Buffet variety
Breakfast and dinner buffets are praised for fresh dishes and broad choice, including live pizza and pasta stations.
Sirocco Restaurant
Dubai Festival City
Sirocco Restaurant is a Holiday Inn dining spot in Dubai Festival City, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reviews point to generous buffets, including varied breakfasts and family brunches with a dedicated kids’ buffet and activities such as face painting and cookie-making.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
156 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Kids brunch
Family brunches include a dedicated kids’ buffet, face painting, cookie-making, arts and crafts, music and character appearances.
Family atmosphere
The restaurant has been described as spacious, calm and comfortable, with indoor and outdoor seating and room for large gatherings.
Asian flavours
Customers have highlighted Asian classics and especially the sushi and seafood selection on the buffet.
Iftar setting
Several Ramadan reviews describe a peaceful atmosphere, varied food and easy table service during iftar.
What to Eat at Sirocco Restaurant 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 Sirocco Restaurant, 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 Sirocco Restaurant got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 10
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Baby chicken Net +1
“For dinner, I highly recommend trying the baby chicken and garden fresh salad. It was absolutely delicious! I’m definitely coming back.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For dinner, I highly recommend trying the baby chicken and garden fresh salad. It was absolutely delicious! I’m definitely coming back.”October 2025
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Big toy brunch Net +1
“The Big Toy Brunch introduced at Sirocco is one of its kind where they have a separate kids buffet along with several activities and super heroes to play with.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Big Toy Brunch introduced at Sirocco is one of its kind where they have a separate kids buffet along with several activities and super heroes to play with.”February 2020
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Croissant Net +1
“The atmosphere was relaxed and comfy, and the staff were super friendly — they didn’t mind me coming back for just one more croissant!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The atmosphere was relaxed and comfy, and the staff were super friendly — they didn’t mind me coming back for just one more croissant!”April 2025
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Dampa and rice Net +1
“It's a wonderful dinner experience in Holiday Inn DFC Sirocco Restaurant, their "Rice n Dampa" concept is one of a kind, highly recommend to friends and family.”
Positive 1Negative 0Neutral 1
Review excerpts
“It's a wonderful dinner experience in Holiday Inn DFC Sirocco Restaurant, their "Rice n Dampa" concept is one of a kind, highly recommend to friends and family.”September 2023
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English pork breakfast Net +1
“Went there for English pork breakfast that they served all day and lunch for my self which was delicious, the breakfast for one is more than enough to share between two with plenty toast and for 25 dirham you can get unlimited tea or coffee,the service is a bit slow but quality of the food they serve is worth it, they have view for outside and outdoor as well”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Went there for English pork breakfast that they served all day and lunch for my self which was delicious, the breakfast for one is more than enough to share between two with plenty toast and for 25 dirham you can get unlimited tea or coffee,the service is a bit slow but quality of the food they serve is worth it, they have view for outside and outdoor as well”December 2023
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Garden fresh salad Net +1
“For dinner, I highly recommend trying the baby chicken and garden fresh salad. It was absolutely delicious! I’m definitely coming back.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“For dinner, I highly recommend trying the baby chicken and garden fresh salad. It was absolutely delicious! I’m definitely coming back.”October 2025
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Iftar party Net +1
“We had a wonderful Iftar party at Sirocco Restaurant. The ambiance was amazing, creating a perfect setting for the evening. A big thank you to Mr. Mohit for the warm welcome and excellent service. The food was delicious, with a great variety of dishes. I highly recommend Sirocco for a memorable iftar experience!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had a wonderful Iftar party at Sirocco Restaurant. The ambiance was amazing, creating a perfect setting for the evening. A big thank you to Mr. Mohit for the warm welcome and excellent service. The food was delicious, with a great variety of dishes. I highly recommend Sirocco for a memorable iftar experience!”March 2025
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Lamb shank with cous cous Net +1
“What struck my eye on the menu right away was the Lamb Shank with Cous Cous. It was a momentus and pleasant surprise when my meal arrived at the table... not only did it look amazing it was delicious beyond compare!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“What struck my eye on the menu right away was the Lamb Shank with Cous Cous. It was a momentus and pleasant surprise when my meal arrived at the table... not only did it look amazing it was delicious beyond compare!”December 2019
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Mansaf Net +1
“A must try! Been ages since the last time tried mansaf, it was so good… then live cooking of quesadillas… yummy desserts…”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A must try! Been ages since the last time tried mansaf, it was so good… then live cooking of quesadillas… yummy desserts…”December 2023
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Ouzi Net +1
“The food was of high quality and varied widely. There was something for everyone, from pasta and rice to biryani, Ouzi, and a variety of salads.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was of high quality and varied widely. There was something for everyone, from pasta and rice to biryani, Ouzi, and a variety of salads.”March 2025
