Dining At The Top Of The World
Dubai, UAE
Cuisine Style: Global, Eclectic
Average Price: $$$$$
Overall Rating: 5/5
Article Updated: February 2020
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
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If you have traveled to Dubai, then you suddenly may think that you have died and gone to heaven from the meal that you just ate, therefore you made your reservations at the At.mosphere Restaurant. Located on the 122nd floor of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, just looking out the window is a spectacular sight. Hopefully, you’re not afraid of heights, because you will get vertigo. Don’t worry, if Tom Cruise can go up that high for Mission Impossible 4 Ghost Protocol, then so can you! In fact, the restaurant holds the Guinness World Record for the highest located restaurant from ground level. The only irritation you will face is the attempt to make reservations, because I tried on and off for over a year, but never made the reservations out far enough, so this time I learned my lessons and made them three months out.
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| At.Mosphere / Dubai |
Critically acclaimed as one of the finest luxury dining and lounge experiences in the world at 442 meters (1,350 ft high) on Level 122 and only two levels below ‘At the Top, Burj Khalifa,’ the tower’s observatory deck, At.mosphere presents a unique dining concept that appeals to all epicureans – from fine dining connoisseurs to lounge bar-goers. At night, the views of the city and stunning vistas of the world’s tallest performing fountain - The Dubai Fountain come to life before your very eyes...
Menu:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- At.Mosphere Signature Menu
- 7 courses pre-fixe
- 7 courses with wine pairings
- At.Mosphere tasting menu with 5 courses
- 3-course dinner menu
- Mains
- Desserts
When I made my reservations for At.Mosphere, I requested the Chef tasting menu with wine pairings, versus the regular menu. Upon arrival at the Burj Khalifa Tower, before entering the elevator, security confirms your reservation codes before you can even go up. The elevator travels at 8 meters per second going from the ground floor to 122 in less than one minute. About halfway on your ride up, your ears start to pop. The restaurant itself was designed by American architect Adam D. Tihany who was named one of the world’s best Architects by the New York Times in 2001. The entire restaurant staff was one of the most professional I have ever seen. The dining room is divided into the main restaurant with a private dining room and an open lounge. I was sat next to a window in the main dining room, which I highly recommend since it is the best view of the city, and the desert beyond.
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| At.Mosphere / Dubai from the 122nd floor |
The server, Ivan from Ukraine introduced himself and provided some bottled water, the wine list, and the Chef’s Tasting Menu. As part of the tasting menu, I would be able to choose four wines, at any interval I wished. As I looked over the tasting menu and wine list, a server assistant started me off with their bread selection of brown rolls, and focaccia style artichoke bread with basil. Served with the bread were an artichoke paste and a French espelette chili pepper-infused with butter. The tasting menu began with the Amuse Bouche, which was a Pacific oyster over a bed of caviar and poppy seeds. The white wine I chose for this and the first course was the 2011Allegrini Pinot Grigio from Venezie, Italy. According to the winemakers' notes, it was a brilliant very pale straw color with watery hue. The nose displays lifted scents of pear, dried honey, apple and a hint of spice. Lightweight but with good mouthfeel the palate is quite flavorsome with pear, apple, dried honey, and spice characters. Clean dry finish with medium to the long aftertaste of pear, dried honey, and spice. When finished I noticed the servers cleared the plates that they had served from the left and cleared from the right, the proper French service style.
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| At.Mosphere / Pacific Oysters |
Course number one was a ceviche yellowfin tuna carpaccio, topped with a microgreen salad presented in a similar style to a French niçoise salad with green beans, boiled potato, artichoke, avocado puree, and assorted jams. The best part about these dishes was that you could try all the small items individually for flavor before combining to pair with the actual main dish item.
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| At.Mosphere / Yellowfin tuna |
The next course was a slow-cooked foie gras with pear sorbet, Sauternes jelly, fig compote, and herb brioche. At this time, the Assistant Manager Abdou Hakkadi introduced himself and throughout the evening we had several conversations about food, service, and general culinary. With this dish, I had a glass of 2011 Case Lapostolle Merlot from Rapel Valley, Chile, and the eucalyptus flavor paired wonderfully with the foie gras. According to the winemakers' notes, this blend was 85% Carmenère; 15% Syrah certified organic by CERES. Expressive and intense nose, packed with ripe black and red fruit aromas, savory notes, and white and black spices. Silky texture with red fruit and spice flavors. Medium tannins structure with a round mid-palate and a long finish. Cellar for several years or decant and serve at 16-18°C (60 to 65°F). An ideal companion for meats and elaborate dishes.
