Steak Saturdays at Bull & Bear in Dubai

Steak Saturdays at Bull & Bear is a weekly Saturday lunch at the signature steakhouse of Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre, pairing premium steak cuts with a glass of bubbly and uninterrupted views of Burj Khalifa from Level 18. It runs from 1pm to 4pm, and it is designed as a relaxed but polished alternative to the city’s louder party brunches.

If your ideal Saturday involves a properly cooked steak, a good glass of wine and a view, rather than a DJ and a dance floor, this is a strong contender in DIFC.

Bull & Bear at Waldorf Astoria DIFC

Bull & Bear is the award-winning signature restaurant of Waldorf Astoria DIFC, set on Level 18 of the hotel. The room has Art Deco-inspired interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame Burj Khalifa and the Downtown skyline. Two glass-fronted wine cellars line the entrance, holding a wine collection that BBC Good Food Middle East says includes a 100-point bottle.

The name and the setting nod to the financial district outside, and the Bull & Bear name also echoes the steakhouse of the same name at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. This is very much DIFC’s steakhouse: it also runs a weekday business lunch, and over the years it has played on its Wall Street theme, from a Bull of Wall Street brunch with a live house band to themed music nights. Steak Saturdays brings the same kitchen and view to a slower weekend sitting.

What is on the menu

Steak Saturdays is a set lunch built around the restaurant’s speciality. Each guest has:

• Two courses, with a premium steak cut at the centre of the meal
• One side to go with your steak
• A glass of bubbly to start

The specific cuts on the Steak Saturdays menu are not listed, but Bull & Bear’s wider menu gives a flavour of the kitchen: signatures include a Tenderloin Tasting Platter, a Stockyard Tomahawk and a Prime Chateaubriand that is often carved at the table, alongside a classic Waldorf Salad for something lighter. Earlier menus have also featured Josper-baked scallops, Wagyu beef tartare, Beef Rossini and a prawn cocktail, with playful desserts such as the Magnum cheesecake.

That gives a good idea of the style: classic steakhouse cooking with a few theatrical touches, such as the chateaubriand carved at the table, served in an Art Deco dining room with one of the best skyline views in DIFC. Seasonal dishes rotate through the menu, so there is usually something new to try on a return visit.

Drinks

Beyond the welcome glass of bubbly, you can upgrade at the restaurant to a two-hour selected beverage package. Bull & Bear is also known for its curated wines and signature cocktails, so it is worth asking the team for a pairing with your steak.

Who it suits

• Steak lovers who want a serious steakhouse lunch rather than a buffet
• Couples looking for a calm, elegant Saturday with a view
• Small groups and colleagues marking an occasion in DIFC
• Visitors who want a Burj Khalifa view over lunch without the crowds of Downtown

Tickets are for adults aged 18 and over, so this is best planned as a grown-up lunch.

Dress code

Bull & Bear asks for elegant smart casual attire. For gentlemen, sportswear, beachwear, shorts and open-toe shoes are not permitted. Refined open-toe footwear is welcome for ladies, and traditional kandura is welcome too. In short, dress as you would for a nice hotel restaurant, not a pool day.

Know before you go

• Steak Saturdays runs every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm, matching the restaurant’s lunch service.
• Pre-booking is required; this is not a walk-in offer.
• Once booked, tickets cannot be cancelled or changed, so check your date before you buy.
• The beverage package upgrade is bought on the day at the restaurant rather than in advance.

Bull & Bear runs other weekly experiences too, including Wellington Wednesdays built around a Beef Wellington and a traditional Sunday roast, if you want to compare options or come back on another day.

Getting to Waldorf Astoria DIFC

Waldorf Astoria DIFC is on Al Mustaqbal Street in the Dubai International Financial Centre, near Burj Daman, and Bull & Bear is on Level 18. Valet parking is available at the hotel, which makes driving easy. The nearest Metro station is Financial Centre on the Red Line, about five minutes away by car, so a short taxi from the station is the simplest option if you are coming by public transport.

DIFC itself is worth a wander before or after lunch, with its galleries and the Gate Avenue promenade close by, and Downtown Dubai is only a short drive away.

For more weekend ideas, see our dinner and brunch guide, browse things to do this weekend, or explore our November guide. Our things to do in Dubai page has plenty more.