A night’s stay at five-star property Marriott Al Jaddaf includes a complimentary breakfast at their all-day dining restaurant, The Market Place. The breakfast runs from 8 am till 11 am and covers a wide range of international breakfast favorites.

Having over-snoozed in my comfy queen bed with the curtains blocking out the morning sun well past 9, all my good intentions of doing a few laps at the pool post breakfast were forgotten and we headed downstairs a little past 9.30 am.

The restaurant was packed with hotel guests, and a great deal of activity was going on at the numerous live stations.

At one end is an entire section dedicated to baked breads, croissants and muffins of all sizes and flavors. Close to it is the eggs station where you can have yours poached, beaten and scrambled with an array of toppings to your liking.

They also have a waffles and pancakes section, and a separate one where Dosa, the Indian version of a savory pancake is being served.

The breakfast includes a wide selection of cereals, cooked porridge, fresh yoghurts, cold cuts and more.

I love having a bowl of Mediterranean Foul Meddames for breakfast, and the staff at The Market Place were kind enough to put together a bowlful for me.

For hearty eaters, there’s an entire section of hot dishes ranging from Asian noodles to pan-fried fish. I was absolutely delighted to find congee on the menu! This watery Asian rice concoction that you top up with condiments of your choice makes a very rare appearance on the breakfast menus of the UAE, and I devoured two generous bowlfuls topped with giant sprinkles of dried shrimp and chili flakes.

Hot coffee and tea can be requested on the table, and they even do Masala Chai. Craving a freshly made smoothie? The friendly staff are at your disposal to create a blend of your choice. However, my favorite drink at this breakfast was their range of quirky cute bottles of freshly squeezed fruit juice. I downed 3 bottles of watermelon!

The breakfast buffet at The Market Place has something for every discerning diner, and you really can’t try everything here in one sitting. Better book another night at the Marriott I’d say!