sim sim - saadiyat rotana resort & villas

running late and no time for cooking, i had to choose proper food that is close to the cuisine my husband likes, so i opted for the arabic dishes they have which were fish sayadiye and chicken mouloukieh. we were impressed wit the portions, very generous, and the taste was amazing, honestly we didn’t expect that at all. i highly recommend and unfortunatelty we forgot to take pics due to the level of hunger, we only realized at the end, but it won’t be fair to share empty plates :)

the saadiyat rotana resort and villas is home to some of the finest dining venues in abu dhabi and hosts what is arguably the best friday brunch in town at their superb sim sim restaurant.

a multi award winning brunch styled on the lines of a fresh market, the market brunch at sim sim will leave you amazed with the sheer variety of cuisines on offer, from classic indian street food to peking duck, a whole lamb ouzi, the freshest seafood, caviar, desserts we can go on and on.

the venue
we arrived to find the place packed with a short line of guests still waiting to be seated and we could tell they definitely have something special going on here. the ambiance is electric and we couldn’t wait to dive in.

sim sim is a huge outlet with a massive central island featuring live cooking stations behind glass and traditional market style counters along the sides bustling with activity. keeping with the market theme the entrance is flanked by colorful carts loaded with fresh vegetables creating an market illusion.


seating inside is suitably distanced and there is a massive outdoor patio almost extending all the way to the pool that offers fantastic outdoor seating complete with umbrellas to shade you form the sun.

there is music playing with waiters scurrying around furiously, the aroma of fresh grilled seafood permeates the air and we are immediately relaxed looking forward to a few hours of sinful gluttony.

the food
the food, we don’t think we can do justice to all there is at this fabulous brunch, but we will do our best so lets start with the central island. at the start is the indian section serving some fresh grilled kebabs and a street style chola puri which we loved. the biryani was fragrant and perfectly flavored.


we move on and come to the asian section, there is peking duck and an array of classic asian fare, the fried rice and the kung pao chicken are amazing and were sent to our table in traditional takeaway boxes which was a neat touch.


the momos and dumpling section is next along with an assortment of spring rolls that are crisp and tasty, we couldn’t resist the fresh french fries and the bao buns. the pasta counters is next, we grabbed an excellent fettuccini in a truffle cream sauce that was just decadent.

the cheese cart is calling us, a huge selection of the finest cheese awaits along with an assortment of preserves, there is a life size cow pointing the way to the cheese which was so cute.


the salad stall is next with rows of fresh salads waiting to be sampled, we loved the freshness of the produce but decided to try just a small sampling to save space for the rest.

next up is the sushi counter, rows and rows of freshly prepared morsels of sushi are ready for you, we grab some california rolls and move on to our table, our plates are full.


after a suitable gap we venture out again and find the caviar and oyster carts, the freshest oysters are waiting to be had, we couldn’t help grabbing a few and hey were simply divine. the caviar on tiny blinis were irresistible, we must admit we had to go back for seconds.

up next is the extensive cold cuts display with a mind boggling selection of cuts, some we have never heard of before so we helped ourselves to a few samples which were delicious.


next up is the huge seafood section, rows and rows of the freshest seafood is on offer, choose form mussels, razor clams, crab legs, calamari or move on to the seafood market where you can pick any of the fresh fish, prawns or lobsters and have them grilled to your liking and served tableside.


there were live lobsters that were still moving around which were irresistible and we had some sent to the grill along with a bunch of plump tiger prawns. the lobster came back pink and lightly grilled the meat was sweet and tender, just perfect we had to ask for a second serving.


at this point we are ready to burst so a brisk walk around the pool was in order before we could gather our thought and head over the massive carvery section.

the carvery takes up one full side of the central island, huge chunks of prime rib, brisket, grilled fish, roast chicken turkey, lamb shanks and a stunning beef wellington are on offer. we loved the braised brisket and the prime rib, the beef wellington was magnificent and the roast chicken was exquisite.


next to this is a huge covered platter of lamb ouzi with a full lamb in the center that is fork tender, the rice is aromatic and fluffy and the lamb just melts in your mouth, simply stunning.

its time to stop gorging ourselves or there will be no place for the magnificent dessert selection so we head on over and are completely blow away by the sheer variety. it felt like the dessert section was a brunch in itself.

the desserts
rows and rows of artfully decorated racks each with a mouth watering selection of exquisitely crafted deserts just blew us away. there was a chocolate fountain and a huge dessert wheel that you could spin and select any of the different single serve bowls you fancied, never seen one of these in abu dhabi before.


the blueberry cheesecake was one of the best we have ever had and the mango passion cake was another stunner. we couldn’t pass on the cherry tart or the chocolate fondant, there was a special place for the tiramisu as well as the fruit tarts, the variety is truly spectacular as is the presentation.


that was it for us, the thought of the long walk to the car just made us cringe so we moved outside to recoup over a cup of cappuccino and enjoy the afternoon breeze, perhaps a short nap would be in order?

