Al Muntaha Revisited *

Tagliolino Tiepido

Dubai, UAE

Our first visit to Al Muntaha left us breathless a surreal blend of luxury, flavor, and culinary theater perched high above the Dubai skyline. It was a dining experience that rivaled the best in the world and earned an effortless spot in our hearts (and on our Epicurean Table). So, on our return to Dubai, we couldn’t resist booking a second night at this sky-high sanctuary.

Sitting on the 27th floor of the Burj Al Arab for dinner at the Al Muntaha for the second time.

Looking up to the ceiling of the Burj Al Arab building 27 floors up

From the moment you step inside the Burj Al Arab, the magic remains. That elevator ride to the 27th floor, the floor-to-ceiling views, and the promise of a night suspended above the city are still as awe-inspiring as ever. But this time, the enchantment came with a few cracks in the polish.

While the food still impressed, refined, artful, and beautifully plated, we couldn’t help but notice a slower, less coordinated pace to the service. Courses lagged. Requests had to be repeated. And what was once a seamless dance between guest and team felt, at times, more like a stumble. The attention to detail we praised during our first visit (like the best handbag chairs we’ve ever seen) still existed, but the warmth and flow we remembered were not quite as strong.

We also found the dining room to be very dimly lit this time romantic, perhaps, but bordering on impractical. It was difficult to appreciate the beauty of each dish or see one another clearly across the table, which took away from the immersive nature of the meal. Lighting matters, especially when the artistry on the plate deserves a spotlight.

Decorative Dish from Al Muntaha

None of this is to say that Al Muntaha isn't still a showstopper. The ambiance is still futuristic elegance, the view is nothing short of iconic, and the menu continues to flirt with perfection. But when a restaurant sets the bar as high as it did on our first visit, expectations naturally rise alongside it.

Would we return? Mabey in the future. There’s something magnetic about this place. But next time, we’ll hope for a little more light, a little more pace, and a return to the effortless grace that once made this dinner feel like floating.