THIPTARA’S INTERIORS ARE AUTHENTIC WITH A LUXURIOUS TWIST
You have likely watched the extraordinary fountain show from The Dubai Mall, but have you ever peered through the leaping jets? Just across the water, a stone’s throw away from the Burj Khalifa, lies Thiptara; an exquisite waterfront restaurant serving up high-end yet authentic Thai cuisine.
Upon entering The Palace Downtown we walked through an automated sanitisation machine that ensures you’re germ-free from head-to-toe before entering the premises. A leisurely stroll along a garden path leads you to Thiptara’s grand entrance, bathed in gold lighting.
We were fortunate enough to be seated on the terrace in a prime fountain-viewing location – early booking is essential if you want an outdoor seat, especially during cooler months – and promptly scanned the QR code to access the digital menu.
THIPTARA’S TERRACE IS A FANTASTIC SPOT FOR TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE AND OFFERS AN UP-CLOSE-AND-PERSONAL VIEW OF THE FOUNTAINS
After navigating the menu with guidance from our super-helpful waiter Hari, we decided to go the traditional route with Thai crab cakes, papaya salad and a glass noodle salad with all the authentic add-ons. Every single dish had us swooning – the crab cakes were definitely the best we have had in the city, and the same can be said of the sweet-and-savoury papaya salad and glass noodles bursting with flavour (chili-averse beware: they were spicy but we absolutely loved it). The portions were so generous that we had to force ourselves to leave some behind to save space for the incoming mains.
Ah, the mains. A sweet, cashew-filled lamb massaman curry for us and the chef’s signature lobster for our guest, who could NOT stop raving about the perfectly cooked meat and rich, peppery sauce. We also polished off the zingy stir-fried tofu with chili and hot basil. As we ate, the Dubai Mall fountains danced in sync with our taste buds, leaving us thoroughly entertained, and proving that no matter how long you live in the UAE, there is still room for surprises.
PSA: LEAVE ROOM FOR THE MANGO WITH STICKY RICE
We were absolutely stuffed come dessert – three hours later – but we had heard fantastic things about Thiptara’s signature Thai dessert of mango with coconut milk-covered sticky rice. Everything we heard about the dessert was true; the warm coconut milk combined with sticky rice and sensationally sweet mango was a match made in heaven and we would happily make the trip just for another bite.
Thiptara is a fine-dining restaurant so is definitely a destination for a special occasion, romantic date night or pay-day celebration. No matter the reason for your visit, it’ll be an evening to remember. Just do us – and yourselves – a favour: get the dessert.
- For bookings call +97144287888 or visit addresshotels.com
Photos: Supplied
