Get Outside: All The Best Terraces in Abu Dhabi This Season

The Garden

Beach Rotana

BEST FOR: a sunset spot in the city

Looking for a top sunset spot in the city? Perfect for a pre-dinner drink, beers with your mates or a light meal with water views, The Garden is open for lunch and dinner daily, and it’s as pretty as a picture. Nestled between the sea on one side and lush greenery on the other, it’s quite the oasis, and with beers from AED38 & cocktails from AED30 the prices are thirst-quenching as well. Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired meats, fresh salads and bites like calamari or mango and avocado salad.

Lively but relaxed - it was buzzing when we last called in - this terrace is one size fits all, and there’s even room for the kids to play on the grass. Kick on to Finz or Rodeo Grill for a fancy dinner, or hit The Garden post-dinner if you’re not ready to go home! 

Timing: daily | 12PM - late

Contact: +97126979186 or fbres.beach@rotana.com

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Localino

Al Raha Beach

BEST FOR: casual Italian in a canal-side setting

This cosy little Italian restaurant is popular with the Raha Beach locals - who love somewhere casual to go on weeknights, or a lovely pit stop while walking the dog on weekends - and we can see why. The menu is small but perfectly formed and the food is really good - the passion and warmth of the team really shines through. 

The fact that they deliver is a bonus, but don’t sleep on stopping by the restaurant: their terrace by the canal is lovely (and you can let the kids and dogs run off some energy will you relax in the sun and demolish your favourite Italian bites). The pizza is delish, and the pasta and sweets are not to be missed. This is an Italian worth either the trot along the canal or a trip off island - and it always tastes best al fresco!

Timing: daily | 12PM - 10PM | closed Monday

Contact: 02 236 7493

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The Captain’s Brunch at Balcon Terrace

Southern Sun Abu Dhabi

BEST FOR: brunch with a difference - and a pirate-friendly terrace

Balcon Terrace is welcoming the idyllic winter weather - and sending brunch back outside to celebrate. Kicking off again on Saturday October 25th, this terrace in downtown Abu Dhabi is a few streets from the Corniche - fitting for The Captain’s Brunch! With the tagline ‘drink like a legend, feast like a pirate!’, you can get to practicing your best pirate jokes (what’s a pirate’s favourite letter? Arrrrrrrgh!) in the lead up. 

Set sail every Saturday from the 25th: feast on flaming roasts, rum-kissed ribs, torched sushi and some tasty on-theme desserts. Dressing up is optional (but strongly encouraged!) and with live pirate acts, bottomless grog and feasting aplenty, you’ll be channeling your inner Blackbeard or Jack Sparrow in no time! 

Deckhand (Soft) – AED 275

First Mate (House) – AED 420

Captain (Premium) – AED 479

Admiral (Champagne) – AED 645

Timing: Saturdays | 1PM - 4PM | starting October 25th

Bookings: 02 818 4888

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BRB - Brick Rooftop Brunch at Brick Rooftop Kitchen & Bar 

Aloft Hotel Abu Dhabi

One of Abu Dhabi favourite rooftop’s is back in action, and Brick Rooftop Kitchen & Bar is firing the woodfire brick ovens and ready for another busy season. Drink in the  marina sunsets - with a cocktail or two in hand - and bop along to vibey live music, a recipe for a great night out! Brick’s signature Mediterranean and international dishes are all fired over cedarwood and pecan wood for their signature smokey taste, and this season look out for the likes of ginger chili and lime spatchcock chicken, cedar plank Norwegian salmon, seafood mix grill platters and an excellent black angus tomahawk steak. Vegans are well taken care of too, with new additions like the veggie burger and vegetable tajine (don’t skip the pizza, either). 

Relaunching this September, their new BRB - Brick Rooftop Brunch is firing on all cylinders. A perfect one for our busy bees who have things to do during the day, head to Brick every Saturday at 6PM for brunch with a view - and catch the sunset over Abu Dhabi while you’re at it! As well as tasty food, the cocktails are on point, mocktails are refreshing for the non-drinkers, and live music tops off the Saturday evening ambiance nicely, with Marvin Lee in the house. Packages start from AED199 for soft beverages, while bubbly is just AED349 - not bad at all! It’s the ultimate rooftop dining experience - and the perfect destination to celebrate the return of terrace weather!

Timing: daily | 5PM - midnight | Saturday brunch | 6PM -  9PM

Bookings: call 054 994 2289 or book here

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