arabianbusiness.com 49
REVIEW | BY LUBNA HAMDAN
Situated within the grounds of
Five Hotel on Palm Jumeirah’s
shoreline, Portuguese
restaurant Praia is a fresh
concept in an ever fl ooded
dining market. Emanating
a laid-back vibe, it offers
"European coastal" cuisine
with Japanese infl uences,
allowing visitors to enjoy
high-end service in a casual
and relaxed setting.
The outdoor restaurant
comprises two separate areas
featuring contemporary marble
fl ooring with predominantly
white furnishing. One is a modern
restaurant while the other is an
elevated theatre-style lounge,
both of which overlook Dubai’s
stunning Marina skyline.
Visiting the venue for dinner,
we started with savoury truffl e
zucchini spaghetti topped with
rich ricotta and fl avourful
smoked duck (AED65); a light
but very satisfying evening dish.
Wanting to sample the
advertised Japanese infl uence,
we chose a crispy tempura
platter of prawns, asparagus, u Colourful accents amid the white furniture
u The tiered restaurant at Praiau You've got another few weeks to enjoy sitting out here
sweet potato and oyster
mushrooms (AED55); simple
and minimal yet crunchy and
fulfi lling. Ideal for two.
Leaving just enough room for
dessert, we had the scrumptious
crème souffl é (AED50) with a
twist. Made with subtle fi llings
of raspberry and pistachio purée
paired with sides of crushed
merengue, it was a pleasing
blend of sweet and sour.
While the menu at Praia does
not offer a wide selection of
dishes, what they did serve up
was innovative and fresh. The
staff are quick to guide you
through their much-loved
creations, which were prepared
to our taste in what is becoming
one of our favourite hotels for
dining in Dubai.
Praia is open for lunch from
12.30pm-6pm and for dinner
from 6.30pm-2am, leaving
plenty of time for a convivial
late night gathering. For a more
romantic set up, we recommend
the hotel’s rooftop lounge,
Penthouse. Shisha can also be
enjoyed at both venues.Enjoy skyline views in a laid-back setting while trying some of Europe’s
favourite dishes in this new beachside spot on Palm Jumeirah
Why Praia is fun and fresh