Review: Break your fast with Iftar at the Armani Hotel Dubai

Breaking a day-long fast under the towering shadows of the mighty Burj Khalifa is as Dubai as it can get during Ramadan. And the Armani/Pavilion’s contemporary Iftar experience under the stars skilfully weaves tradition and modernity to offer up a culinary journey unlike any other.

We amble into the al fresco area of the luxury Armani Hotel on a recent evening, a little after the Iftar gong had sounded only to find ourselves caught in a sea of people. It seemed like one of those days when everybody collectively had decided to break their fast at the Armani/Pavilion.

The outdoor setting — with some of the tables offering a more serene look into The Dubai Fountain — had a mesmerizing feel especially as the sun set and the Burj Khalifa towering above us was illuminated in a myriad laser shades.

Great quality food is a given in most Dubai establishments today. Even then we have to admit we were pleasantly wowed by the exceptional quality of the cross-cultural dishes laid out before us. Truly a spectacular feat considering many restaurants tend to let the quality out of the window whenever a massive quantity is involved.

Only the logistics remained to be managed, considering all the food stations had long lines and the kitchen staff were kept on their toes, with dishes being constantly replenished to keep up with the demand.

With so many people milling around, the Iftar had a certain communal feel about it. Each of the food stations featured signature flavours from the luxury hotel’s award-winning restaurants including the Italian Ristorante and Indian Amal.

The fresh-off-the kitchen counter sushi from Armani/Hashi and some super soft bread from the Italian kitchen that still retained its pillowy texture despite being left out in the open air bore testimony to the skill of the kitchen staff.