10 RESTAURANTS TO TAKE YOUR VISITORS TO IN ABU DHABI
Rapid fire round! With winter upon us and visitors descending, we’ve done a round up of where ELSE we will be taking - or sending - our guests this season!
BEST BREAKFASTS
DRVN | Marsana Al Hudayriat - we love the location for an easy place to spend a day beachside and plenty for kids. Fuel up with an acai bowl, plenty of egg options and of course, coffee!
TASHAS | Al Bateen - this beloved breakfast spot of those in the know is sure to impress your visitors. From waterfront views to a hefty breakfast offering - and a cake display to drool over - Tasha's is always a winner.
JOUD COFFEE | Al Qana - with plenty of delicious breakfast options, cool interiors and perfect proximity to the Grand Mosque and National Aquarium, this is the perfect place to start a day of exploring.
BRUNCH & CAKE | Marsa Al Bateen - iconic, Insta-worthy breakfasts that are very Abu Dhabi: decadent, delicious and over the top!
ANTONIA | Al Zeina - for a weekend breakfast, with the best cornetti, ciambella and bomba in town, it has to be Antonia. Wash it down with amazing Italian coffee and consider them impressed!
MORNING COFFEE
KAYU BISTRO | The Galleria Mall - perfect for coffee and cake with a side of shopping, this luxe purveyor of baked goods is high on our hit list!
RITUAL | Reem Central Park - Enjoy an al fresco coffee with waterfront views, along with a great selection of juices and food options if you get peckish. Feeling adventurous? Hire a boat for a lap around the mangroves.
THE LIGHTHOUSE | Yas Bay - as well as a great spot for coffee on the waterfront, visitors will love the Mediterranean vibes and the curated boutique offering as well. Their menu is a delight if morning coffee turns into lunch!
WAKE N BAKE | Mamsha Al Saadiyat - Coffee on one of the most picturesque stretches of sand in the city? If you’re heading to Soul Beach for a day, this one’s a great option. In-house donuts optional but very much recommended!
BIG IMPACT, GOOD VALUE
VILLA TOSCANA | The St Regis Abu Dhabi Corniche - the combination of a beautiful terrace and a great value business lunch that’s not just for business? This will do nicely! Enjoy a wander down the Corniche after lunch and soak up the Abu Dhabi skyline. Available Monday-Friday, 12-3PM | antipasti with desserts AED120 | antipasti with a main and dessert AED145.
FLAMINGO ROOM | The Galleria Mall - newly opened and with a super fancy vibe, treat your visitors (and yourself) to a business lunch you won’t regret. The food is excellent and interiors are fabulous, with a great view to boot, and you can save some dirhams by visiting for a weekday lunch!
OTORO | Al Qana - take a seat outside and enjoy the balmy weather, views to the Grand Mosque in the distance and a hearty Japanese lunch special that won’t leave you hungry. Available daily 12-5PM | AED125.
IT’S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE
SHALA | Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island - with an ethos inspired by bohemian free spirits that enjoy the good life, this relaxed but luxe lounge bar is the perfect spot to soak up the sunset, drink in hand!
JUMAK AT BA:TE | Eastern Mangroves - for a little Narnia-esque fun, venture through the hidden door and into this quirky bar. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink or end a day of exploring the city right here.
ART LOUNGE | The Louvre - Ranking highly on the ‘must visit’ lists in Abu Dhabi, the Louvre is also home to this brilliant rooftop bar. Enjoy uninterrupted views of the Arabian Sea accompanied by a drink and some good company.
THE LOUNGE | Jumeirah Saadiyat Island - a rooftop lounge with wraparound windows, a heated terrace and dramatic sea views? Perfect! A daily happy hour from 5PM? Even better!
BEST BITES TEAM PICKS
BUA THAI | Yas Bay - we love this one for fresh and delicious Thai, yummy drinks and a more affordable option along the Yas waterfront.
ABD EL WAHAB | The Souk Qaryat Al Beri - looking for some Middle Eastern flavours to treat your guests? Head to this top notch Lebanese restaurant, complete with a lovely terrace, views to the Mosque and shisha.
PUNJAB GRILL | Venetian Village - impeccable attention to detail, vibrant contemporary Indian cuisine and great vegetarian options, this one is sure to impress.
SOLE | Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers - what a delight this one is! Highlights include divine pizza, relaxed poolside vibes and proximity to the Corniche for a leisurely stroll - perfectly encapsulating that holiday mood. The also have a fab business lunch on weekdays!
EL&N
YAS BAY
Looking for a setting that Instagram dreams are made of, without sacrificing on taste? We have the cafe for you! Impress your globetrotting companions by heading to this dreamy Yas Bay hot spot that’s a treat for the eyes and the tastebuds. Mini cereal pancakes, chicken and pink waffles, and four varieties of French toast all feature on a menu that is as fun as the decor. You won’t miss it - head to the waterfront and make for the hot pink facade! Barbie would approve.
Best for: Breakfast that’s as pretty as a picture!
Time: Daily | 10AM - 12AM
Contact: 02 883 9395
OBSERVATION DECK AT 300
CONRAD ETIHAD TOWERS
25% OFF A LA CARTE WITH BB+
A high point of any visit to the capital, this 74th floor stunner offers views galore. Enjoy afternoon tea with a selection of delectable sweet and savoury delights, quality tea and coffee to sip on while watching the world go by below and maybe a drink as day turns to night. And bonus - BB+ scores you 25% off afternoon tea and a la carte, so you can take ‘high’ tea to a whole new level.
BEST FOR: World class views!
Time: Daily | Noon - 8PM
Contact: 02 811 5666
CENTRAL
YAS BAY
Kids (or big kids) to entertain? Look no further! The coolest burger joint in town, where the beats are droppin' and the burgers poppin', plus an indoor arcade and bowling alley to boot.
Get ready for a sugar rush - they serve monster shakes that dreams are made of! Check out the BB+ menu for a great deal, or their Saturday brunch that features packages for adults, kids and even teens. Throw in a bouncy castle and face painter for maximum fun, and you can relax for a few hours while the kids do their thing!
BEST FOR: Scoring brownie points with kids of all ages.
Time: Daily | 4PM - 12AM
Contact: 04 423 8311
ANTONIA
MAMSHA AL SAADIYAT
A firm favourite of those in the know, and only set to gain in popularity with new branches unfurling soon, Antonia offers Italian food done right. A bustling venue, the most knowledgeable staff and a divine terrace with views over Soul Beach? Tick, tick, tick!
Pizza containing nonna’s 50 year old proprietary dough - yes please! We love tartufo e funghi (truffle sauce, wild mushroom, scamorza cheese) or pancetta e patate (smoked bacon, potato, mozzarella, scamorza cheese) - even the potato-on-pizza sceptics rate this one. Pasta is cooked al dente with generous helpings. The signature fregola ai frutti di mare with a view of the sea will transport you to Sardinia, and you will savour it with your eyes first - they aren’t stingy on the seafood.
Enjoy an aperitivo on the terrace as the weather cools down, and lap up the compliments from your visitors for your stellar recommendation. Molto bene!
BEST FOR: Relaxed Italian in a picturesque setting.
Time: Daily | Noon - 11PM
Contact: 02 667 2554
EPISODES
MANDARIN ORIENTAL EMIRATES PALACE
As eye-catching inside as it is out, if a night here is out of the budget Episodes is worth a visit just to bask in the decadence of this iconic hotel.
Styled as a series, Episodes 1 - 4 include a tea apothecary, a deli, a cake shop and a gelateria, this space is the definition of opulence. Take a seat - we like grabbing a spot by the crystal flowers of Episodes 1 - but feel free to order from different counters depending on what you fancy. Whether you're coming for the iconic 23K gold leaf coffee or fancy something stronger - this is a classic Abu Dhabi experience.
BEST FOR: An iconic coffee in an iconic hotel!
Time: Daily | 9AM - 11PM
Contact: 02 690 7999
18 DEGREES BAR
ANDAZ CAPITAL GATE
Located on the 18th floor of Abu Dhabi’s iconic ‘leaning tower’, this top-notch bar offers great city and sunset views from the indoor and (weather-permitting) outdoor terrace. Perfect for pre- or post-dinner drinks, relax into the evening and watch the city light up.
BEST FOR: Pre-dinner drinks with a sunset view
Time: Daily | 4PM - 1AM
Contact: 056 544 8158
NIRI
MAMSHA AL SAADIYAT
Japanese fans, rejoice! Another Mamsha favourite, Niri was listed in the Michelin Guide 2023 and is certainly worthy of the praise. Out-of-towners will love the location, and the option for something lighter after a few days of eating and drinking their way around the city. They have a great lunch menu, consisting of miso soup, a starter, main and dessert - a steal at AED99.
The innovative and refreshing cocktail menu is also a delight - be tempted by rengoku - gin infused with sansho pepper, lychee, ginger chilli and honey citron tea jam; or perhaps ubuyashiki - sake, berry kombucha and cherry blossom. Drinks are refreshingly reasonably priced
Nab a seat at the counter to watch the chefs at work, and kick back while your guests are occupied by the mastery before them.
BEST FOR: Innovative Japanese in the heart of the cultural district.
Time: Sun-Thu| 12PM-11PM; Fri-Sat | 12PM-12PM
Contact: 02 546 8886
BUTCHER AND STILL
FOUR SEASONS AL MARYAH
This 1920s Prohibition-era style steakhouse is located in the Four Seasons Al Maryah. The style of the restaurant is on point, right down to the bullet casings captured in the bathroom tilework. Their motto could well be ‘go big or go home’ since the menu is peppered with WOW factor dishes. As well as an attention-grabbing signature tomahawk and a host of premium steak offerings, save room for dessert - the flaming baked Alaska and for our chocoholics, the 34 layered ‘Tribune Tower’ chocolate cake.
BEST FOR: Splashing your cash in a restaurant your guests will talk about forever; someone’s on holiday after all!
Time: Daily | 4PM - 12AM
Contact: 02 333 2444
GRAND BEIRUT
AL QANA
What visit to Abu Dhabi would be complete without a first-class Lebanese feast? The newly opened branch of Grand Beirut in Al Qana serves up high quality food in a fresh setting.
Perfectly appointed and filled with natural light, views of the Grand Mosque from the terrace and in walking distance of the National Aquarium, this one is well-located for lunch amidst a day of sightseeing.
Our favourites? The mixed grill, complete with some of the best kofta you will find, jwaneh - churrasco chicken wings with a divine coriander, garlic and lime sauce and to finish, mouhalabiya, a perfectly light and fluffy milk pudding garnished with coconut and crushed pistachios.
They offer a shisha menu as well, if you want the full UAE experience for your guests.
BEST FOR: A Lebanese lunchtime feast, shisha optional!
Time: Monday - Thursday | 9AM - 12PM/12.30 weekends
Contact: 050 442 9211
Danika Star
9/27/2023
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