I’ve been to Dubai more times than I can count, but I’ve never actually been to the top of the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. I can’t say I was ever really that interested in going to the top, given that Dubai doesn’t have all that impressive of a skyline aside from the Burj Khalifa. So it’s not like being in a building “above” New York City or Hong Kong or London, for example.
Burj Khalifa
That being said, this was a very special trip, and I wanted to go to the top of the Burj Khalifa with my dad. There are two ticket options for visiting the observation decks at the top of the Burj Khalifa:
- At The Top (124th floor): 125-200AED (~35-55USD) per person depending on the time of day
- At The Top Sky (148th floor) 500AED (~135USD) per person
But there is one alternative if you don’t want to pay for a ticket to the observation deck. You can dine at At.mosphere, the restaurant on the 123rd floor of the Burj Khalifa. It’s actually the highest restaurant in the world (assuming you don’t consider some Amsterdam coffee shops to be restaurants).
Now, it’s not cheap. And when I say it’s not cheap I mean it’s the most expensive place I’ve ever had lunch. Ever. By, like, a factor of five.
They have a set lunch menu, and the cost is 450AED (~120USD) for a two course lunch, or 600AED (~160USD) for a three course lunch. So that is really expensive, but when you factor in that you’d pay 125-500AED just to go to the observation deck, it’s a comparatively not-so-horrible value.
So I figured I’d take one for the team and check out the Burj Khalifa for lunch, so I could report back. Think of it like flying China Southern. Twice. 😉
Anyway, I made the reservation back in late October by emailing the restaurant at r[email protected]. They quickly responded with available times. I made the reservation for 1:30PM, though I’d actually recommend making one at 1PM in the future, since the fountain show at the Dubai Mall is at 1PM and 1:30PM, and you have a great view of it from At.mosphere.
The entrance to At.mosphere can be accessed through the lobby of the Armani Hotel, located at the base of the Burj Khalifa. You go to the back of the lobby and then take an elevator down a level, and then down the hallway is the reception desk for At.mosphere.
Atmosphere reception Burj Khalifa
Once they verify your information you can take an escalator up a level, which is where the nonstop elevator to the 123rd floor leaves from.
Atmosphere entrance Burj Khalifa
The elevator is super-fast, so your ears sort of pop when you get to the top.
Atmosphere elevator Burj Khalifa
From there you take the stairs down to the restaurant’s reception desk.
Atmosphere stairs Burj Khalifa
As you walk down the stairs you immediately get hit with the view. Now, the Dubai skyline isn’t all that amazing, but you realize just how high up you are. Yow!
View from Atmosphere Burj Khalifa
View from Atmosphere Burj Khalifa
Anyway, the dining room is to the right while the bar is to the left. We had reserved a table by the window in the dining room.
Atmosphere Burj Khalifa dining room
Atmosphere Burj Khalifa dining room
View from Atmosphere Burj Khalifa
Our server, Andrii, quickly introduced himself and offered us the menus. The menu read as follows:
My dad went with the two course lunch, while I went with the three course lunch (so that we could share a dessert).
To start we were offered some sort of specialty butter and spread, along with some crackers and bread.
Atmosphere bread Burj Khalifa
Atmosphere butter Burj Khalifa
Atmosphere bread accompaniment Burj Khalifa
Then a separate server came out with a bread basket, with a variety of options to choose from.
Atmosphere bread Burj Khalifa
We quickly placed our order, and as soon as we did, Andrii asked if we wanted to go to the bar area of the restaurant to take a look at the view from there, which we did. The bar faces in the other direction, out towards the Burj Al Arab, which can be seen in the distance on a clear day.
View from Atmosphere Burj Khalifa
View from Atmosphere Burj Khalifa
View from Atmosphere Burj Khalifa
The bar area is equally nicely furnished and decorated, and you can also do afternoon tea there, which isn’t a bad alternative to lunch.
Atmosphere Bar Burj Khalifa
Atmosphere Bar Burj Khalifa
To start I had the burrata. It was fantastic, from the taste to the presentation. Absolutely amazing.
Atmosphere lunch starter: pressed burrata
Atmosphere lunch starter: pressed burrata
Meanwhile my dad had the butternut chestnut veloute, which he enjoyed as well.
Atmosphere lunch starter: butternut chestnut veloute
For the main course I had the cod. As you’d expect, it wasn’t a very large portion, though it was again fantastic. It was cooked perfectly, flavorful, had a crispy skin, and the presentation was gorgeous.
Atmosphere lunch main course: roasted black cod
My dad had the chateaubriand, which he said was one of the best pieces of meat he has ever had.
Atmosphere lunch main course: chateaubriand
Per Andrii’s suggestion, we had the snickers bar for dessert. Again, it was delicious and a work of art.
Atmosphere lunch dessert: homemade snickers
We ordered some coffee to finish the meal, which was served with (complimentary) petit fours.
Atmosphere lunch: cappuccino
Atmosphere lunch petit fours
We were offered a box of chocolates to go as we finished up the meal.
Atmosphere lunch chocolate to go
I realize up until this point I kind of just ran through the review, because I’m not some food critic that’s going to describe the food in great detail. That being said, the entire experience was just flawless. The service was attentive and professional, the food couldn’t have been any better, and the pace of service was great as well. The meal took well over two hours, and each course was nicely spread out.
Really the only part that didn’t blow me away was the view, bad as it sounds. Yes, it’s cool to be that high up, but the Dubai skyline just isn’t that interesting. At least not when you take the Burj Khalifa out of the equation.
Eventually the check came, and lunch cost about $370USD.
Atmosphere lunch bill
On the way out I stopped at the restroom quickly, which had a pretty breathtaking view.
Atmosphere Burj Khalifa bathroom with a view
Is lunch at At.mosphere Burj Khalifa worth it?
I’m happy to have eaten at the world’s highest restaurant. In terms of aspirational Dubai experiences, I do think afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab is specialer than lunch or afternoon tea at the Burj Khalifa. The food was great and the service flawless.
Would I recommend others do it? I guess it depends on your financial situation, how special of a trip you’re on, how much you value the view, and how much weight you place on having eaten in the highest restaurant in the world. I’d certainly consider doing it again if I were with someone that insisted on going to the top of the Burj Khalifa, since I think it’s not a horrible value when you factor it in.
But it’s not an experience I’d have to repeat, personally.
If you’ve been to At.mosphere at the Burj Khalifa, what was your experience like?
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