New Restaurant Openings In Abu Dhabi

Knead Bakery & Patisserie

ADREA Jubail Island

Abu Dhabi’s really entering its horse girl era - between ADREA and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, there are lots of cute cafes and UAE favourites popping up in view of the city’s stables and equestrian arenas! The latest? Knead Bakery has just opened a second branch at ADREA, and it’s a real winner! Plenty of indoor seating - ideal for the summer months - and some tables outside for when the horses are doing their thing, it’s the first of a few fab new openings at the facility. Reliably baking some of the best patisserie and sourdough in Abu Dhabi - all made fresh daily - Knead’s breakfast and lunch menu is well worth a try as well. Tuck into everything from shakshouka, avo toast and a full English to healthy bowls, French toast, burgers - they’ve even got a brand new pizza oven sitting pride of place if you fancy some cheesy, doughy goodness. It’s a great spot that feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city - and there’s plenty of parking too. Combine it with a trip to Jubail Mangrove Park for your next day out. 

Open: daily | 7AM - 10PM 

Contact: 050 951 0585

‍

Isabel Mayfair 

The Galleria Al Maryah Island

The latest addition to The Galleria’s ever-growing stable of upmarket destination-dining options, Isabel Mayfair has landed fresh from London in all its glamorous, art deco glory. If their aim is to wow you from the moment you arrive, they’re succeeding: from the crisply uniformed staff at the entrance to the burnished gold surfaces and opulent velvet furnishings, you’ll be glad you adhered to the dress code! The original Isabel opened its doors in London in 2017, and Abu Dhabi is the restaurant’s first foray beyond the UK - bringing its signature style and Mediterranean-esque menu to the UAE. Expect pretty plating and nice food - we enjoyed the tuna tartare topped with delicate purple petals and a very good vitello tonnato - and service is excellent. Enjoy the luxe setting - right down to beaded wallpaper in the bathrooms - but do check the dress code before you go, as there’s no sportswear, shorts for the guys or ripped jeans allowed - even if they’re designer!  

Open: daily | 12PM - 11PM | bar until 2AM 

Contact: +971 2 562 0045

‍

BAKE STUDIO 

Muroor

A brand new bakery has landed in Abu Dhabi and this one’s the real deal - you can see the bakers busy at work while you wait for your order (and they sure are busy!). As well as making everything from croissants to cinnamon rolls on site, they’re doing a roaring trade with pick up orders - probably your best bet to try them out, as there are only a few small tables inside and outside. Turnover was fast though, and we sat down within a few minutes of turning up. 

Our picks? The croissants in the window were enticing, and I was sold on an almond croissant… until we spied the pain au suisse butterfly (AED27). We couldn’t go past a crumble cinnamon roll (AED27) and rounded out the trio with a chocolate brownie (AED20). Filled with chocolate and jam, the pain au suisse split us - one gold medal and one bronze - but there is no denying the pastry was on point, and I really rated it! We love, love, LOVE a cinnamon roll, this one wasn’t the best ever (if it was warmed up it’d score more points) but still highly commended. And the humble chocolate brownie? Not so humble - topped with ice cream and caramel sauce, and with some walnut chunks, it was a chocolate bomb without being too sweet - we polished it off with no problems. It’s a cute spot, popular with a local crowd and even has some adorable tees and caps if you want to take a little of the Bake Studio vibe home with you. A repeat visit for sure - we’ll hit the savoury bakes next time! 

Open: daily | 8AM - 10PM

Contact: 054 359 8921

‍

L’ETO Restaurant

The Galleria al Maryah

Recently reopened, L’ETO’s back with a brand new track - well, sort of. Gone is the sizable cake display and cosy feel of old, replaced with a more upmarket, grown-up vibe: structural interiors with organic finishes and a gorgeous terrace are the backdrop to a fresh, modern Mediterranean-inspired menu. Serving up everything from breakfast to evening cocktails, there’s plenty to digest. 

Breakfast will set you back anywhere from AED60 for a healthy breakfast bowl to AED175 for wagyu steak and eggs. Weekdays have a set lunch menu, with a choice of main and accompaniments coming in at AED89 - a nice way to check out the new-look space - and nicely paired with a glass of wine from recognisable labels like Bread & Butter or 19 Crimes for AED39. While the a la carte menu - for evenings and weekends - is understandably more pricey, you’ll find a nice range of Mediterranean fare to choose from. We demolished a melt-in-the-mouth sea bass with yuzu dressing, and the ceviche with kiwi is amazing and perfectly balanced. The bar offering has been a big upgrade from the ‘old’ L’ETO - you can enjoy a mimosa or a bellini with your breakfast if the mood strikes, as well as a range of cocktails and wines as the day wears on. Live-fire cooking is a centrepiece of the evening service - it has a lovely, pleasant smokey aroma as a result which is welcoming rather than overbearing - and both the menu and the space is designed to feel generous and easy to return to.

