Taste test: brunch at Rosewood Abu Dhabi

We visited one of the newest brunches in Abu Dhabi this weekend, at the Rosewood Abu Dhabi's Aqua restaurant. It's an inviting venue for Friday fun, chiefly thanks to the panoramic views and extensive terrace, though the airy, high-ceilinged interior is equally enticing. The atmosphere was sophisticated but unpretentious, too, as opposed to the rowdiness that can characterise many brunches in the city.

Under the cheerful watching eye of the Rosewood's Greek head chef Harris Sakalis, the brunch boasts dishes from a quartet of the hotel's swankiest restaurants: the Italian fare of Aqua, Catalan's Spanish fine dining, some of the city's best pan-Indian food from Spice Mela and Sambusek's Lebanese cuisine.

While plentiful additions outside that foursome's remits, such as a wide sushi selection, mean that all of the brunch-favourite boxes are ticked, it's the regional contributions that make it a real contender as far as the food is concerned.

The Italian influence guarantees great focaccia – we can vouch for that – a beautiful cheese board and freshly made pizza. The latter was delivered to our table first by the slice and then, after discovering the crisp lightness of the Margherita (with cherry tomatoes and basil) and requesting seconds, an entire pizza.

Spanish omelette, served up in its thickest, cake-like incarnation, was a hit as well, as were a particularly notable selection of cured meats of distinctly European persuasions.

Brunch packages at Aqua start at Dh250 for adults and Dh100 for children. For reservations, call 02 813 5550 or visit the Rosewood Abu Dhabi's website for more information.