies, which was so lovely and refreshing. If you’re looking for the most authentic experience, try Darjeeling (known to be the champagne of teas), as the Duchess of Bedford usually enjoyed a pot of Darjeeling with her afternoon tea.
For the current menu, please see this link – https://www.jumeirah.com/en/dine/dubai/burj-al-arab-skyview-bar-and-restaurant
Silvia and I stayed at the restaurant until about 3.30pm and we were never rushed to leave (unlike some other places), which added to the great experience.
Final Thoughts
The service was very prompt and seamless and we appreciated the quality and presentation of the dishes. What made the experience truly exceptional was the amazing view 200 metres above the sea level. With a view like this you don’t even notice that the décor inside the restaurant is not as elegant and sophisticated as you’d prefer. But who needs to look at the décor when you can’t take your eyes off the incredible view!
Overall, this is the most elaborate and quality afternoon tea you can enjoy in Dubai and it’s highly recommended for all afternoon tea lovers or for a special occasion. At the time of the writing, the price is AED 635 per person with an additional AED 100 per table for a window seat.
Disclaimer April 2020: Due to the current pandemic, it is obviously not possible to book afternoon tea at this time. Stay home and stay safe!
