A slice of Bavaria is landing on Palm Jumeirah. Fairmont The Palm is turning its garden into an open-air German food and beer night, running from Friday, September 18 to October 4, with tables under the stars from 6pm each evening.
The menu leans fully into southern Germany. Start with warm pretzels and whipped Obatzda, the classic beer-cheese spread, then move on to sausages — Bratwurst, Weisswurst and veal Nürnberger, or a sharing platter if you can't pick. Bigger plates include wiener schnitzel, slow-roasted pork belly, beer-braised short rib and truffle and wild mushroom spätzle. Dessert is suitably old-school: apfelstrudel, Black Forest gateau or Bavarian vanilla cream with berry compote.
Drinks are the other half of the equation. A classic hops package gets you two hours of unlimited German beer for Dhs200, or you can upgrade to the Bavarian package at Dhs250. Everything's à la carte if you'd rather pay as you go. A solo singer-guitarist provides the soundtrack, keeping things relaxed rather than raucous — this is a garden evening, not a full Oktoberfest tent.
There's some serious German kitchen pedigree behind it. Chef Karsten Gottschalk, the resort's new Ambassador for the pop-up, has spent more than 45 years cooking and actually founded what became Abu Dhabi's largest Oktoberfest back in the 1990s, once seating over 1,800 guests in a single service. He's teaming up with Fairmont's Director of Culinary, Darren Andow, and the resort team on the menu.
For anyone in Dubai who misses autumn beer-garden season — or visitors after something different from the usual brunch circuit — it's an easy evening out that works for families and groups of friends alike. The run is short, just over two weeks, so booking ahead via fairmont.com or calling 04 457 3388 is the sensible move.