the verdict
the market brunch is truly spectacular, the sheer variety on offer is mind boggling and the taste is exceptional. we were amazed at the exceptional level of service in such a busy brunch, there was not a time we felt neglected or our drinks were not replenished in time, hats of to the remarkable team behind this huge operation.



we truly indulged to our hearts content and are happy to say the market brunch delivers way more than one would expect form any brunch in abu dhabi. we will definitely be back again soon.

the packages
soft package at aed 390* per person inclusive of unlimited soft beverages.
house beverage package at aed 515* per person inclusive of unlimited house beverages.
premium package at aed 615* per person inclusive of access to the vip lounge, bubbly, premium beverages, grapes & mixology.
children from 6 to 11 years old at aed 195*. children below 6 years dine for free.
full day pool & beach access for brunch guests:

aed 175* per adult
aed 300* per couple
aed 400* for family (2 adults and 3 children, from 4 to 15 years old).
aed 100 for additional child. complimentary for children under 4 years old.
every friday, from 1 pm to 4 pm at sim sim restaurant.

i recently got an invitation from @saadiyatrotana for their award winning “market brunch”.we started feeling the magic the moment we stepped in.
there were traditional wagons and pretty drink stations positioned well all over the place.each station was decorated beautifully to reflect the cuisine it serves. the seafood area was adorned with fish nets, and the huge cheese counter was guarded by the imposing figure of a cow.
we started with asian street food stall that provides freshly prepared pad thai,cashew stir fry and some dim sum. it was all interesting and brilliantly tasty.
there was quite often a long line at the sushi station where chefs were busy preparing sushi, maki and sashimi. the seafood corner was a pleasure for the eyes and was overflowing with lobster, shrimp and more.the carving station was really impressive with a large variety of juicy meats and grilled chicken,turkey,lamb and beef with all the appetizing trimmings around.
we loved the colourful display at indian street food corner and kept returning for more paneer tikka.
cheese lovers will feel the urge to visit the remarkable cheese stall facing the bread and pastry as it is filled with an impressive selection of cheeses picked from around the world.
initially i wanted to skip the dessert but couldn’t resist the temptation and went for coconut eclair and most cute carrot cake i have ever seen.
as we finished everything off with a smooth and frothy cappuccino ,we are already planning our next visit. special thanks to manager akrom and miss april for their great service 💕
if you haven’t tried market brunch yet , then you are surely missing out on something amazing.

book your table now @saadiyatrotana and experience very refined and premium delicacies, indulge on french bubbles, try some refined grapes and cocktails along with oysters, get fresh foie gras on toast and even caviar topped on tiny blinis.all under one roof while enjoying massive buffet brunch !!

we went in for market brunch.
was really impressed by the setting and the food.
great service and variety of cuisines to choose from.
was really delighted to know that they have a kids area where you can just drop them with the staffs and dine in peacefully. the staffs takecare of the kids and assist them while playing, when required would take them to us as well.

the price might not be very economical but the food and service is totally worth is and is worth giving a try.

am someone with sweet tooth and was really happy with their range of desserts.

they have a live fish counter, you choose your fish get them cleaned and grilled and they serve it on to your table - which is why all the food tasted fresh and yummy.

not a pleasant experience, the buffet opens at 7pm. we were refused to enter at 6:55 but they let other guests in at 6:56. what a funny logic! not much food variety, and food quality is average. we asked a station where makes sashimi sushi to make some sashimi for us and got a rude response “ you can eat sashimi in japanese restaurant not here”. will never come back again and we advise you not to waste money here.

situated amidst verdant manicured gardens on a premium stretch of beachfront lies the saadiyat rotana resort and villas. a property that exudes natural charm via its promotion of emirati heritage and the ability to blend seamlessly into both the cultural and natural landscape of the capital. taking on the brown, yellow and orange hues of the desert dunes as a colour palette for the property, guests are presented at the entrance of the hotel with sand from all seven emirates, inlaid within glass panels in the floor. saadiyat rotana easily makes for the most impressive rotana property in the uae and marks a step into the luxury market for the brand, following in the footsteps of bahrain’s art rotana in a bid to encapsulate a luxurious resort feel while ensuring the guest experience remains front and centre.

located in sadiyat rotana this is the in house restaurant offered while booking half or full boards.

i've only been here for breakfast and they not only have a large selection of dishes but a number of different cuisines... for breakfast...
i've never been more confused on what i want to eat early in the morning. from american to indian. well done!

the place is huge and spots a great view of the pool.
very well cooked food and amazing table service.

all staff amazing very polite and accomodating. rotana saadiyat done the great job..
food is good you have a lot of options.will be back for sure.

i tried sim sim iftar this ramadan. the food is okay and the variety is just fine. the atmosphere is good and the staff are friendly. nothing outstanding though but its a nice place overall.