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| At.Mosphere / Foie Gras |
With three courses finished, it was time for a break, and the staff offered me a magazine or newspaper to read since I had been there an hour to see the sunset from the top of the world. I used the restroom and thought I had seen it all. While washing my hands, there was a mirror in front of the sink as in any bathroom, but to the left and the right sides of the mirror was a glass window looking out into the city. You didn’t have to worry about privacy, because who was going to see from the 122nd floor.
The next course, which required going back to white wine, and a perfect white wine from my favorite region in the world for Chardonnay’s, was the 2011 La Chablisienne, Fourchaume, Chablis. 1er Cru, Burgundy. The Château’s winemaker remarks that it is a very fine bouquet of white flowers dominated by honeysuckle and giving an impression of freshness. Good liveliness in the taste followed by honey flavors. The finish itself is energetic and saline. I picked up flavors of tropical fruit, honey, and chamomile.
What better to have with such a bouquet, but course number four, a poached organic Tasmanian salmon, slowly prepared at 50°f (10°c), for 20 minutes, served with almond gazpacho, verjus (hunter’s sauce), apple carpaccio, and fennel crackers.
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| At.Mosphere / Tasmanian Salmon |
I don’t know how the night could get better, but it did because it was now time for the main entrée. A Wagyu steak, which is the second-best cut of beef in the world. Originating from Japanese Kobe beef, the Wagyu cut is a cross between Kobe beef and American black Angus. The steak was served over a white celery puree, topped with a smoky pepper sauce, morels, confit tomato, white celery sticks, and chicken chorizo, perfectly cooked to medium-rare temperature. As I cut into the steak, I noticed that the knife was engraved with the numbers “122,” a very nice touch. With the entrée I went back to a red wine again, this time choosing the 2008 Château Mont-Redon, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône Valley, France. This region is my favorite selections of red to drink, and this Château is a blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Counoise, Muscardin and Vaccarese. According to the winemaker, it has a bright violet hue, ripe red fruit character on the nose along with intense spiciness. A delicate mouth feels with a broad texture that demonstrates a great harmony and focused fruit profile. Velvety tannins leading to the soft finish. A vintage more about elegance than concentration.
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| At.Mosphere / Wagyu Steak |
While enjoying this course the Director of Food and Beverage Operations Mr. Jerome Pichon introduced himself, and later gave me a tour of the entire restaurant, lounge, private dining, and the wine cellar. From there I returned to my seat and awaited the dessert courses.
Desserts:
The last two courses started with the white Snow dish, which was Ghana ice cream, with white chocolate, and a Japanese Yuzu granita citrus fruit. It went down very nicely with a glass of Moscato Passito from Palazzina, Italy. According to the website winemaker notes, it has a straw yellow with gold reflections, intense, balanced, plus fruity: (apricots, dried figs), with pleasant notes of a cookie, honey and a good balance of structure and acidity.
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| At.Mosphere / White snow |
The second dessert was the At.mosphere “crunch” dessert, which was a wonderful display of assorted blue and blackberries, granola, milk marshmallows, banana, caramel rice crisps, and on the side a small chilled shot glass of parsnip infused milk. I had a glass of 1985 Taylor’s Port and a cappuccino to go with this dessert. Taylor’s winemakers express the elegance and finesse with wonderfully pure and complex fruit, dense blackberry and cassis fruitiness is overlaid with wild herbal aromas. Tarry notes of licorice and tobacco and a palate crammed with thick mouth-filling tannins.
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| At.mosphere / “crunch” dessert |
Upon finishing, Mr. Pichon then gave me the tour of the kitchen, where I met the Chef de Cuisine, Mr. Fernando Trump. When I returned to the table, the server had placed some Petit Fours on the table consisting of some tiny chocolate samples to finish me off with. As I paid the bill and avoided a heart attack from the price, I was given another small box of chocolates to take home with me.
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| At.Mosphere / Petit Fours |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
European Union:
France:
Other Noteworthy Global and Eclectic Cuisine Articles and Restaurants Similar to At.Mosphere:
Eclectic normally pertains to things that are different, varied or don’t fit into any particular category of food. They are foods prepared in various ways, combinations, or different styles. Like Italian, Japanese, and French all in one. Eclectic first appeared in the seventeenth century to describe philosophers who did not belong to a particular school of thought but instead assembled their doctrines by picking and choosing from a variety of philosophical systems.
