New Restaurant Openings In Abu Dhabi

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

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ART OF DUM

REEM MALL

A fresh new Indian restaurant has just joined the culinary ranks at Reem Mall, and what a treat this one is! Chic interiors make you forget you’re inside a mall, and big glass windows allow a peek inside a kitchen that’s plating up some seriously good food. Under the guidance of chef Guarav - formerly of Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi - the quality is as high as you’d expect, and then some! 

We tried a bit of everything: the Nizam-e-pakwan (AED40) was a great sharing starter you can really dig into, and the Mumbai-style pani puri (AED35) was lovely and fresh.  Our hero has to be the Art of Dum dal makhani (AED55). Dubbed the black gold of India, it’s cooked overnight and the depth of flavour was impressive. Mocktails are genuinely lovely, and at just AED29 each well worth it for the effort in both taste and presentation. It’s really veg friendly - everything we picked on the day was vegetarian - but we’ll be returning to try some meat dishes as soon as we can. They’ve got an outdoor shisha terrace opening soon, and the staff are really lovely as well - big ticks all round. Stop by on your next visit to Reem Mall - or make a special trip, it’s worth the detour. 

Open: daily | 11AM - 11PM | until 12AM Friday & Saturday

Contact: 056 856 1276

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L’ETO 

THE GALLERIA

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. 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, 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

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EGGSPECTATION

SUNRISE PROMENADE

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

SUSHI HOUSE

AL REEM ISLAND

This is a great addition to Reem, where scores of people are looking every day for a great place to have sushi that ... well, that doesn't suck! Sushi House is a good one because the sushi is made on the premises, to order and is fresh and decent quality.  Pricing doesn't break the bank either and we've already been back for our mid-week dinner hit - both dine in and delivery. We'd love it if it was licensed but will wait and see.

Open: 8AM - 12AM

Contact: 02 565 4110

MOOAH

REEM MALL

20% off with BB+!

This is Abu Dhabi's first parfait bar! What to expect? Little pots of goodness - and we tried the sweet and the savoury (yes, this is a thing!) and would go back for breakfast for lunch - we really enjoyed it. Its not expensive but the BB+ discount makes it all the better and they deliver! Check out what we had when we visited here.

Open: 8.30AM - 10PM

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MARCELLA

YAS BAY WATERFRONT

From the team that brought you Mika, Marcella will be a welcome addition to the Yas Bay Waterfront dining scene with its Iberian flavours on a menu encompassing tapas, seafood, grills and desserts. With dishes like lamb shoulder and paella for sharing, this will be a great spot for lunch or dinner, whatever the weather outside.

Open: 12PM - 12/1AM

Contact: 056 545 7290

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PEAKSY

YAS BAY WATERFRONT

Listen up: this is probably the most multi-faceted place in Abu Dhabi and don't be put off if you don't immediately think it's going to be your jam.

On the bottom floor there's toy kitchens and role play activities  and there's a cafe there so parents can eat brekky and watch their kids without having 50 heart attacks. Above that, there's a soft play area for toddlers, then there's a climbing wall and a rope climbing course for older kids.

'But I don't have kids and I don't like kids and I don't want to be near kids!' ... no problem. The entrance to the restaurant with alll the views is via a separate lift - you won't even know said scone grabbers are there! And best of all, this restaurant is licensed so you can enjoy a wine along with the actually great food - just what the Yas Bay doctor ordered.

Peaksy has some gas left in its tank: the rooftop bar (which we think is going to blow our minds!) is yet to open ... along with a daredevil surprise to go with it.

We think you should go and give it a try. It's our pick of the month ...and there's a BB+ menu coming soon!

Open: 10AM - 10PM and midnight on weekends

Contact: 02 627 9899

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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

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MINA CREAMERY

MINA PORT

This home grown ice-cream brand has been delivery only for the longest time, but now there's an actual outlet. Set in the bustling Mina area, this is a superb option for an ice-cream stop, with flavour combos set to excite. We love the salted saffron halwa and the falooda (omg!) - but there are tons more to try ... you must!

Open: Wednesday - Sunday, 12PM - 5PM

Contact: 058 579 1612

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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. Distrikt all day dining will be the cornerstone of dining at the new Bloom Rotana near NYU on Saadiyat
3. Everything at Hilton LXE!
4. Saddle and Common Grounds for your next Yas Mall coffee fix
5. Finally, some movement at Eastern Mangroves promenade: Joe & the Juice and Zoomak on the books - plus the sister ship of Abd el Wahab where Flooka used to be

Watch this space Abu Dhabi!

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MINA CREAMERY

MINA PORT

This home grown ice-cream brand has been delivery only for the longest time, but now there's an actual outlet. Set in the bustling Mina area, this is a superb option for an ice-cream stop, with flavour combos set to excite. We love the salted saffron halwa and the falooda (omg!) - but there are tons more to try ... you must!

Open: Wednesday - Sunday, 12PM - 5PM

Contact: 058 579 1612