Rhodes W1 Brunch Review: Is This One of Dubai Marina’s Best Brunches?

We recently checked out the Rhodes W1 Brunch.

We love a good brunch. If you’ve spent any time on my blog, you’ll already know that from the number of brunch reviews I’ve shared. And trust me, only the really good ones make it on here, so you can imagine how many don’t!

That does make choosing somewhere for a special occasion a bit of a challenge though, especially when it’s your birthday. After much deliberation, we settled on Rhodes W1 Brunch, located inside Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Dubai Marina.

We’d been once before for their Sunday roast and remembered it being incredible, so we felt pretty confident it would be a winner. I’d also seen plenty of glowing reviews in the Dubai food Facebook groups I follow. Oh, and it’s on The Entertainer with Buy One Get One Free, which

definitely helped make the decision!

 

Rhodes W1 Restaurant & Atmosphere

First impressions count, and Rhodes W1 gets them absolutely right.

The restaurant is bright, elegant and full of personality, with quirky artwork of glamorous ladies dressed as different vegetables covering the walls, along with all the Michelin Guide accolades. There’s also a beautiful terrace overlooking Dubai Marina, which I imagine would be stunning during the cooler months.

Unfortunately, we visited in the middle of summer, so we stayed inside. Thankfully, the atmosphere was just as enjoyable, with a DJ creating a lively vibe without making it impossible to have a conversation, the perfect balance for a relaxed brunch with friends.

 

The Drinks – Cocktails Worth Ordering

We started with the cocktails, and they completely exceeded our expectations.

The presentation was beautiful, but more importantly, they actually tasted as good as they looked. That’s saying something because our group has its own little cocktail club, so we’re a pretty tough crowd! Everyone was impressed.

My favourite was the Coconut Ice, which tasted like a sophisticated Piña Colada. The wines and beers were equally enjoyable, but one of my favourite little touches was the staff bringing over freshly chilled glasses before every refill. It’s the small details that count.

 

The Starters – Every Dish Was a Winner

The starters were honestly one of the highlights of the entire Rhodes W1 Brunch.

The Bang Bang chicken was packed with flavour, the prawns were beautifully juicy and coated in a fresh lemon and herb salsa, and the mac and cheese croquettes were exactly how croquettes should be. So often at brunch they’re dry and disappointing, but these were perfectly crispy on the outside and wonderfully creamy in the middle.

The portion sizes were generous too. By the time everything had arrived, the table was completely covered with food, and every dish looked just as good as the last.

 

Rhodes W1 Main Courses – Ten Choices!

One thing I really appreciate at brunch is being able to choose your own main course. Usually, you’re given three or four options and that’s your lot.

Not here.

Rhodes W1 Brunch offers ten different mains, which is almost unheard of. From sausage and mash to fishcakes and other classic British favourites, there was something for everyone.

Around our table, people ordered everything from the black cod to the braised beef cheeks, and every single person was raving about their meal.

Well… almost everyone.

I chose the pork belly bap and, although it was cooked perfectly well, it just wasn’t really my thing. That’s completely down to personal taste rather than the quality of the food, because everyone else absolutely loved what they ordered.

 

Desserts – Classic Comfort Food

Dessert arrived as a selection of British classics served in smaller sharing portions, which worked perfectly after such a generous meal.

The sticky toffee pudding, apple crumble and lemon cream were all delicious and rounded off the brunch beautifully. The smaller portions meant we could enjoy a little bit of everything without feeling completely defeated after such an indulgent afternoon!

 

Service – The Little Details Matter

Great food is one thing, but exceptional service is what turns a good brunch into a memorable one.

The team at Rhodes W1 couldn’t have looked after us better. Everyone was warm, friendly and attentive in the best possible way. Drinks were topped up regularly, fresh chilled glasses appeared before refills, and nothing ever felt like too much trouble.

It’s those thoughtful little touches that make such a difference and are what truly separate good restaurants from great ones.

 

Rhodes W1 Brunch – A Birthday to Remember

The most memorable part of the afternoon wasn’t actually the food.

Sam Rhodes himself wished me a happy birthday and spent time chatting with us about his father, the legendary Gary Rhodes, who founded the restaurant and was such a huge part of so many of our childhoods on television.

We also had the chance to speak with one of the chefs who had worked alongside Gary, which made the whole experience feel even more special.

The team even surprised me with flowers and an espresso martini… although I have to admit, I may have slightly shamelessly played the birthday card for that one!

 

Is Rhodes W1 Brunch Worth It?

Without a doubt, yes.

If you’re looking for a Dubai brunch with exceptional food, excellent service, fantastic cocktails and beautiful surroundings, then Rhodes W1 Brunch ticks every box.

Add its on the The Entertainer Buy One Get One Free offer, and it becomes fantastic value for money too.

It’s rare to find a brunch where almost every dish impresses, the service is flawless, and you leave already planning your next visit. But that’s exactly what happened here.

Thank you, Rhodes W1, for the perfect birthday brunch. If you want to book this brunch you can do so as we did here Rhodes W1

A quick note: This was not a gifted meal or a collaboration. We paid for our brunch ourselves (well… my hubby did, as it was my birthday after all!). As always, my reviews are based on my honest opinions and experiences.

If you love discovering great brunch spots in Dubai.

 

You may also enjoy reading some of our other brunch reviews

The Guild Brunch Review

The Beam by Nick Alvis Sunday Brunch Review

ZETA Seventy Seven: Brunch in the Sky

Brasserie 2.0 Christmas Brunch Review

The Citronelle Club – Tiger Brunch Review