Brunch Of The Month: Rio Brunch at SUSHISAMBA Dubai 

Party the afternoon away with DJs, drummers and dancing.

Drums are banging, trumpets are sounding, and samba dancers are weaving their way through the tables. No, we are not at the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, but the Rio Brunch at SUSHISAMBA. The fortnightly brunch recently launched on Palm Jumeirah, so we joined the party.

In 2021, SUSHISAMBA Dubai opened in spectacular style in the Palm Tower. Since then, the brand has welcomed famous faces, from Cristiano Ronaldo to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The restaurant showcases Brazilian, Japanese and Peruvian cuisine and has won multiple FACT Dining Awards for its fusion menu.

SUSHISAMBA Dubai boasts Insta-fabulous views of the Dubai skyline, from Burj Al Arab to Burj Khalifa. The Rio Brunch takes place in the fittingly titled, Samba Room – even though it’s smaller is size, it makes up for it with the Palm Jumeirah views. The semi-circular space includes tables by the windows and bar, from tables for two to sofas for groups. The pretty plants range from colourful bouquets to hanging greenery. 

Rio Brunch at SUSHISAMBA draws its inspiration from the world’s most famous carnival. On arrival, each guest was given a welcome Bellini. The tables were decorated with a fan, which served as a stylish souvenir. The smiling staff were dressed in yellow waistcoats and bought the energy, from applauding to the music to joining a conga line. Guests were ready to rumba and required little persuasion to get out of their seats.

Rio Brunch at SUSHISAMBA’s menu spans starters, sushi, mains and desserts. Not only does it showcase signature dishes from the main menu, but the brand’s world-famous quality. The Salmon Tiradito combined a smooth yet crispy texture, thanks to the thinly sliced fish topped with quinoa. The Peruvian Corn Salad was sweet and spicy, and combined avocado, grilled corn and red chilli. 

Superb for sharing, the mains were generous. It would be easy to scrimp on steak, but the Australian Angus Tenderloin was oh-so-soft and succulent. The grilled Chicken Antichucho and Chilean Seabass Antichucho soaked up the fresh flavours. Plus, the Arroz Chaufa organic wild rice elevated the humble side for a fine dining feast. 

The must-try dessert at SUSHISAMBA is the Japanese Doughnut Adagi. The sweet treat from Chef Moon Kyung Soo has made it onto the Rio Brunch menu, and were some of the best doughnuts we’ve ever tasted. The pockets of perfection were served warm, and soft and sugary on the outside, and filled with dolce ganache on the inside. Not only did we order them three times, but if we could pack them in our purses, we would.

Rio Brunch at SUSHISAMBA drinks menu spans Champagne, cocktails, wines and spirits. The cocktails include a creative take on classics, from an Amazonian Spritz to a Rio Margarita. The highlight was the Samba Negroni, which was on brand with Japanese gin, acai vermouth and Campari. 

At Rio Brunch at SUSHISAMBA, be prepared to party. The volume is already turned up from the start with a DJ, drummers and dancing. My guest and I had to move our seats next to each other so we could clearly communicate. If you’re looking to catch up and chat, this is not the brunch. If you’re looking to dance with diners, this is definitely the brunch to party the afternoon away. 

GO: Visit www.sushisamba.com for more information.