ANNEX ANIMALS BRUNCH

Let loose at the city’s fiercest alfresco rooftop party

With temperatures in the capital reaching peak levels of beautifully cool, our next task is to cram in as many sizzling outdoor brunches as possible before things start to heat up again. The notoriously lively brunch at Annex Rooftop is the perfect place to start.

Stepping out onto the stunning toplevel terrace of the Abu Dhabi Edition’s trendy three-tier night spot, we rush straight to the edge to absorb its famous panoramic views in their full glory. Taking in the yachts of Al Bateen Marina, the city skyline and the blue Arabian Gulf, it’s a scene that never gets old, no matter how many times you see it.

Decked out with elegant white sofas, ample greenery and ultra-Instagrammable flowers, we appreciate how it manages to embrace the wild and wonderful ‘Animals’ theme, without making anything overly tacky or garish. A face painter is on-hand to cover you with artistic depictions of tigers, butterflies, spiders and all your favourite jungle critters, and the matching leopard print shirts of the servers are super fun.

We’ve barely taken a seat when we are presented with an entire bathtub of colourful refreshments, all served in iconic Edition glass bottles. Different creative concoctions continue to appear on our table throughout the afternoon, and the entire experience is truly a lesson in what it means to ‘go big or go home’.

The food is plentiful, coming out in a constant flow of two dishes at a time, and the staff couldn’t be more helpful or invested in ensuring we have a sensational time. Our favourites of the sharing-style nibbles include the cold cuts and cheeses, served with slabs of crusty bread, homemade pesto and juicy roasted tomatoes, and the exceptional mini beef sliders, that somehow disappear in seconds. Spanning nachos, skewers, chicken wings and bao buns, we’re taken on a tour of the world’s most popular bar bite staples, before finishing with a few dainty coconut tarts and light fruit-filled profiteroles. Admittedly, some of the pairings, such as the charcuterie board with edamame, are a bit unusual, but then again this isn’t meant to be a brunch for serious food connoisseurs.

Presenting an idyllic fusion of tasty bites, funky beverages, tribal beats from a live DJ and chilled, yet upbeat vibes, it’s the perfect place to gather with the gang, let off some steam, and welcome in 2023 in style.

The Abu Dhabi Edition, Al Bateen Marina. Sat 2pm to 5pm, Dhs295 with house drinks, Dhs395 with bubbly.

Tel: (0)2 208 0000.

@annexabudhabi

WHAT’S ON VERDICT

A picturesque party brunch that provides a solid excuse to abandon your health kick.

Last month, we gathered 50 friends of the What’s On brand for the first ‘What’s On the Menu?’ of 2023 at a new outpost of Abu Dhabi’s favourite Lebanese restaurant, Mosaic. And by every measure, it was a roaring success.

For the first time in ‘What’s On the Menu?’ history, we hosted our much-loved supper club in the morning, treating guests to a lavish breakfast spread that had even the most ambitious foodies loosening their belts. We allowed our guests a nice lie-in, before kicking off proceedings at 10am, with plenty of Lebanese tea and coffee, as well as freshly squeezed orange juice.

What was on the menu...

Our attendees tucked into a feast of Lebanese delights, including fresh bread with butter, honey and jam, labneh with mint, fatteh laban, hummus Beiruti, eggplant fatteh, fried chicken liver, fried halloumi cheese, lahm bi ajeen, falafel, manakish, Lebanese foul, mousabbaha, omelette, spinach fatayer and egg shakshuka. Desserts added a touch of sweetness with cheese kunafa and rice pudding.

For more information, visit @mosaic.restaurant

Words: Miles Buckeridge

Meet The Bartender

Abhijit Kotkar

Head Mixologist at Siddharta Lounge

The best part of my job is that I get to showcase my creativity and ideas in liquid form. Every drink we create is a story to tell, through various techniques and making sure it’s well-balanced.

The most creative cocktail I ever made was inspired by the local market of Marrakech, Morocco. The souk has so much to offer to the world, loaded with lots of local ingredients, you discover a way of life that hasn’t changed very much for centuries.

The best bar I’ve been to is Joseph Bar in Panjim Goa. It’s a very small old school local bar with great drinks, food and atmosphere. The vibe of the place is so upbeat and makes you want to return again and again.

My favourite ingredients to use? Spices and any locally sourced ingredients.

My cocktail menu is influenced by many things. The main source of inspiration are history, science and travelling.

The one drink I could never take off my current menu is called elixir of life. It’s made with raspberry, cranberry juice, sage, vanilla, citrus, and ginger beer – it’s so delicious.

@trilogybybuddhabar