WORLD'S HIGHEST RESTAURANT OPENS

THE HIGHEST RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD OPENED ITS DOORS IN DUBAI 23.JANUARY, PROMISING 'THE WORLD'S BEST DINING OUT EXPERIENCE'. OCCUPYING THE 122rd FLOOR OF DUBAI'S ENORMOUS BURJI KHALIFA TOWER, AT.MOSPHERE IS THE LATEST RECORD-BREAKER FROM THE EMIRATE, WHICH DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE LOST ANY OF ITS CONFIDENCE FOLLOWING LAST YEAR'S ECONOMIC DOWN-TURN. GUESTS CAN DINE ON FRESH PRODUCE, WHILE ADMIRING A VIEW MORE AKIN TO THAT FROM AN AIRPLANE WINDOW THAN A GOURMET RESTAURANT, SOME 442 METERS FROM THE GROUND FLOOR LOBBY. AT THE TOP OF A 57-SECOND ELEVATOR RIDE, THE STUNNING NEW RESTAURANT IS DIVIDED INTO TWO UNIQUE LEVELS, A TOP-NOTCH GRILL WHICH OFFERS GRILLED, BROILED OR BAKED OPTIONS, AND THE AT.MOSPHERE LOUNGE WHICH 'SERVES AS AN IDEAL STOPOVER FOR A LIGHT LUNCH OR EVEN AN AFTERNOON TEA.' HOUSE SPECIALITIES RECOMMENDED BY AT.MOSPHERE'S EXECUTIVE CHEF DWAYN CHEER INCLUDE FOIE GRAS AND BEEF TARTARE, BUT DON'T THINK THAT'S ALL YOU'LL BE HAVING. THERE'S REPORTEDLY A MINIMUM SPEND OF €90 PER PERSON IN THE RESTAURANT AND €40 IN THE LOUNGE AREA. DUBAI OPENED THE BURJ KHALIFA, THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDING, EARLY LAST YEAR, ONLY TO CLOSE IT AGAIN AFTER A MONTH BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE ELEVATORS. WHEN IT REOPENED IN APRIL, BUZZ AMONG THE INITIAL GUESTS WAS SPLIT BETWEEN THE VIEWS FROM THE 124th FLOOR OBSERVATION AND THE PROSPECT OF A NIGHT IN THE WORLD'S FIRST ARMANI HOTEL, WHICH OPENED ITS DOORS WITH MUCH FANFARE 27.APRIL.2010. WITH THE NEW RESTAURANT, DUBAI HOPES TO PROVE THAT DESPITE ITS RECENT FINANCIAL TROUBLES, IT STILL CAN OFFER UNPARALLELED LUXURY TO THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT.