The first of so many great family brunches – is Into the Jungle, put together by the one and only Family Brunch team. We returned to Giardino to review the very popular, always booked-out family brunch with the troupe – including my dear mum. High hopes, high expectations – as many friends have done this brunch over the years (launched, 2020) and raved about it. Thank goodness they did not disappoint.
Here’s what to expect from Into the Jungle.
Where is Into the Jungle held?
Into the Jungle is held in Palazzo Versace’s all-day dining, Giardino – down the east wing of the hotel.
If that made no sense, turn right as you walk into the hotel and walk all the way down pass Vanitas. It’s on your right.
Yes, there is complimentary valet, of course.
What entertainment, shall we expect?
The main focus of all of the brunches by the Family Brunch team is of course its non stop entertainment. It’s like booking yourself into a show – which happens to come with food (great quality, as always by the Palazzo team), and of course – lots of drinks.
A snapshot of their programme when we went (visited, early August 2023) :
🌳 12:50 – 1:20 : Enchanted Tree
🐘 1:45 – 2:15 : Roaming Giraffe and Elephant
🥁 2:15 – 2:45 : Drummers
🐒 2:45 – 3:15 : Dancing Monkeys
👨🍳 3:15 – 3:45 : Mini Chef
👑 3:45 – 4:15 : Singing Princess aka Moana
Even as an adult (closing into my 40s now, gasp) – it was still so exciting to walk into a restaurant and see a humongous oversized ‘tree’-man greeting you. Photo ops, please!
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Soon after, a giraffe and elephant waltzes in to dance by the tables. African drummers, next – who go on the stage and gets all the kids to join in.
Mum got the chance to dance with the monkeys as well haha – and she didn’t even have a drink!
Moana comes in around 4pm for her show – the much loved Rachel from Boutique Princesses. From everyone’s favourite – ‘How Far I’ll Go’, to Elsa’s ‘Let Her Go’, ending with a lot of dancing and train across Giardino.
Magic Phil was not there when we went – as he was on holidays. Can you just imagine how much is going on all afternoon?!
What about activities for the kids?
If that is not enough, throughout the afternoon, there are activity stations set up at the front of the restaurant for the little ones. It’s all ‘jungle-themed’, so jungle arts and crafts, and a planting station to one side. You get to take home a cute little pot of flowers 🙂
To the other corner, you’ll find face painting and balloon bending, a family brunch norm these days – isn’t it?
Halfway through the brunch around 3pm or so, the planting station changes to mini chef – which is basically putting as much junk as you would like on prebaked cupcakes (every kid’s dream and every parent’s nightmare – haha). My 3 and 5 year old did so many of these – and came back to the table with cupcakes covered with chocolate, marshmellows, icing – just sugar in all its glorious forms.
And we haven’t even spoken about the food!
Having done Giardino’s brunch a few times before (see here, for our very first review back in 2016) – we were happy to see that they have kept it consistent when it comes to quality.
Unlike a lot of brunches where it is self-serve, Giardino have kept the partitions around the spread and the staff is present to serve you there. In a way it keeps the spread looking decent, which is nice.
There’s the fresh old seafood area with oysters, mussels and more. Japanese and peruvian corner with sushi, sashimi and lots of ceviche options.
A very impressive dessert corner with a donut wall (which is basically all my kids ate, haha). Live grilled marshmallows station, as well as a strawberry eton mess station. Proper kids food corner with the beige favourites – nuggets, chips, fish fingers, pasta, burgers and yummy hotdogs.
We also loved the truffle rissoto cart that came right to your table, as well as the cannoli live cart.
Pool Access, included?
The brunch officially finishes at 5pm, and guess what? It’s not over yet! You get pool access between 5pm to 7pm – which means you can jump straight into the pool after all that food and drinks. Get changed though, please.
Take note that the pool by Giardino – also known as La Piscina Pool is adults only. The central pool as well as the one by the West wing allows families. We spent the rest of the evening with the kids in the Central pool… which I can happily report is temperature-controlled, a welcome cool swim despite the 45 degree air temperature 😉
Overall Thoughts
Amongst family brunches – Into the Jungle is what I’ll say one of the more ‘premium’ ones at 450 AED for the house beverage package. Ever since their launch in 2020 – we have never seen them offer any discount, and I do not think they plan to. They offer a guaranteed busy, and fun afternoon for kids, parents, as well as grandparents – and not just the usual 3 hours that you get at brunch, it’s 4 hours of all that! With pool access, and really good food, I think they are quite adequately priced 😉 Book the family in for a special occasion 😉
- Into the Jungle @ Giardino
- Palazzo Versace Dubai
- Every Saturday | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Book here.
Have a browse through the Family Brunches in Dubai listing for this, and other brunches.
Disclaimer :
- We were guests of Family Brunch Dubai to review Into the Jungle.
- We reviewed the brunch in August 2023. Please check with the Family Brunch team for current details.
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