Armani Dubai has quietly built up a solid reputation for its F&B, mainly thanks to its stunning signature outlet Ristorante, but if last night’s launch of Aperativo at Armani/Lounge is anything to go by, it has a lot more to offer.

Based on a popular Italian trend, Aperitivo provides an opportunity for guests to come together at Armani for a drink and a selection of finger food, similar to the Spanish tradition of tapas or Arabic mezze.

With guests nestled in the huge comfy chairs in the lounge, immaculately dressed Armani staff bring miniature dish after miniature dish to the table, kicking off with Armani Ristorante’s saffron risotto with ossebuco.

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You pay AED 90 for one standard drink, from cocktails to mocktails and wine to spirits, and the food is brought automatically, with the menu changing every day. Regulars include breaded olives, parmesan cheese and mini pizzas, with the fancier fresh dishes including variations on veal, tuna, salmon and beef.

And if you then decide to order another drink, the food keeps coming. Each dish is a miniature meal, intricately prepared and exquisitely delivered. Aperativo runs daily from 6pm to 8.30pm, and if you were to stay put in the lounge, it could easily stand in for a full dinner.

If you’re a little hungrier — or greedier — you could head down to Armani/Peck and sample yet more fabulous Italian cuisine. Again, the prices are reasonable, with main courses at around AED 100 and fresh pastas at around AED 60. (However, if you decide to take home some dishes from the hot or cold counters, some traditional oils or salts, chocolates or cheese, without serious self restraint, you could easily blow the budget.)

The surprising thing about both the Lounge and Peck is the affordability of the experience on offer. For while staying at the hotel might well be out of reach for most of us, dining there is certainly no more expensive than at other five-star hotels in Dubai. The food, in my experience so far, has surpassed expectation, so perhaps it is the perception of the property that needs to be worked on now. Being both exclusive to the in-house guest and within reach of the local resident will be a tough goal to achieve, but Armani is definitely more accessible than previously thought…just try and ignore the entrance barriers on the way in.