If the idea of turkey and pudding alone leaves you cold this December, an Italian restaurant on the Dubai waterfront has a festive alternative that keeps the classics but adds some Mediterranean warmth. Pepe Cucina, the Italian eatery at Address Beach Resort in Jumeirah Beach Residence, is running two Christmas events over the 2026 holidays, and there's an early-bird discount for anyone who books ahead.
Book before December 19, 2026 and you'll knock 20% off the price of either sitting. That's a decent saving when you're feeding a family, especially since kids are already well looked after on the pricing front.
Christmas Eve, December 24, is a three-course affair built around Italian staples with a festive twist. Starters include a cured meat and cheese board plus truffle arancini. Mains offer a choice between roast turkey with chestnut and sage stuffing — the traditional option — or porcini mushroom risotto for anyone leaning Italian. Dessert is where it gets indulgent: a deconstructed bûche de Noël and spiced panettone bread and butter pudding. Live entertainment runs through the evening, and you can pick an early seating from 6pm to 9pm or a later one from 9.30pm to 12.30am. Packages start at Dhs366 for soft drinks, Dhs466 with house beverages and Dhs666 with Champagne.
Christmas Day leans bigger and more family-focused. The restaurant dresses up with festive lights, there's live entertainment, and Santa and his elves turn up for the children — worth knowing if you've got small kids who still believe. Two seatings again: 1pm to 4pm for the lunch crowd, and 7.30pm to 11.30pm for dinner. Pricing steps up slightly to Dhs466 soft, Dhs666 house and Dhs866 Champagne.
The kid-friendly maths works out nicely on both days. Children aged 4 to 12 pay half price on the soft package, and under-4s eat free, which makes this a realistic option for larger family groups rather than just couples.
For travellers, the location helps too. Address Beach Resort sits right on JBR, with The Beach mall, the promenade and the sand all within a short walk — so a long Christmas lunch can turn into an afternoon by the sea, and Dubai's December weather actually cooperates with outdoor plans. Bookings go through addresshotels.com, and given the early-booking discount expires on December 19, it's worth locking in tables soon if you'll be in the city for the holidays.
Whether you're a Dubai resident after a fuss-free Christmas or a visitor spending the festive season in the UAE, this covers the whole day-and-a-half arc: Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day lunch or dinner, Italian flavours throughout, and entertainment that keeps both adults and children happy.
Story via What's On Dubai.
