Iftar of the day: Amwaj Rotana, The Walk, Jumeirah Beach

Just like The Walk, the iftar buffet at the Amwaj Rotana in Jumeirah Beach Residence is festive and lively.

We started with the obligatory dates and a Ramadan drink. It was a virgin strawberry mojito — sweet, refreshing, light and a bit fizzy — perfect after a long, hot, humid day of fasting. The service was prompt and genuinely friendly.

The extensive buffet was constantly being refilled with piping hot lentil soup, chicken soup, an extensive cheese platter, Arabic hot and cold mezze, and salads. Must-tries are the shawarmas, made fresh to order, and the butter chicken.

The highlight of the buffet was, without a doubt, the desserts. Date cakes, traditional Moroccan cake, chocolate cake, Umm Ali, baklava, several types of mousse, and fruits were just a few of the choices. But my personal favourite was the chocolate fondue fountain.