During our visit to Dubai’s most exclusive resort, the One&Only The Palm, located on the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah, we had the pleasure of indulging in Yannick Alléno’s fantastic cuisine. Even though we were staying at the One&Only Royal Mirage, we couldn’t resist the temptation to take a short ten-minute boat ride to our hotel’s sister establishment and discover this incredibly elegant restaurant. More below in my gourmet photo diary!
Yannick Alléno: A French Chef of International Renown!
Food lovers interested in trying chef Yannick Alléno’s cuisine can of course visit his Parisian restaurants, but he also maintains establishments around the world: at the One&Only The Palm in Dubai, at the Royal Mansour in Marrakech, in Seoul… This chef began his career at only 15 and has come a long way since then! After earning his chops alongside the best in the business, he secured his first Michelin star in 1999, followed by a second in 2004. He received his third star—the Holy Grail—in 2007 at the gourmet restaurant, Le Meurice.
This genius of French cuisine opened his restaurant STAY in Dubai’s most intimate resort, the One&Only The Palm. We took advantage of the opportunity to explore this five-star location with its beautiful Andalusian architecture. Featuring a Guerlain spa, a beach with a magnificent view of the city skyline, and a series of fabulously luxurious suites, the resort only needs a top-notch restaurant to achieve perfection—and that’s a done deal thanks to STAY, one of only a handful of first-rate gourmet establishments on the United Arab Emirates’ restaurant scene.
Elaborate French Cuisine
As soon as we entered the restaurant, we were absolutely enchanted by the gorgeous dining room with its vaulted ceilings and baroque chandeliers. (Guests can also dine on the pergola-covered terrace when it’s not too hot.) STAY offers well-executed, delicious French cuisine—a welcome piece of Parisian paradise in the United Arab Emirates! The restaurant’s set menus represent Yannick Alléno’s savoir-faire, refinement, and creativity; options include the “Experience,” “Emotion,” and eight-course “Discovery” set menus, aside from the à la carte menu.
After the hors d’oeuvres, I began my dinner with candied watermelon, burrata, and capers—a wonderfully fresh appetizer—while my husband thoroughly enjoyed his pan-seared foie gras with ginger syrup and mango coulis. Next up, I was served John dory with leeks and artichoke sauce, while my husband had Black Angus beef with sea urchins and celery. Truly an explosion of flavors!
The Pastry Library, a Must-Do Culinary Experience
If you’ve been following me for a while on Experiences Luxes, you must know that I have a sweet tooth and absolutely love gourmet pastries! And our dessert experience was particularly memorable at STAY. Yannick Alléno has designed a sort of “pastry library,” which is truly a feast for the eyes: in a large window display, every dessert from the menu (alongside its main ingredients) is on exhibit for guests to explore.
Once we’d made our choice, we got to watch the pastry chef plate our dessert right in front of our eyes, all while explaining what he was doing. This fun and convivial experience really made an impression on us! After that, we were served the “pastry chef’s tape measure,” a ribbon-like sculpture inspired by the dressmaker’s tape measure and acting as a beautiful display stand for a series of mini-desserts to enjoy with our coffee.
101 Dining Lounge and Bar: A Perfect End to the Evening
At the One&Only The Palm, chef Yannick Alléno also oversees the other restaurants, namely Zest and 101 Dining Lounge and Bar. The latter is the perfect destination for before or after your dinner at STAY, thanks in particular to its breathtaking seaside ambience and view of the skyline. This trendy bar offers cocktails with lovely names like “My Guerlain Martini” and “101 Marina Beach,” along with seafood nibbles such as sea bass tartare, acras (cod fritters), and crab hot dogs.
The Verdict
In the heart of one of Dubai’s most luxurious hotels, the restaurant STAY by famous French chef Yannick Alléno is a must for gourmet foodies. This thrice-starred chef’s creations fly the French flag high in Dubai’s fine dining scene! Here, you can indulge in delicious, refined cuisine, particularly when it’s time for dessert and the chef’s unique “pastry library” experience. If you’re planning a trip to Dubai, don’t miss out on this fantastic restaurant!
Practical Information
- More information available on the website
- Open for dinner only, Tuesday–Sunday
- Emotion set menu: 450 AED (around € 110); Experience menu: 650 AED (around € 160); Discovery menu: 850 AED (around € 210).
Thank you STAY for the invitation to explore their establishment.Of course, the content of this blogpost was left entirely up to me!
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About Florence Consul
Editor of Experiences Luxe since 2015, I love discovering new exclusive and authentic experiences all over the world. I left my home country (France) 6 years ago to become a global citizen, traveling 365 days out of the year. I am a foodie person and I make a point of tasting local specialities.