Four iftars to try in Dubai

 Gaucho

It’s the holy month of Ramadan and there are plenty of places across Dubai where you can break your fast and partake in an Iftar. One such option is Gaucho in DIFC. Seated within the elegant confines of the restaurant in chairs with the backrest covered in cowhides, we are offered the three-course Ramadan set menu.

The sharing-starters include the grilled pumpkin and quinoa salad with feta cheese. Then there’s the sesame-crusted salmon with a buckwheat salad and mirin dressing. And if you want to stick with the seafood theme for the starters, ask for the ginger stir-fried squid that required a squeeze of citrus over it to really unlock the flavour.

Most of Gaucho’s meats are imported from Argentina and Australia. So for the mains, we naturally gravitated towards the chorizo sirloin steak. It’s one of the very few places where if you ask for the steak to be well done, it comes to your plate perfectly, cooked, succulent, and not a hint of it having spent a second too long on the fire. If you would rather stick to poultry offerings, ask for the hearty-sized portion of grilled spatchcock chicken.

Keep adequate space for desserts and you won’t be disappointed. There’s cheesecake with luscious dulce de leche and fresh passion fruit. There’s also a warm comforting brownie and then finally a sponge cake on a bed of more dulce de leche. That’ll keep you going until Suhoor.

Podium Level, Gate Village 5, DIFC, Dubai. Dhs 250 per person. Tel: (04) 422 7898

The Restaurant at Address Boulevard

The white-tablecloth service makes for an elegant Iftar experience at the Address Boulevard, which re-opened a few months ago. The Iftar buffet here is accompanied with live cooking stations and after the Iftar ends at 9pm, there’s an al fresco Suhour that begins outside where you’ll also find excellent views of the Burj Khalifa.

Address Boulevard, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai. Dhs220 per person. Tel: (04) 888 3444

Queen Elizabeth 2

Step aboard the iconic ship – the permanently-docked Queen Elizabeth 2 – and you’ll find two main dining options for your Iftar. The Majlis Al Malika is set up in the 1960s Queen Room while the Majlis Al Mulook is set up at The Lido. Both offer an extensive buffet including international cuisine as well as regional specialities. At the Al Mulook, there will be live cooking stations and a full English roast carvery too.

Mina Rashid, Dubai. Dhs 195 per person. Tel: (04) 526 8888

Cipriani

Italian restaurant Cipriani is serving up its first-ever Ramadan menu this year. Starters include burrata alla Mediterranea and calamari fritti. Each table will then be served the four main courses which include a baked-green taglioni with veal ham, grilled lamb chops, veal piccatine al limone and aubergines alla Parmigiana. For dessert, the house-favourite Cipriani vanilla meringue will be served.

Number 10 Gate Village, Building 3, DIFC, Dubai. Dhs280 per person. Tel: (04) 347 0003