Alinea Highly creative New American molecular gastronomy tasting menus in Chicago, Illinois
At.mosphere Upscale fine dining global cuisine on the 122nd floor, Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, UAE
Attica An innovative and eclectic tasting menu restaurant in Ripponlea, Australia
Aubergine Restaurant Innovative East meets West concept in Cape Town, South Africa
Bon Appétit Waterfront Restaurant An Eclectic Blend of American and European Cuisine in Dunedin, Florida
Bongos Bar and Grille Eclectic beachfront bistro, Cuban and American cuisine, in St. Pete Beach, Florida
Compass Grill Eclectic American fine dining in on a beach resort, on St. Pete Beach, Florida
Crabby Bill’s Home to an eclectic menu of seafood offerings on St. Pete Beach, Florida
Edison Food + Drink Lab Eclectic and innovative gastropub using molecular gastronomy in Tampa, Florida
Enigma Restaurant Turkish culinary journey with an eclectic European twist In Dubai, UAE
Fiddlesticks Eclectic and innovative New Zealand cuisine in Christchurch, New Zealand
Junsui An eclectic taste of Asia with buffets at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Kuneho (Formally Qui Restaurant) Eclectic global plates and sushi in Austin, Texas
O’Bistro A casual style bistro focusing on the Mediterranean and New American Cuisine with a small eclectic flair in St Petersburg, Florida
Signature Restaurant Contemporary and elegant eclectic eatery in Sandton, South Africa
Sparkman’s Wharf An outdoor Channelside venue with a beer garden, coffeehouse, and 10+ restaurants in Tampa, Florida
Squid Lips Eclectic and casual style seafood dishes in Melbourne, Florida
The Test Kitchen Modern eclectic and Nouvelle Latin cuisine in Cape Town, South Africa
Tetsuya’s Eclectic French-Asian tasting menu restaurant in Sydney, Australia
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Dubai restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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“Mastic” Ice-cream
Deira, Dubai, UAE
|
Posh and artful French cuisine + culinary experimentalism at Intercontinental Hotel
Now called Pierre's Bistro
Festival City, Dubai, UAE
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W. Asian, N. African, & European dishes
Deira, Dubai, UAE
|
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Turkish culinary journey with an eclectic European twist
Plaza Versace Hotel, Dubai, UAE
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An eclectic taste of Asia with buffets at the Burj Al Arab
Dubai, UAE
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A walk into the Piemonte with a contemporary twist
DFIC, Dubai, UAE
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for At.Mosphere
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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10
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9
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1
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Food quality
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10
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8
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2
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Plate presentation
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9
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8.5
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0.5
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Customer service
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8.5
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8
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0.5
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
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7.5
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2.5
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Total regular points awarded
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47.5
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41
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6.5
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Total percentage Before Bonus
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0.863157894736842
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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4
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0842105263157895
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Total percentage with a bonus for the final star rating
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0.947368421052632
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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5
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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5 of 5 Stars:
95% Rating with a 4 point “wow” bonus
An Extraordinary Dining Experience
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Wine rating:
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6.5 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Germany, Italy, Spain
New World selections:
Argentina, Australia, California, Canada, Chile, Lebanon, New Zealand, South Africa, Washington State
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Corkage fees:
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This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant-style:
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Semi-formal dining
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Cuisine style at At.Mosphere:
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Eclectic, Global
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-Free, Halal, Low Carb, Organic, Pescatarian, Vegan, and Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Required
Walk-Ins:
Not accepted
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Dress code:
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Formal attire
Gentleman – Dress Coats, Dinner Jackets, or Smart Business Attire
UAE National Dress permitted
Ladies – Semi Formals, Cocktail Dresses, or Formal Gowns
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Modern, Lounge, Business parties, Hotspot, Great bar,, Good for special occasions, Scenic views, Classy, Upscale, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Valet
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
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Smoking:
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At. Mosphere is a non-smoking restaurant
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Patio or terrace:
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No
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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Arab Emerite Dirham (AED)
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د.د.د.د.د.
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$$$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£££££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$$$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€€€€
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Cost of wines and other alcoholic beverages:
Included in prix-fixe menu price
At.Mosphere:
Sheikh Zayed Road
Level 122
Burj Khalifa
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+971 (4) 888 3444
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Online reservations
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Website Contact:
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Serving hours:
Dubai Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC + 3:00)
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Breakfast: Mon-Sun
7:00 am - 11:00 am
Lunch: Mon-Sun
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
High Tea Lounge:
Mon-Sun
12:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Dinner: Mon-Sun
6:30 pm - 11:30 pm
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Social Media
and
Accolades for At.Mosphere:
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****
The world's best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
Southwestern-inspired New American fare
San Antonio, Texas, USA
|
Contemporary & elegant eclectic eatery
Johannesburg, South Africa
|
upscale locally sourced seafood eatery with ocean views
Vero Beach, Florida, USA
|
Other Pictures:
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| At.Mosphere / Burj Khalifa Tower, picture courtesy of At.Mosphere |
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| At.Mosphere / Picture of fountains from the 122nd floor |
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| At.Mosphere / Private dining room |
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| At.Mosphere / Bread starter |
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| At.Mosphere / Kitchen Action |
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| At.Mosphere / Kitchen |
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| At.Mosphere / Dining Room |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
