Impress Your Visitors to Abu Dhabi: The Best Dining Experiences In Town

BEST BREAKFASTS

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.

ANTONIA TRATTORIA, 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!

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CAFE JAMES, AL QANA

Breakfasts at James are excellent and range from the best acai bowl in town, to an epic croque Madame or a cracking avo toast. Coffee is good, outdoor seating is glorious and views of the mosque excellent.

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MORNING COFFEE

KAYU, THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH

Perfect for coffee and cake with a side of shopping, this luxe purveyor of baked goods is high on our hit list!

RITUAL, REEM 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 WATERFRONT

‍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!

HY BAKERY, THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH

With views over to ADGM and the water, Hy is a great option if you're mid-shop. More than that, the food is reasonably priced, there's a variety and great coffee.

We love it there and think you will too!

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BUSINESS LUNCHES YOU NEED TO TRY!

LA PETITE MAISON, THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH

This might be Abu Dhabi's quintessential business lunch. If a full meal at this high end outlet is out of your reach, go for business lunch! Get a starter and a main from just AED135 - the food is phenomenal and the menu changes often. What makes LPM so unique? Views of the water are lovely - hit the terrace in cooler months - but the inside is always buzzing. You must make a reservation - it's always busy and there's always a vibe.

FLAMINGO ROOM, THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH

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! For just AED150pp you get 2 starters of epic proportions and a main. We always spend extra on one of the desserts (check out Liezel's Lemon Meringue in the pic) and a cocktail or mocktail - these are also excellent.

LOCALINO, AL RAHA BEACH BOULEVARD

This is an amazing business lunch deal if you live off island or in the increasingly populous Raha Beach area. Head to this cute home-grown Italian restaurant and get lunchtime bargains. For just AED38 you can get a slice of pizza, a salad and a drink, or pay a bit more for sandwiches and a dessert add-on. The food is authentic and amazing and this is perfect for lunch and a stroll along the canal.

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WHERE TO GO FOR SUNDOWNERS - IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE!

SHALA TERRACE, PARK HYATT ABU DHABI

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! Seating is comfortable, and

ART LOUNGE, LOUVRE ABU DHABI

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 - and snap pics of that tree.

18 DEGREES, ANDAZ CAPITAL GATE

If the promise of a beverage in the 'leaning tower' isn't enough, 18 Degrees also offers some of Abu Dhabi's best views including a stunning sunset outlook, perfect for the 'gram. The terrace juts out from the building, with views over the palaces, into the city and out to sea and day and night, these views are spectacular. Kick back with shisha and a drink and while your evening away.

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BEST BITES TEAM PICKS

BAYSIDE BURGERS, YAS BAY WATERFRONT

For a casual burger, a frozen marg or a soft-serve, Bayside is the one. Sit on the terrace and watch the world go by - it;s right by the entrance to the Yas Bay Beach so is perfectly  positioned for a mid-tan snack.

BUA THAI | YAS BAY WATERFRONT

We love this one for fresh and delicious Thai, yummy drinks and a more affordable option along the Yas waterfront.

ABDEL WAHAB | SOUQ AT QARYAT AL BERI

Looking for some Middle Eastern flavours to treat your guests? Head to this top notch Lebanese restaurant just off island, complete with a lovely terrace, views to the Grand Mosque and excellent shisha.

PUNJAB GRILL | THE RITZ-CARLTON ABU DHABI

This is Abu Dhabi's best high end Indian restaurant - or so we think! We love everything from the plating and the service to the menu and the impeccable food. It's a great night out and your guests will be sure to leave happy.

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!

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TAPARELLE

MANARAT AL SAADIYAT, SAADIYAT ISLAND

There's nowhere quite as nice in Abu Dhabi as Taparelle. Sit in the garden under the trees and enjoy a beautifully simple Mediterranean menu, with a bit of seafood thrown in (get the scallops) and pizza from the oven in the garden. Drinks are well-priced and well made and there's always a hum, a bit of DJ action and a lot of chat. Taparelle is the place to go for an affordable meal where you will be guaranteed a vibe and an element of casual sophistication. Just the way we like it!

