News / Plates of perfection

The flourish of a gold leaf garnish placed with painstaking precision; the fiery spectacle of chefs flambéing in an open kitchen; the hot glow of a sunset from the 19th-storey window that momentarily distracts you from what’s on your plate; the maître d’ who welcomes you by name on arrival: the recipe for a memorable meal can encompass many elements.

At Atlantis The Royal’s 17 restaurants – eight of which are helmed by celebrity chefs – exceptional food is a given, but it’s only the start. That’s because dining here goes beyond the everyday. Much like the legend of Atlantis – the utopia civilisation that sunk into the sea without a trace – Atlantis The Royal in Palm Jumeirah is a place where the imagination knows no bounds.

Rising 43 storeys high from the Arabian Sea to meet the sky, Atlantis The Royal's gravity-defying exterior – blocks symmetrically stacked like a work of art – sets the scene for what awaits inside. Step into the lobby and you’ll be greeted by the sight of more than 4,000 jellyfish gliding hypnotically through the world’s largest tank.

But untethered creativity is most evident when you sit down to eat. It’s no surprise that Atlantis The Royal is where the world’s most decorative chefs – culinary alchemists like Heston Blumenthal OBE – come to experiment.

Next up? José Andrés, the only chef to have a two Michelin-star restaurant, four Bib Gourmands and a Nobel Peace Prize. At Jaleo, he has recreated his favourite childhood dishes from his native Spain. Sip on a large glass of summery sangria and watch as hearty paellas are cooked in front of you on an open flame. It’s this human touch and secrets from family recipes that have also inspired Persian Kitchen, the debut restaurant from award-winning TV chef and cookbook author Ariana Bundy. Caspian-style filet kebabs and rose-scented sea bass are studded and jewelled with nuts, fruits and subtle spices, reflecting the palatial and exotic setting, with its ornate Arabian archways and chandeliers.