Naughty Noodles Brunch in Dubai

Naughty Noodles Brunch is the Saturday party brunch at Maiden Shanghai, the contemporary Chinese restaurant at FIVE Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, where dim sum, signature rolls and wok dishes meet live music, dancers and a DJ. It is billed as Dubai’s award-winning party brunch, and its whole personality is in the name: playful, a little cheeky, and built to keep going well after the plates are cleared.

If your idea of a good Saturday is a long lunch that turns into a party, this is very much that, with bold Chinese flavours instead of the usual brunch buffet.

Maiden Shanghai at FIVE Palm Jumeirah

Maiden Shanghai is FIVE Palm Jumeirah’s Chinese restaurant, and BBC Good Food Middle East has described it as spread over three floors, with a main dining room, private dining rooms and a bar, all designed with a nod to 1950s Shanghai and a playful, sophisticated edge. The restaurant also has a large terrace looking out over Dubai Marina.

The kitchen cooks contemporary Chinese food, and the same review notes the dishes are organic and made without MSG. FIVE’s own description of the room is effortlessly chic, which is a good summary of the mood before the brunch party gets going. BBC Good Food Middle East’s review also describes Maiden Shanghai as Dubai’s best pan-Asian restaurant, which goes some way to explaining the brunch’s award-winning billing and why it has been a Saturday fixture on the Palm for several seasons.

What is on the table

Naughty Noodles is a sharing-style brunch, with dishes arriving for the table rather than a buffet. The current listing promises a spread of gourmet Chinese dishes, from crafted dim sum to signature rolls and flavour-packed mains. FIVE highlights the Crispy Prawn and Chilean Sea Bass Rolls as a signature, and past menus reviewed by BBC Good Food Middle East give a sense of the range:

• Small plates such as salt and pepper prawns and tofu, boom boom shredded chicken with bao buns and vegetable spring rolls
• Dim sum including baked Wagyu beef puffs with honey sauce, steamed organic chicken siu mai and vegetable cheung fun
• Mains like kung pao prawns, shan cheng chilli chicken and wok-fried rice noodles with black Angus beef

Menus change over time, so treat those as a guide to the style rather than a fixed list.

Drinks

There are two packages, House and Premium, each with three and a half hours of flowing drinks including signature cocktails and house beverages. FIVE singles out the Ruby Red cocktail as a crowd favourite, and BBC Good Food Middle East’s reviewer was taken with the Nude spritz, a mix of lavender, blue pea tea and tonic served in a playful vessel. Presentation is clearly part of the fun here. Arrive on time, as late arrivals may reduce your serving time.

The party: live music, dancers and the after-party

The entertainment is what earns the brunch its reputation. FIVE promises live music, dance performances, a DJ and other surprises through the afternoon, and the energy builds steadily as the brunch goes on.

When brunch winds down, the celebration does not. Your ticket includes after-party access, and FIVE runs the after-party from 4pm to 8pm, with an after-party drinks offer of three drinks available for anyone who wants to carry on. It means you can stay in the same spot from lunch into the evening, which is part of the appeal for birthday groups.

Who it suits

• Birthday and celebration groups who want food, a show and a party in one booking
• Fans of Chinese food who are bored of standard international buffets
• Friends on a big Saturday out on the Palm, especially if you plan to stay for the after-party
• Visitors wanting a classic, high-energy Dubai party brunch with a difference

It is strictly 21 and over, and a valid ID or passport is required at the door.

Know before you go

• The dress code is smart casual or party attire, and management reserves the right of entry.
• Bookings cannot be cancelled or changed once made.
• Transport, food or drinks outside your package, add-ons, upgrades, personal expenses and gratuities are not included.
• FIVE lists the brunch as running from 1pm to 4pm on Saturdays, before the after-party.

Maiden Shanghai also hosts a Sunday brunch, Naughty Sundays, which is listed separately, if Saturday does not suit.

Getting to FIVE Palm Jumeirah

FIVE Palm Jumeirah is at No. 1 Palm, on Palm Jumeirah. Given the drinks packages and the after-party, a taxi or ride-hailing app is the easiest way there and back; transport is not included. The rest of FIVE, including Bohemia Beach Club and The Penthouse rooftop, is in the same hotel if you want to make a full day of it.

For more weekend plans, browse our dinner and brunch picks, see things to do this weekend and our nightlife guide, or explore more things to do in Dubai.