On the night of our stay at Palazzo Versace, we headed downstairs to have dinner at their Italian restaurant, Vanitas. The restaurant is beyond beautiful in decor, and everything is very classy and bourgeoisie.

When we got to the maitre de’s desk, they confirmed our reservation but informed us that we couldn’t bring Khalifa in. They was a ‘no kids under 5’ rule, and this was the first that we heard of it. Soon a manager came and said that he could make an exception if we sat at the far end of the restaurant. This was a little disappointing, but I do understand that some restaurants just aren’t kid-friendly; I had only wished that we knew before.

We were seated and a waiter brought the menu to us. All of the waiters that served us were incredibly kind and helpful. They brought out some crispy bread with tapanades and dips. While waiting on our mains, I noticed that everything was made by Versace– from the tables  and chairs to the plates, knives and forks!

I completely skipped appetizers and went straight for mains because I really wanted to save room for dessert. The restaurant specializes in seafood, so I opted to try one of their signature dishes. It was a delicious piece of fish which the chef doesn’t overpower the taste with too many spices, so you can really taste the freshness of the fish. It’s also a very light main, which is perfect if you want to try out one of their decadent desserts.

My husband had the pasta. I tried some his and it was absolutely scrumptious! If we ever end up going back to the restaurant, I will definitely be ordering that dish. The sauce was on point, the seafood was cooked perfectly and the pasta was very filling.

Since my husband was quite full from his hearty meal, he skipped on desserts, but that wasn’t the case with me. I ordered one of the most delicious chocolate desserts I’ve ever had. There are so many different elements to it, and it all comes together so beautifully. Its rich, but also light and airy; sweet but also a little bitter.

They also brought out a display of different kinds of chocolate for my husband since he didn’t order any dessert. He enjoyed sampling some of the chocolates, and found that each one was specially made, and no two were the same.

The service and the venue are amazing. Its perfect for a date night, or even an adult-only dinner. It really makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a modern Versailles.

Ratings (0-5): 

• Staff/Service: 4.5
• Ambience: 4.5
• Food: 3.5
• Presentation: 5
• Cleanliness: 5
• Value for money: 3.5

Overall Rating: 4.3

Worth Trying?: Great for a fancy dinner venue! 

For more information call +971 (0) 4 556 8820.