[UAE] Burj Al Arab - Buffet Breakfast in Junsui and Best Photo Spots

08:44 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

Since its opening in 1999, Burj Al Arab has been one of the most luxurious and expensive hotels in Dubai. The hotel is famous for its iconic sail-shaped design and it is located on an artificial island which is 280 meters away from Jumeirah Beach. The hotel is operated by Jumeirah Group, which is owned by the ruling family of the Emirate of Dubai.

Getting there:

1) Bus: Bus 8, 81 & X28 run daily along Jumeirah Beach Road, stopping close to Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

2) Metro: The nearest metro station is Mall of the Emirates. You still need to take a short taxi ride to reach Bur Al Arab.

3) Taxi: You need to show proof of your reservation and your ID at the hotel gate before they let your taxi drive to the hotel entrance.

Getting in:

Getting there is not a problem. The problem is getting into the hotel. Unfortunately, if you are a tourist, you cannot simply walk into the hotel. The entrance to the hotel is via a guarded gate to a private bridge that connects the hotel to the mainland.

1) Stay a night in the hotel

The most expensive option is to stay overnight in the hotel. A night stay in the cheapest room will cost more than USD 1,000 per night. You can check the hotel rates at Booking.com, Hotels.com or Jumeirah.com 

2) Join a guided tour

You can opt to join the Inside Burj Al Arab tour.

The average tour time is 1.5 hours. The tour tickets provide exclusive access to 25th floor and inside Burj Al Arab areas only. General admission is AED 249 per person or AED 599 for family (2 adult + 2 children).

You can also combine your tour with dining options which ranges from the signature 24-carat gold Cappuccino to four-course dinner.

You can book your tickets at https://insideburjalarab.com/

3) Dining in the hotel

I went with the third option which is to dine in one of the restaurants in the hotel. I booked the buffet breakfast for two at Junsui which is currently closed. The buffet breakfast cost me AED 370 per person back in 2019. The cuisines offered in Junsui is a mixture of Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian and Korean.

You may book the dining at Klook or directly with the hotel.

Dress code: 

Smart casual attire is the minimum requirement. It certainly doesn't hurt to dress to impress! No beachwear allowed.

Walking towards Burj Al Arab on the private bridge.

On the left, it is Madinat Jumeirah Resort. Room price starts from USD 300++.

On the right, it is Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Room price starts from USD 300++.

The Hotel Lobby and Atrium

Hotel entrance.

The hotel lobby.

The atrium is 180 meters tall which is the largest atrium in the world. It is perhaps the most photographed area in the hotel, easily recognized by its imposing gold leaf columns and shades of blue, green and yellow against the white walls.

I took the escalator up and the hotel staff guided me to Junsui.

Fountain in the hotel.

Swarovski crystal model of Burj Al Arab.

Dining in Junsui

The ceiling of Junsui Lounge is said to have studded with 29,000 Swarovski crystals. So remember to glance up as you enter the lounge. But I didn't, haha.

Needless to say, the interior of the restaurant is posh.

Junsui has multiple live stations, each representing a different Asian cuisine. There was enough variety of food to satisfy my palate. The staff were very attentive and the service was amazing. Food was good but nothing extraordinary. Overall, I spent for about two hours dining in Junsui before moving around the hotel to take some photos.

I don't know whether this is a restaurant or a bar but the decoration really left a strong impression.

The outdoor swimming pool.

The outdoor lounge.

Burj Al Arab from different perspective. It has a helipad mounted on the 28th floor near the roof and a restaurant protruding at the height of 200 meters to the sea side.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Afterwards, I walked to Jumeirah Beach to take some photo. And this marked the end of my visit of Burj Al Arab.

Best Photo Spots for Burj Al Arab

1) Jumeirah Beach

Personally, my favourite photo spot for Burj Al Arab is from the Jumeirah Beach. This is where you can capture the hotel with sea and beach.

2) Burj Al Arab private bridge

View from the private bridge.

3) Souk Madinat Jumeirah

Souk Madinat Jumeirah is another good spot to take photo of the Burj Al Arab. It is a shopping and dining destination next to Burj Al Arab.

Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/PSVyhLU1BAg4pkaC9

4) um Suqeim Beach

This is a public beach which is situated further north from Burj Al Arab. I did not go to this beach but it is another good spot to take photo of the Burj Al Arab. 

Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/EaHCU47a6oMvTgDU8

Burj Al Arab

Official website: https://www.jumeirah.com/en/offers/category-offers/stay/burj-al-arab-jumeirah/jumeirah-escapes?ds_rl=1269541&ds_rl=1269541&gclid=CjwKCAjwiJqWBhBdEiwAtESPaM8p7wi2psBSd7B0jxhUHaN4jT2_X3yXYX0wvDE-RH3JYqhJ3SjcjhoCvfsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds