Beaming Chelsea star Cole Palmer plays drum while balancing plate on head as waiter pours out a shot

Cole Palmer strutted to the beat of his own drum—while expertly balancing a plate on his head—during a lavish trip to Dubai.

The Chelsea superstar, 23, was all smiles as he soaked up the sun in the Middle East this week, making the most of some well-earned downtime.

A fresh video shared on Palmer's Instagram captured him on a night out, proudly carrying a large marching band drum. The England forward flashed a broad grin as a waiter carefully placed a plate on his head, prompting him to stay perfectly still.

With precision, the waiter then poured a shot of alcohol into a glass balanced on the plate—much to Palmer's relief as he realized not a drop had been spilled.

Celebrating the moment, he happily banged away on his drum, keeping the party atmosphere alive during his mid-season break.

The previous evening, Palmer was spotted enjoying Dubai's nightlife alongside Chelsea teammates Marc Cucurella and João Pedro. All three were absent from Chelsea's 4-0 FA Cup victory at Hull on Friday—though Pedro was named on the bench—but are expected to return for the weekend's league clash with Burnley.

Pedro and Cucurella threw themselves into the vibrant Dubai scene with plenty of dancing, while Palmer was seen relaxing with a drink in hand.

Chelsea's No.10 had flown out to the desert with girlfriend Olivia Holder just ahead of Valentine's Day. While his teammates battled freezing conditions up north, Palmer and Olivia enjoyed some rest and relaxation under warm sunshine.

The couple also treated themselves to an exquisite meal, dining at a restaurant offering £800 Japanese wagyu beef. And Palmer showed his romantic side, showering his partner with gifts and flowers during their getaway.