Burj views
The elevated setting gives diners clear views of the Burj Al Arab and, in some reviews, the ocean and Souk Madinat.
Balloons at the Palace
Al Sufouh
Balloons at the Palace is a restaurant in Al Sufouh built around dining inside hot-air-balloon-themed settings. Reviews point to its afternoon tea, Burj Al Arab views and five-course dinner as the main reasons to book, especially for birthdays, anniversaries or a relaxed sunset outing.
Reputation Score
4.9
★★★★★
196 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Afternoon tea
The afternoon tea includes fresh sandwiches, scones, desserts and a choice of teas, coffees or iced teas.
Dietary care
Reviews describe tasty gluten-free and vegetarian alternatives, with staff accommodating dietary restrictions rather than treating them as an afterthought.
Quiet setting
The garden-like atmosphere can feel remarkably removed from the busy Madinat, with one guest hearing only birds and flowing water.
Celebrations
Birthday and anniversary visits are supported with thoughtful touches, including a reported anniversary surprise and a small birthday surprise.
Dinner menu
The five-course evening menu is praised for careful presentation, strong flavours and a well-paced culinary experience by several reviewers.
What to Eat at Balloons at the Palace How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Balloons at the Palace, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
These items at Balloons at the Palace got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 6
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5 Course menu Net +2
“My partner and I had the 5 course menu with wine pairings on 14/01/26 after I saw balloons at the palace come up on instagram. It was incredible! I don’t usually write reviews but the service, food & ambiance was truely incredible. The attention to detail, the quality and flavour of the food, the waiting staff ensuring excellent service it was just next level. Highly highly recommend, favourite experience in Dubai by far. Well done to the whole team!”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My partner and I had the 5 course menu with wine pairings on 14/01/26 after I saw balloons at the palace come up on instagram. It was incredible! I don’t usually write reviews but the service, food & ambiance was truely incredible. The attention to detail, the quality and flavour of the food, the waiting staff ensuring excellent service it was just next level. Highly highly recommend, favourite experience in Dubai by far. Well done to the whole team!”January 2026
“We’ve had the 5 course meal in the evening. Each meal was out of this world, presented in a spectacular way. Our taste buds were going crazy.”November 2024
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Greek yogurt ice cream Net +1
“To finish, we were treated to a Greek yogurt ice cream topped with honey, nuts, raspberries, and blueberries. It was the perfect ending, cool, fresh, and not overly sweet, leaving us satisfied yet light.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“To finish, we were treated to a Greek yogurt ice cream topped with honey, nuts, raspberries, and blueberries. It was the perfect ending, cool, fresh, and not overly sweet, leaving us satisfied yet light.”January 2026
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Lemon sorbet Net +1
“A refreshing lemon sorbet was served to start, clean and pleasantly sharp.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A refreshing lemon sorbet was served to start, clean and pleasantly sharp.”January 2026
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Scones Net +1
“Just amazing afternoon tea experience, loved it all! The view is amazing, so peaceful and quiet. Lovely setting table and decoys; the scones, little light-bites & sweets were delicious 😋 As well as to mention the service and staffs were excellent, merci.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Just amazing afternoon tea experience, loved it all! The view is amazing, so peaceful and quiet. Lovely setting table and decoys; the scones, little light-bites & sweets were delicious 😋 As well as to mention the service and staffs were excellent, merci.”November 2024
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Scones with cream Net +1
“The classic scones with cream were a comforting highlight, soft and delicious, and just when we thought the experience could not offer more, it did.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The classic scones with cream were a comforting highlight, soft and delicious, and just when we thought the experience could not offer more, it did.”January 2026
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Set menu Net +1
“Oh my, WHAT an experience.. i wasn’t expecting all we got but wow, the experience itself was amazing. The food was great as well! Loved the whole set menu concept and the skyline was just the cherry on top.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Oh my, WHAT an experience.. i wasn’t expecting all we got but wow, the experience itself was amazing. The food was great as well! Loved the whole set menu concept and the skyline was just the cherry on top.”February 2026
Drinks 2
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Afternoon tea Net +16
“We celebrated a friend’s birthday with an Afternoon Tea and it was simply magical. To start with our server Augustina was an absolute gem. Such a lovely person very welcoming and accommodating she really made the experience all the more special. The views are stunning, the atmosphere is relaxed and the food was beautifully presented and delicious. We are so happy we chose this venue for our celebration.”
Positive 16Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We celebrated a friend’s birthday with an Afternoon Tea and it was simply magical. To start with our server Augustina was an absolute gem. Such a lovely person very welcoming and accommodating she really made the experience all the more special. The views are stunning, the atmosphere is relaxed and the food was beautifully presented and delicious. We are so happy we chose this venue for our celebration.”February 2026
“I had the most wonderful afternoon tea experience with Sabtain! From the moment we sat down, he made sure everything was perfect — the tea, the treats, and the service were absolutely exceptional.”November 2025
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Cocktail experience Net +1
“We booked the cocktail experience. They were amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We booked the cocktail experience. They were amazing.”March 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Book ahead. Reserve early: there are only four balloon tables, with limited capacity per time slot.
Choose sunset. For photographs and changing light, consider the 6pm dinner booking or another sunset-facing slot.
Check timing. If you prefer a leisurely afternoon tea, ask about course spacing when booking, as one guest found the service rushed.
Mention dietary needs. Tell the team about dietary requirements in advance; reviewers received gluten-free and vegetarian alternatives.
Use valet. Hotel valet parking was reported as available free of charge, which is useful for evening bookings.
Set expectations. The balloons are a dining theme rather than a flight: they do not actually fly.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Jumeirah Al Qasr
Madinat Jumeirah - Al Sufouh 1, Dubai
Common Concerns
Pricey
At least one reviewer considered the experience expensive, even while deciding the setting and views made it worthwhile.
Rushed service
One afternoon-tea guest said all courses arrived too quickly, leaving little time to enjoy them and unfinished scones.
Tea limitation
A reviewer felt the tea itself was underwhelming and disliked that it was not unlimited.
Tight seating
One guest found the seats comfortable but slightly squeezed, although the views still made the experience enjoyable.
Limited menu
One dinner reviewer thought the food menu could use more options, despite finding the overall experience worthwhile.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
295 aed
regular afternoon tea
“The regular afternoon tea is priced at 295 aed which includes 2 hot beverages (selection of tea / coffee)”Google review · January 2025
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Balloons at the Palace is a reservation-only-feeling dining experience in Al Sufouh, centred on hot-air-balloon-themed tables high above Jumeirah Al Qasr. Afternoon tea is the most consistently discussed option, with sandwiches, scones, pastries, desserts and a choice of tea, coffee or iced tea. There is also a five-course dinner, including a reported wine-pairing option, plus breakfast and brunch experiences.
The setting is the main draw: reviewers describe unobstructed Burj Al Arab views, ocean and Souk Madinat outlooks, sunset photographs and a quiet atmosphere where birds and flowing water can be heard. The limited number of tables makes it feel suited to birthdays, anniversaries and date nights rather than casual drop-ins. Celebration touches, such as birthday and anniversary surprises, have been mentioned.
Food reviews are mostly strong, and dietary requests have been handled with gluten-free and vegetarian alternatives. There are a few practical caveats. One guest found the seating slightly squeezed, another felt the tea was not especially impressive and disliked that refills were not unlimited, and one afternoon tea arrived too quickly.
Prices can feel high, so confirm the current package and inclusions before booking. Reviewers also recommend reserving ahead; free hotel valet parking was reported, and the balloons themselves do not fly.