BEST FOR: an amazing casual night out in the garden

Open: 9AM - 12AM

Contact: 02 657 5832

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ANTONIA

MAMSHA AL SAADIYAT, THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH, AL ZEINA & ANSAM YAS ISLAND

A firm favourite of those in the know Antonia offers Italian food done right. Mamsha is the OG and is a bustling venue, with the most knowledgeable staff and a divine terrace with views along the Mamsha Beach promenade? Tick, tick, tick!

Pizza containing Nonna’s 50 year old proprietary dough is a must order - 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!

Antonia Chic in the Galleria Mall is great for a business lunch, a cheeky aperitivo or just a great casual dinner mid-shop or to catch up with friends. The food and the vibes are on point and the interior gives amazing va-va-voom!

Antonia Trattoria in Al Zeina is perfect for Raha dwellers - it's the quintessential neighbourhood Italian, that you probably could get away with visiting once a week.

The newest in the Antonia stable is Antonia Ansam on Yas Island, right opposite Yas Water World. Sit on the terrace in cooler weather or grab a booth inside for a casual meal done right. We love the rotisserie offering porchetta and chickens lush with herbs and perfect with a glass of wine.

BEST FOR: Relaxed authentic Italian. All Antonia outlets are licensed to sell alcohol.

Time: Daily | Noon - 11PM

Contact: 02 667 2554

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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

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18 DEGREES BAR

ANDAZ CAPITAL GATE

Located on the 18th floor of Abu Dhabi’s iconic ‘leaning tower’, this excellent bar offers great city and sunset views from the indoor and (weather-permitting) outdoor terrace. Perfect for pre- or post-dinner drinks and shisha, 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

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NIRI

MAMSHA AL SAADIYAT

Japanese fans, rejoice! Another Mamsha favourite, Niri was listed in the Michelin Guide 2024 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

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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

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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

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CINQ A SEPT AT LA PETITE MAISON | THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH

This incredible aperitivo is an amazing option for a quiet early evening chatting. The terrace is superb, completely Parisian - but with incredibly personable staff who can chat as much or as little as you like. There's a glorious Coco Chanel Cockteau inspired cocktail list, perfect for sipping away and enjoying the views over the water of Al Maryah Bay. Order some super bar snacks - we love the burrata toast and the tiny pastries with escargots - decadent and just enough - kick back on the couches and breath.

Where: La Petite Maison, The Galleria al Maryah

Time: 5PM - 7PM

A la carte

Booking: 02 692 9600

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STRAWFIRE BY ROSS SHONHAN

EMIRATES PALACE MANDARIN ORIENTAL

We think Strawfire is Abu Dhabi's best restaurant. We love its open kitchen where you get to witness the warayaki style of cooking first hand - literally, straw going on the fire and producing the most sensational of results. The menu is broad encompassing everything from the finest quality sushi and sashimi, to an impressive muddle of Japanese-style spaghetti and high end steak options. Drinks are sensational and the mixology team was afforded a special mention in the Michelin Guide this year. Service is impeccable, with mixologists and sommeliers playing as prominent a role as the food wait staff and chefs. There's a terrace for cooler months which continues the incredible interior theme. This is not a cheap night out but it is worth every fil and we recommend you try it at least once, especially if you have a special occasion  to celebrate.

BEST FOR: special occasions and celebrations

Open: 6PM - 12AM

Contact: 02 690 7999

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CRAFT BY SIDE HUSTLE

THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH

We all take our guests to Craft.

This is the GCC's first ever micro-brewery which makes it a tourist attraction in itself. But its charms go deeper than that: we love the interesting Louisiana-based menu (where the Side Hustle boys come from!) which brings such gloriousness as burnt ends, a cracking brisket and a super jambalaya. They also do a good Sunday roast (to please the punters) and the brewed-onsite cocktails (barreled) and beers ensure there's something for everyone. Staff are friendly and skilled, the vibes are great and we love that it's ours.

BEST FOR: the best bar food in town

Open: for lunch from 12PM - 3AM

Contact: 02 631 9855

MATE

PARK HYATT ABU DHABI

Mate is one of Abu Dhabi's best steakhouses and we love it not only for its Saturday brunch but for the incredible show it puts on every night, bringing great Argentinian food to its loyal guests.

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