Your essential Easter rundown

The kids are off school and you may have some left over holiday to use up yourself. Plus, celebrating the Easter holiday traditionally revolves around food. Hang on a minute, time to spare + food? Well, that's our favourite equation. Here's how to spend a wonderful Easter this weekend.
The golden shot
Hold onto your hats because this one's fancy. The Palazzo Versace is going all out on the 1st at Giardino with its Easter Friday Family Pool Brunch where there's also an Easter egg hunt going on. It's from Dhs390 per person.
On the level
Not only do you get good food here, but there's a host of live bands and children's activities, which means nothing but smiles will be left on your little ones faces at Latitude, Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Their brunch is on both Saturday and Sunday from Dhs290 per person.
Egg exchange
Demoiselle by Galvin is putting on a unique Easter egg exchange. Bring along a dyed Easter egg and hand it over to a staff member to exchange it for a cup of Demoiselle's Signature Roast Coffee and Freshly Baked Mini Croissants on the house! Available from March 29 to April 1 during breakfast hours from 8am to 12pm.
A shore thing
Add some Dubai magic to your Easter Sunday by eating out over the water at Pierchic. What better way to take in some 'vitamin sea'? The Chic Brunch has been extended to April 1, held between 12.30pm - 4pm. The laid back yet vibrant and energetic sounds from the DJ will add the perfect party vibes to this luxury lunch.
Talking about a revolution
Al Dawaar revolving restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Dubai has a brunch on Sunday, April 1 where, if seafood is your thing (as it is for us), you can go for Belon oysters, poached tiger prawns, crab, lobster and sushi from the seafood bar. We would.
A family affair
The celebrations will kick-off at the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island with the big Easter Family Lunch on Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. One big buffet along with live entertainment, while the kids can enjoy so many activities it's crazy.
Meat you here
Beefing up their classic weekend lunch for Easter, Gaucho DIFC has something extra special in store - a 2-for-1 Roast. Dive in with a tender and succulent Bife de Chorizo or Bife de Ancho with Malbec jus. Pair this with fluffy Yorkshire pudding and more.
Brunch on the beach
On Sunday the Hilton Abu Dhabi will host a buffet at its all-day dining restaurant La Terrazza and the Italian restaurant Bocca from 12.30pm to 3pm from Dhs250. Don't worry, a full range of activities have also been planned for the little ones at Hiltonia Beach Club from 3pm to 4.30pm, including face painting, an Easter egg hunt, a bouncy castle and balloon art, so you can kick back while they bounce away that sugar-rush.
A hidden brunch
A bit different, Taj Dubai's eatery Tesoro and alfresco rooftop lounge Treehouse will be showcasing a Hidden Brunch with an Easter twist from 1pm on the 30th. The Friday social will offer everything from traditional roast lamb with all the trimmings to honey chili beef.
In the House
Sloane's has its colourful Spring Brunch on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. There's an impressive seafood buffet where you can find lobsters, oysters, prawns, caviar, sushi and more. You can also take part in the cheese and grape tasting station and tuck into one of the desserts on offer, such as oversize cakes, candy bars and all the classics you can think of. If you're feeling like a special Easter treat, don't forget the hot cross buns on Good Friday! It starts at 1pm.
Egg-citing
The afternoon tea menu at Armani/Lounge is getting a high-end seasonal revamp with a truffled egg salad sandwich on brioche and smoked salmon-cream cheese pumpernickel combination dressed with an Easter egg on the savoury tier, and a golden egg on a chocolate pillow making the centrepiece of the dolce (sweet) tier.
Sparkling times
At Yalumba, they're putting on their usual international buffet and live-music with bottles of bubbly for Dhs529 on Sunday. By 'usual' we mean opulent.
david@khaleejtimes.com