Open: 9AM - noon | breakfast daily | 12PM - 3PM | set lunch Monday - Friday | 12PM - late | a la carte 

Contact: 02 679 4222

‍

EGGSPECTATION

Sunrise Promenade, Hidd al Saadiyat

We've been eggspecting you! This new addition to the Sunrise Promenade at Hidd on Saadiyat Island is going to become a favourite for breakfast, lunch and light dinner. It's not just eggs, we're firmly here for the pancakes which are light and fluffy. It's right near the beach and has a lovely terrace - and it's pet friendly too! What more do you need on a beachy promenade?! Check out what we ordered!

Open: 7AM - 11PM

Contact: 02 234 0823

‍

‍

88 SEOUL - CHICKEN AND RAMYEON

Al Seef Walk

Abu Dhabi now has an amazing complement of Korean restaurants and this mid-range one is great for a mid-week dinner or lunch. The interior is funky, the ramen is good and the vibe is actually pretty cool.

To find it, turn right out of the mall itself - it's right around the corner.

Open: 12PM - 10PM

Contact: 050 957 2523

ROSA'S THAI

The Galleria al Maryah

Has there been a more anticipated opening than this? We think not! And by the looks of the shares on our reel, the Best Bites community is fully here for it! The interior, as you can see, is gloriously cute, with booth  seating giving communal dining and funky fun a new home in Abu Dhabi. With all the staple Thai dishes you'd expect, done well, and an open kitchen where you can follow all the action, this is the brilliant casual dining addition the Galleria needs. Rosa's isn't licensed.

Open: 10AM - 12AM

‍

Also, Sushi Art has opened closeby - get all the sushi and wings you need in your life here!

‍

UMBE BY ANTONIA

Delivery Only

Antonia has done it again ... Umbe serves delivery only focaccia sandwiches to the starving Abu Dhabi masses. Not only is the packaging second to none, the sandwiches bring you a little slice of Italy into your lounge and Netflix watch.

The sandwiches are cut into 4 with a little packet of homemade chips (delish!) and could either be a quarter each for lunch or half each for dinner. We enjoyed the pancetta based Umberto, and the Ortolano - these flavours really stack up. It's worth starting at the top of the menu and moving down!

We also ordered a tiramisu to finish (this won narrowly over the bomboloni!) and this is an Antonia must!

Available from all delivery platforms.

BERENJAC

Khalidiyah/Bateen

This new Persian eatery, straight out of London, gives Middle Eastern street food on every level. Decor is moody, the restaurant covers two floors with a handy private dining space upstairs, and the menu is made for lovers of great, easy food.

The kebabs were among the best we've ever had, but at AED90, they certainly would need to be! We love the corn dish (pictured) and the excellent tea and desserts. The food really is a treat and we recommend you give it a try.

Open: 12PM - 5PM, 6PM - 11.30PM

‍

EL&N

Marina Mall and Reem Mall

This extravagantly pink breakfast/dessert/dinner cafe that we all know and love from Yas Bay, is now in both Marina Mall and Reem Mall. Serving up luscious breakfasts, cute coffees and good cakes, we think this is a massive addition to the see-and-be-seen scene.

Red velvet might be a few years old, but when done well, it's unmatched ... and EL&N does it very well! We rated the breakfast dishes and the coffee too ... actually not an easy combination to get right in Abu Dhabi.

Side note: it's Eee-lannn!

Open: 10AM - 11PM both locations

‍

COMING SOON

It doesn't stop here - there are some cracker new restaurants opening in Abu Dhabi in the next few months.

1. McGettigan's is coming to Reem Mall - its first licensed outlet
2. Rowley's will open on the stick out pier by the beach at Yas Bay Waterfront
3. Distrikt all day dining will be the cornerstone of dining at the new Bloom Rotana near NYU on Saadiyat
4. Everything at Hilton LXE!
5. Saddle and Common Grounds for your next Yas Mall coffee fix
6. Finally, some movement at Eastern Mangroves promenade: Joe & the Juice is on the books - plus the sister ship of Abd el Wahab where Flooka used to be
7. Some big changes coming to Mamsha al Saadiyat
8. And we wait with bated breath for newbies in Yas Bay

Watch this space Abu Dhabi!

‍