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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Brick Rooftop Kitchen & Bar 

Aloft Hotel Abu Dhabi

BEST FOR: woodfired pizza and impeccable sunset views

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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Diablito

Yas Marina

BEST FOR: laidback Spanish vibes with Marina views

Cut the ribbon, shake some hands, kiss some babies - Diablito’s terrace renovations are complete and they’re back and better than even this winter! Views over Yas Marina alone would be enough to win us over - great people and yacht watching! - but Diablito has so much more to love as well: tasty Spanish tapas, excellent paella and pizza, friendly staff, the gorgeously renovated terrace and a BB+ discount to top it all off! BB+ members score 20% off a la carte Tuesday - Sunday, but Mondays are where it’s at - selected a la carte food items are a massive 50% off. Drinks are well priced for the location, and it’s hard to imagine a more relaxing way to spend an afternoon than sipping on an icy glass of sangria in the shade. 

Timing: daily | 12PM - 12AM

Contact: 02 565 1175

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Up&Below 

Courtyard by Marriott

BEST FOR: after work drinks with a city skyline view

Rise above the hustle and bustle of downtown Abu Dhabi - literally - with this poolside rooftop bar. Serving up cheap drinks, chill vibes and fab views of the city from the 12th floor, it’s popular for afterwork drinks and chilling-by-the-pool vibes - the terrace is buzzy and you can even enjoy a dip if you fancy it. 

Happy hour runs daily: from 3-7PM, an hour of unlimited house drinks will set you back just AED60, and you can pair that with some bites on the terrace for a cracking end to your day (or start to your night out!). From 7PM, happy hour continues - drinks start from AED25, or turn up at 9PM for some AED15 shots on Friday or Saturday night! It’s one of the better downtown bars, and perched next to the ‘Candlesticks’ it makes for a cool date spot or cheap and cheerful catch up with mates. 

Timing: daily | 3PM - 3AM

Contact: 026 982 222

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Art Lounge at Louvre Abu Dhabi

Saadiyat Cultural District

One of the most iconic rooftops in the city, Art Lounge at Louvre Abu Dhabi combines gorgeous views of the Abu Dhabi skyline with beautifully crafted cocktails, a vibey DJ and an excellent Japanese menu courtesy of TAZU. 

Visit after an afternoon browsing The Louvre’s impressive collection, or skip the art and come for the terrace alone: it’s worth it! Catch the sunset, and stay on into the evening as the city lights up and the DJ gets going. Look out for specials throughout the week - Wednesday is ladies night, with three drinks for AED69 for the gals, gents night every Tuesday scores you 50% off house beverages for the guys and enjoy wine and cheese with a view on Thursdays - and check out our full rundown from our last visit for a closer look at their tasty Japanese offering. 

Timing: daily | 5PM - 12AM | closed Mondays

Contact: 052 799 4538

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