The buffet opens at 9 a.m. on most days, so I headed over for brunch right when it opened.

I was there on a weekend with my sister, and our brunch tickets were $65 per person. There was a line from the moment we arrived.

While checking in, I was given a table and no other instructions.

Per my online reservation details, I had about 90 minutes to enjoy the buffet after I got my seat.

Unsure of where to begin, my sister and I walked to the seafood station first. There were clams, crab claws, mussels, shrimp, and other seafood items.

It included items like sliders and popular sides for meat dishes, like corn on the cob. I also saw more unique items, like truffle-roasted chicken.

There was an entire display devoted to sausages, and passed meaty breakfast staples like bacon and corned-beef hash.

The carving station had striploin, prime rib, and smoked brisket, to name a few meats.

I also had the option to wait a little longer and have some of the meats freshly cut for me.

This breakfast station included waffles, pancakes, and French toast.

The buffet offered various fixings like frosting, sprinkles, and fruit that you could use to customize your dish.

There were also eggs, oatmeal, and other typical breakfast items in this section. The display looked incredible.

The highlight of the Mexican-inspired section was probably the made-to-order birria tacos loaded with marinated meat.

Ready-made buffet options included different types of beans, tortillas, and various tacos.

Next, I was at what appeared to be the Italian-style station with Italian wedding soup and arancini, stuffed Italian rice balls.

The section also had croque madame, though, which is a French dish with ham and egg.

The buffet had so many options and I spent a ton of time trying to decide what I actually felt like grabbing.

At this brunch buffet, there seemed to be a huge emphasis on more savory, lunch-worthy foods.

The section had a range of pizza and flatbread options, each with a detailed description of its toppings labeled above.

There were also ready-to-eat pasta dishes and a made-to-order pasta station if you wanted to get something customized.

The bread selection featured a large assortment, from brioche buns to cornbread. It even had multiple types of crackers.

The cheese station was packed with slices, cubes, and chunks of all different cheeses.

At this station, I found slices of meat and a range of nuts and dried food, which felt worthy of a charcuterie board.

This station had rolls including vegan options and Spam musubi, a roll featuring canned ham that's popular in Hawaii.

I also saw a wide range of Asian-inspired soups and six types of dumplings up for grabs.

The section had a ton of entrée options, ranging from salt-and-pepper frog legs and General Tso's chicken to fried rice and black-pepper beef.

The buffet had every dessert you could imagine, including miniature tarts, cookies, and freshly made crepes.

The sorbet station had a section nearby with toppings, like sprinkles and syrups, to dress up your sweet treat.

The desserts looked adorable and easy to grab.

I appreciated that the fruit was ready to eat — the melon was cut and grapes were de-vined.

The crepe station, like many of the buffet sections with made-to-order dishes, had a long line in front of it.

I wasn't surprised by the lines since the buffet is pretty popular and famous, but it made it difficult to decide what was actually worth waiting to order.

It felt a lot easier to just grab dishes that were already available.

The many options made it overwhelming for me and I simply couldn't decide what to eat. It was a bit of a paradox of choice — having too many options made it hard for me to pick any.

Because of that, I didn't actually get much at the buffet. I just got a crepe, plantains, and a crème brûlée

In terms of taste, the food was what I'd expect from a buffet: decent quality with some highs and lows.

Some things (like the freshly made crepes) were better than others. It wasn't the best food I've ever had, but it was good.

The Bacchanal Buffet was unlike anything I've ever seen before, and it felt very "Las Vegas." The massive displays of food were impressive, grand, and beautiful.

For me, though, the experience was overwhelming with its many food options and lines. I didn't even end up wanting to take $65 worth of food.

I'm glad I tried the buffet once — and I recommend going if you've never been — but I don't feel the need to go back.

This story was originally published on December 11, 2023, and most recently updated on February 12,2025.

Dubai has year-round sunshine, but I now know the best time to visit the city is during the winter, which, according to US News, spans from November to early March.

When I went in January 2022, the temperature ranged from 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit without any humidity. It was warm enough to enjoy touring and being out and about.

The temperature was also perfect when I stayed in the city and went to the desert. There was a slight breeze by the sea and marina, but nothing that required a jacket during the day. The sundresses and lightweight dresses I packed worked perfectly, but I advise bringing a jacket or long-sleeve shirt since it can get a bit chilly in the evening.

I didn't realize just how big Dubai was until I visited. There is an endless amount of activities, so I would suggest trying to identify your priorities before landing in the city.

Based on my experience, I recommend visiting the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world), going on the Ain Dubai, wandering the souks, and strolling along the Jumeirah Beach Residence Walk.

At night, it's worth snagging tickets to see the La Perle show and walking around the Dubai Mall to see the fountain show and lights around the Burj Khalifa.

Though the world's tallest building and highest observation wheel were worth seeing, don't skip the historical part of the city. Visiting Al Seef, the souks, and taking an abra (a boat) across the river were definitely highlights of the trip.

Parts of the city are extremely innovative and new, but older areas showcase its history and culture. Seeing both allowed me to appreciate how the city has evolved over time.

Though I originally planned on visiting only one of the seven emirates, the emirate of Dubai, my friends told me I had to incorporate a day trip to Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is located in the eponymous emirate. We hired a tour guide to take us on the hour-and-a-half drive to Abu Dhabi and around the main sites.

In Abu Dhabi, we visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Qasr Al Watan (a working Presidential palace), and Heritage Village.

I loved the emirate so much that I'd love to go back just to see more of it.

I'm allergic to sesame, so I was worried about what I'd eat on this trip since Middle-Eastern food and Emirati cuisine often use this ingredient.

However, Dubai had every cuisine I could imagine. Everything from Italian food to Chinese options was available, so my choices were not limited.

Though everything we tried was delicious, the food could be pricey.

Since Dubai is such a large city, I think it's best to stay close to its attractions. I selected the Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre because it was only a two-minute drive (or a 20-minute walk) to the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall and close to restaurants and shops.

Since it was in the center of the city, grabbing taxis and finding transportation was easy.

Many visitors also opt to stay in Palm Jumeirah, which has waterfront hotels with larger properties and private beaches. It's still close to the city but has some privacy.

I hired tour guides to maximize my time in Dubai, which was one of the best decisions I made. 

We hired guides to take us around the city on our first day, as well as on our day trip to Abu Dhabi, the desert, and a nightlife tour. We made the most of our time in the city and we saw a ton.

We booked most of the guides through the hotel or by recommendations from friends and family who had visited. Each guide was relatively affordable and was accompanied by a driver.

The holy sites we visited had a dress code. Men should wear a shirt with sleeves that are at least elbow length with long trousers. In mosques, women need to wear an abaya and shayla, which covers their body and hair.

You can purchase an abaya and shayla at many tourist sites or borrow them ahead of entry. I didn't realize the mosques had a dress code, but I would have planned my outfit beforehand if I had.

I typically stay away from deserts, but dune bashing — driving at varying speeds over sand dunes — in Dubai was one of my favorite activities on the trip. It was almost like riding a roller coaster on the sand and we got to see a beautiful sunset before heading back to the city. 

Don't miss dune bashing if you take a trip to the emirate.

You can grab souvenirs from just about any attraction in Dubai, but I think you'll get the best prices and selection at the souks, or marketplaces.

Dubai has a multitude of open-air souks, ranging from one for gold to a market for spices, and they each sell a wide variety of items. I purchased spices, jewelry, and souvenirs from different souks and strongly believe they're worth checking out.

This story was originally published on September 12, 2022, and most recently updated on November 20, 2024.