The Best Saturday and Sunday Brunches in Ras Al Khaimah

A rapidly growing tourist destination and home to the 6th largest city in the United Arab Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah holds a world of possibilities. It is known for stunning beaches, breathtaking mountains, and rolling dunes that make for one-of-a-kind adventures. In between these unique experiences, you can feast on some of the tastiest food in the Middle East.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up all the can’t-miss restaurants serving weekend brunch in the northernmost Emirate, Ras Al Khaimah. We’ll provide the location, some highlights from the restaurants’ reviews, and some of the best dishes to order on each menu. 

If you’re not already feeling the pangs of cravings for Middle Eastern food, you will be by the end of this article. Read on to learn about our top 10 restaurants for Saturday and Sunday brunch in Ras Al Khaimah!

Basilico

Basilico is the restaurant located in the Cove Rotana Resort in Ras Al Khaimah and is one of the most popular locations for brunch in the entire Emirate. The atmosphere is fine casual dining, with stunning ocean views of the Arabian Gulf. Additionally, the restaurant features a number of open kitchen stations where you can watch the highly trained chefs prepare your meal. 

They are known for their Mediterranean-inspired and Italian-influenced menu that offers some of the freshest seafood and meat in the region. Additionally, they have a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options that will make even the pickiest eater happy. 

Basilico offers its full brunch menu every Saturday from 1-4 PM. Some of the highlights from the menu include a gourmet beef carpaccio with white truffle oil and a braised veal Osso bucca. Their extensive menu also includes a selection of handmade pizzas and pasta dishes.

Meze

Meze is located in the Marjan Island Boulevard DoubleTree right along the coast, giving diners beautiful views of the Arabian Gulf during their meals. Meze primarily serves Turkish food, with Lebanese influences as well. Their focus is on traditional Turkish meat dishes, such as lamb and chicken shish. However, they also have limited vegetarian options for those who avoid meat.

The real winner of the brunch at Meze is Turkish coffee. This caffeinated beverage is brewed from finely ground beans in a unique copper pot. Most other brewing methods require filtering the coffee grinds, but in the Turkish method, the coffee is so fine that it dissolves and becomes incorporated into the drink. 

If you prefer to avoid caffeine, they also have a variety of teas, sodas, and other nonalcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages to offer.

Claw BBQ

If you are craving American food when in Ras Al Khaimah, there is no better locale to visit than the Claw BBQ, which is a part of the Hampton By Hilton on Marjan Island.

Do you like eating spicy food? If you are feeling brave, you can take part in the legendary Claw BBQ Inferno Wings challenge! As the rules state, if you are able to eat 12 of their spiciest buffalo chicken wings in 20 minutes, you will go down in Claw history. 

Most people who try the challenge do not succeed and end up nursing the glass of ice cold milk that is free with every attempt. However, if you reach the milestone of eating seven wings, you get a free bottle of beer.

Buffalo wings are not the only challenge that Claw BBQ sets for its unsuspecting diners. They also have become known for what they call “The Beast.” The Beast is a whopping 7-pound hamburger loaded up with all the traditional toppings: cheese, onion rings, lettuce, tomato, and pickles, and is served with a side of chili cheese fries. 

Make sure you come to the Claw with an appetite because if you are able to finish every last crumb of The Beast burger in under 45 minutes, you will be heavily rewarded. Your meal will be free of charge, and your photo will be taken to hang forever on the restaurant’s hall of fame alongside others who have stared down the Beast and emerged victorious.

If eating challenges are not for you, don’t worry: Claw also offers a variety of other American foods, such as burgers (both beef and veggie patties available), sandwiches, tacos, and classic Southern desserts.

In true American fashion, this restaurant is for those who want excitement, theatrics, and drama to influence their weekend brunch. Claw BBQ often hosts live musicians and features a private room with arcade games! 

Gusto Restaurant & Cafe

If a more traditional restaurant is what you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong with the brunch menu at Gusto Restaurant & Cafe. A relaxing outdoor terrace makes dining al fresco an absolute dream. However, the elegant indoor decorations make for a lovely inside atmosphere as well.

The cuisine at Gusto is Italian and international, with a particular emphasis on serving healthy foods for diets of all kinds. In the “healthy” section of their menu, they even include the details of the nutrition facts for each of their dishes, such as total calorie content, macronutrients, and micronutrients.

Their international breakfast is not one to miss. Whether you prefer Arabic, English, American, or French foods in the morning, you will not be disappointed by Gusto’s variety of offerings. Their savory brunch menu is robust, and their sweet side is also noteworthy. A variety of pancakes, waffles, french toast, croissants, and other pastries will satisfy any sweet tooth. 

Their drink menu is also one of the most noteworthy in Ras Al Khaimah. A wide variety of brewed coffee, espresso, tea, smoothies, milkshakes, juices, and mocktails is available to choose from.

Final Thoughts

Are you feeling hungry yet? You won’t want to miss any of these highly rated restaurants for your weekend brunch in Ras Al Khaimah. If you are looking for a place to eat in the evening after a day of adventuring or relaxing on the beach, nearly all of the restaurants on this list also have an extensive dinner menu worth checking out.