Iftar of the day: Ewaan, The Palace

In a cosmopolitan hub such as Dubai, one can sometimes be left thirsting for culture; who would have known that a quiet Arabian delight of Ewaan, situated right next to the world's tallest building, could quench all thirsts this Ramadan.

From the moment you drive into the Palace, the ambience hushes "your majesty" until you're truly left feeling like royalty. Rose-scented air washes away all your worries as you enter the hotel and find your way to Ewaan.

Dates and dried fruits like jewels in wooden boxes welcomed us as we were guided to our table facing the outdoor pool. Just as the sun was melting into the pool water, we heard the call to prayer, and ended our fast with an assortment of meze bursting with true Arabian spices and flavours.

Not one in favour of buffets, I was pleasantly surprised to find everything from the moutabel and the kebbeh to the mixed grill at the live stations prepared to the right taste and temperature, over and over again, for the diners to eat to their hearts' content. Add to the list the never-before-seen-at-a-buffet mini shawarmas with an array of pickles.

Juicy fresh shrimp on skewers and traditional rice and meat lavishly served on huge platters were as much of a delight to the taste buds as they were to the eyes. It was truly an Arabian night — wooden dining tables carved in traditional themes, ceiling-high royal arches and lanterns evoking shadows in the night.

We ended our journey to the taste of Arabia with refreshing Moroccan tea served in traditional silver cups and rose shisha — and with that we royally arrived back home from The Palace, with a promise to return.

• Where: Ewaan, The Palace - The Old Town, Dubai, Downtown Burj Khalifa. Call 04-8883444 or e-mail dine@theaddress.com
• Price: Iftar buffet from sunset to 9pm from Dh190 per person including Arabic beverages. Suhour a la carte on weekdays from 10pm-2am and weekends from 10pm-3am from Dh150 per person.

For more iftar listings, visit gulfnews.com/tabloid