Giardino. The all-day-diner that has everything for everyone and is quite possibly Palazzo Versace’s cash cow that got the masses in through the door and granted them affordable access to the luxurious hotel that most can only dream of.

Giardino is laden with a terrazzo marble flooring, columns and a wallpaper inspired by the jungle motif of Versace wallpaper collection, and gives a more “casual” look than it’s counterparts, Vanitas, Enigma and Mosaico. The colors range from green through light green to ivory. The crockery belongs to an exclusive line called “Rosenthal meets Versace” collection, inspired by Les Reves Byzantines.

Over time, I have tried Giardino’s Friday Brunch, their (short-lived) Arabic Saturday brunch, and -most recently- their breakfast. I’m a total sell-out for fresh content and flatlays, and was supposed to try in-room dining during the second day of my staycation at Palazzo Versace, but we loved the breakfast spread at Giardino so much that we ended up going down there for breakfast on both days.

The food options at Giardino are a trade-off between quality and quantity, and while I feel that some areas are lacking in oomph (like the Indian section), other areas are impressive enough to floor you (the dessert station is where I hover pretty much the entire time).

This is also the only “buffet” where I’ll eat the sushi and enjoy it. To call their Friday brunch a seafood buffet would be the understatement of the year, because the variety of seafood will remind you of a fish market. The selection of roasts will give the seafood a run for their money, as will the cheeses, breads, salads and not to forget the desserts.

There is also always a “special” of the day, and at the most recent brunch it was beef and licorice ravioli. It reminded me of Vanitas! I also remember an ice-cream trolley from the previous two brunches I attended at Giardino, but didn’t see it the last time around.

The great thing about their Friday Brunch is that it grants you a full day of pool access, and the outdoor seating on the terrace is an absolute delight in better weather.

Clearly, I’m a fan of their brunch, but their breakfast if quite spectacular too. My favorite thing about the F&B outlets in Palazzo Versace is that they stock Echire semi-salted butter- which is the best butter in the world and I love it so much that I could eat just bread and butter throughout the breakfast/brunch and be a happy camper.

So far, the Giardino brunch and buffets are included in The Entertainer, although I’m not sure how long that will be the case for. The package that includes soft beverages is regularly priced at AED 350, so with The Entertainer, it is a ridiculously good bargain.

I cannot recommend this breakfast and brunch at Giardino highly enough for families, large groups, or even couples.