The Sunset Brunch at Pure Sky Lounge & Dining gives you both of those as day slips gracefully into night.
And while some venues come and go, Pure Sky Lounge continues to tick the classic Dubai view box.
With its enduring Sunset Brunch, it offers one of the best places to catch the close of day while nourishing on great food with a broad Pan-Asian theme.
On the 35th floor of the Hilton Dubai The Walk you are treated to uncluttered views of the Palm Jumeirah and beyond – while ahead in the near distance is the recently added Bluewaters Island.
The Ain Dubai ferris wheel may yet to gain its gondolas and spin, but the city’s much anticipated attraction still cuts a stunning figure on the coastal skyline.
With all that to command your attention, it takes something to draw eyes away from the views beyond your table. Fortunately, Pure Sky Lounge doesn’t rest on its photo opportunities.
First glance at the menu promises a substantial, even daunting, grazing challenge.
But spread over three-and-a-half hours, there’s actually plenty of time to both soak up the sundown and enjoy the significant cuisine caravan.
With dishes served to the table, you never need miss a glimpse of that ochre sky. And with the arrival of the three waves of food, there are enthusiastic explanations of what you are about to enjoy.
Starters, main and desserts come in a small plate, sharing format and cross international borders in colourful fashion.
Asian Jakarta fruit and vegetable salad, with crispy potato is the first of a few Indonesian-themed dishes and balances vibrant flavours with keen colour and texture.
That generosity extends to helping of star fruit marinated yellow fin tuna ceviche, here enlivened by pomelo and baby radish.
Crisp tofu with garlic chilli sauce, onion and chilli pickle is simple Southeast Asian comfort food and the venue is rightly proud of its Indonesian chicken satay – nicely marinated protein-laden skewers with a moreish peanut sauce and cucumber pickle.
Winning the prize for most innovative starter plate is the grilled asparagus and beef bacon roll which, with Hollandaise and baby spinach, packs as much visual satisfaction as it does tick the flavoursome box.
Not least ahead of a mains selection that includes Indonesian beef rendang; big meaty chunks in a rich, dark sauce accompanied by coconut steamed jasmine rice.
The yellow duck curry has a slightly sweeter, but no less moreish quality, bolstered by aubergine and glass noodles.
Pan seared sea bass is offered in a simpler style, allowing the fish to shine with lime and soya beurre blanc and a zesty tomato salsa
Sides include roasted baby spuds with button and oyster mushroom and sumac butter grilled corn on the cob – but leave some space for the visiting carving trolley and a slice or two of roasted strip loin with mixed roasted veg and Asian spiced jus.
Oh, and then there’s the cruising ‘Es Dong Dong’ Indonesian coconut ice cream trolley with a selection of fun condiments to help you hit that calorific milestone.
With three different drinks packages on offer – and 15 sharing plates to go at – there’s value for money at the Sunset Brunch, surely one of the most memorable, and tasty, ways to experience day turning into night high above the Dubai streets.
DETAILS:
THE Sunset Brunch happens on Friday for three and a half hours, from 5.30pm.
PRICES are AED 245 for soft drinks, AED 395 for house beverages and AED 425 for a bubbly upgrade.
TO find out more or to book, go to https://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/uae/hilton-dubai-the-walk-DXBBRHI/dining/pure-sky-lounge.html