Honorable mentions (6)
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Quesadillas Net +1
“A must try! Been ages since the last time tried mansaf, it was so good… then live cooking of quesadillas… yummy desserts…”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A must try! Been ages since the last time tried mansaf, it was so good… then live cooking of quesadillas… yummy desserts…”December 2023
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Salmon with lemon sauce Net +1
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”March 2024
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Shawarma Net +1
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”March 2024
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Spicy rice Net +1
“I loved the food flavours , the sauce they used for the Kebab, and vegetables , the spicy rice, and the tender fish.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I loved the food flavours , the sauce they used for the Kebab, and vegetables , the spicy rice, and the tender fish.”August 2024
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Tomato soup Net +1
“The soup I had was incredible for a basic tomato soup.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The soup I had was incredible for a basic tomato soup.”December 2025
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Zinga biryani Net +1
“The restaurant inside holiday inn hotel, we went for a dinner open buffet, the food taste was great, especially zinga biryani cooked with shrimps, and the meat well done so tasty and juicy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The restaurant inside holiday inn hotel, we went for a dinner open buffet, the food taste was great, especially zinga biryani cooked with shrimps, and the meat well done so tasty and juicy.”January 2024
What to Avoid (4)
Food 4
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Kunafa Net −1
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”March 2024
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Quzi rice with lamb Net −1
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”March 2024
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Rose milk falooda Net −1
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”March 2024
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Um ali Net −1
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Our experience at Sirocco Restaurant for Iftar left much to be desired. Despite the occasion, the food variety was lacking, with few stations available for the amount we paid. The grills were disappointingly dry and lacked flavor, even the quzi rice with lamb was tough and tasteless. However, the shawarma and salmon with lemon sauce stood out as flavorful highlights.Unfortunately, the value for money was not justified by the quality of food provided. The beverages, particularly the rose milk falooda, lacked sweetness, and the overall temperature of the restaurant made us uncomfortable, feeling too hot.Additionally, the dessert section was poorly managed, offering only two types of cakes, soggy kunafa, and subpar um ali. Overall, our experience fell short of expectations, and I wouldn't consider returning or recommending it to others.”March 2024
Tips for a Better Visit
Ask for pasta. For children, ask the live pasta station to prepare white or red sauce; one family said this made the meal more appealing.
Use Entertainer. Check Entertainer before booking: a reviewer said the kids’ brunch became worth the money after using it.
Check seating. If you want a quieter family table, ask whether the far section is open before settling in; it was repeatedly closed during one stay.
Confirm inclusions. For Dampa & Rice, ask what is included when ordering, especially desserts and unlimited mocktails, as one diner was not told upfront.
Consider brunch. Families looking for children’s entertainment should consider the themed brunches, which have included a separate kids’ buffet and activities.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Holiday Inn & Suites
Al Kheeran - Dubai Festival City, Dubai
Common Concerns
Food inconsistency
One dinner buffet review found the food only average, while another said a lunch buffet fell below expectations.
Brunch food
A kids’ brunch reviewer enjoyed the activities but considered the food below par and the service slightly slow.
Seating closures
The quieter far section was repeatedly closed at dinner, sometimes forcing families to split across small tables.
Iftar value
One iftar visit reported too few stations, dry grills, weak desserts and a restaurant that felt uncomfortably hot.
Slow service
A breakfast review found the food worthwhile but said service took longer than expected.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Sirocco Restaurant sits on the lobby floor of Holiday Inn Dubai Festival City and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is most useful for buffet dining: breakfast has been praised for variety, while family brunches can include a dedicated kids’ buffet, face painting, cookie-making and character appearances. The live pizza and pasta station is another practical touch for younger diners.
Families are a strong fit when the children’s programme is running, and the restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating with enough space for large gatherings. Reviews also mention Asian dishes, sushi and seafood, plus the Rice n Dampa concept. Ramadan iftar has received both warm praise for its calm setting and sharp criticism over limited stations, dry grills, desserts and value, so expectations may depend on the particular buffet.
Before sitting down, ask whether the quieter far section is open if privacy matters; one guest repeatedly found it closed at dinner and had to split the family between small tables. For children, ask staff to prepare pasta with white or red sauce. Entertainer discounts were also described as improving the value of a kids’ brunch.
Reported prices include AED 149 per adult for one buffet, AED 75 for an adult continental breakfast, and AED 269 for Dampa & Rice for two; these are customer-reported historical figures, not a current price list.