New Restaurant Openings In Abu Dhabi

YANN COUVREUR

THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH

Parisian pastry doyen Yann Couvreur has finally shared the love with Abu Dhabi! This is the new ‘it’ place, taking centre stage in front of the Apple Store in the Galleria al Maryah. Look out onto the spectacular water feature as you enjoy great coffee and pastries, with everything from the excellent Paris-Brest, and raspberry cheesecake (around AED50)to the gratifyingly different Isatis loaf cake (AED22). It’s not the cheapest outlet in town but  the quality is good and the vibe relaxing. 

Open: 10AM - 10PM

Contact: 052 831 4659

BARBASSI

MINA

Following the success of Marmellata, Raj Dagstani has opened Barbassi, a glorious Italian sandwich outlet, also in Mina.  Just in case you were in any doubt, the sandwiches are divine, the outlet funky and the opening hours limited. Surprisingly, we absolutely loved the vegetarian sandwich, but would queue for all the others! We’ve got the full low-down for you here

Open: Thursday to Sunday 10AM - 2PM

Contact: 024472362

FLAKY PASTRY

THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH

This lovely new cafe in the Galleria is tucked away beside West Elm and we’re here to tell you, that even if you’re at the cinema, make the trek! The coffee list is superb - we enjoyed both iced versions and the good old latte is well put together - importantly nothing is too sweet. 

The pastries are nothing short of excellent. There’s lamination galore on even  the pain au chocolat, and we loved the hazelnut croissant and the pizza croissant. It’s a great place for a solo coffee, a catch up with a friend or a quick, mid-shop lunch.

Open: 10AM - 10PM

Contact: 050 235 4648

JOE AND THE JUICE

THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH

I can’t think of a better location for this trendsetting shakes, smoothies  and sandwiches cafe.  It’s clearly filling a gap in the market, with the hordes coming across the concourse from the Global Markets offices, settling themselves in for a casual breakfast, lunch or dinner catch-up and a spot of people watching. It actually even opens a bit earlier to provide fuel for a day at the office - love that thinking! We fancy the tunacado, and the unicorn tears smoothie is absolutely so fun but so healthy too.  Verdict? it’s worth a pass-by … if you can  get a table!

Open: 8AM - 10PM

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SARABETH'S NEW YORK RESTAURANT AND BAKERY

HIDD AL SAADIYAT

The latest addition to our hit list on Saadiyat Island, Sarabeth's is tucked away near Hidd Marina next to a few fun and fabulous neighbours (including a brand new Arabica). Grab a seat out the front under the swaying palms and soak up the waterfront views while the weather allows - you'll maybe even spot some friendly dogs strolling past on the esplanade. If the heat is too much, nip inside - it's lovely. The menu has plenty of solid choices and portions are generous - check out all the details of this fabulous new opening all the way from New York here.

Open: daily | 7AM - 10PM

Contact: 026670265

TAZU BY ART LOUNGE

LOUVRE ABU DHABI

Get in fast and make the most of this one while you can! Tazu is the latest - and greatest - iteration to take over the iconic Art Lounge on The Louvre’s rooftop. A gorgeous Japanese menu, it’s the perfect accompaniment for some tasty bites with your sunset drinks, but the main dishes are excellent and it shouldn’t be overlooked for a proper sit-down meal. From hot starters (the beef teriyaki is perfectly flavoured and very moreish) to oysters, crispy tempura soft shell crab, excellent sushi and 48 hour braised teriyaki short rib, there is a lot to love. It’s not traditionally Japanese, but don’t skip the lava cake - we were jockeying for the last bite! 

With views across the sea to the city skyline, a vibey DJ and the treat of being somewhere that just feels effortlessly cool, be sure to get in before mid-June. Art Lounge closes for the summer, reopening in September. 

Open: daily | 5PM - midnight 

Contact: 052 799 4538

Summer's here and plenty of us are dreaming of those long-awaited holidays - but Abu Dhabi isn't slowing down. With a slew of new openings across the city - from a Japanese hotspot with some of the best views in the city to gorgeous pastries, global brands and under the radar spots to impress your mates with, check our these new restaurant and cafe openings in Abu Dhabi, and add them to your hit list this summer.

SEED & BLOOM 

AL RAHA GARDENS PLAZA

Seed & Bloom, Al Raha Gardens' newest addition, is quickly becoming a community hub in the area.

The interior is modern but cosy, and the covered, air-conditioned terrace makes it perfect for those pre-summer breakfast meetups or for a bit of remote working - the coffee is excellent!

Don’t miss the homemade focaccia, or the huevos bravas, a deliciously filling egg/potato breakfast-to-brunch crossover that will fill you up way past lunch! There are plenty of healthy and veg options available too: the cauliflower popcorn is great to snack on.

Kids are taken care of with a kids menu that offers 2 courses for AED55, or 3 for AED70.

In keeping with the community vibe, a range of locally made crafts are on sale, including honey from Mazaraa farm and handmade soaps from Unwrapped. There’s a packed events calendar offering experiences such as cupcake making, focaccia decorating and latte art.

A private dining area and meeting room are also available.

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Open: daily | 8AM - 11PM 

Contact: 056 377 3443

MOON WATER

HIDD AL SAADIYAT

Not put off by something a little off the beaten track? Combine your next workout with a visit to Moon Water, and enjoy a boost to your mind, body and soul all in one place. Located at Elev8 Studio - the fresh workout spot - it’s inside the gates of Hidd on Saadiyat Island, so you’ll need to let them know where you’re headed on the way in. 

Attending a class isn’t mandatory to grab a drink or a snack at Moon Water - we stopped by for a kombucha and a berry botox smoothie last week to escape the heat - but it’s a little out of the way if you aren’t already in the neighbourhood. The brainchild of Seven Wellness, they brand themselves as a functional café for the seekers, with clean, holistic elixirs that nourish mind & body. I’m not sure if I looked younger after that botox smoothie, but it tasted great either way.

Open: daily | 8AM - 9PM

Contact: 054 386 8835

ROSEMARY

BAB AL QASR

The latest offering at Bab Al Qasr has arrived: a Mediterranean breath of fresh air up the business end of town. Alongside their regular lunch and dinner service, you can spice things up with their Paella Night, complete with live flamenco dancing, every Friday. See if it’s the right fit for you here - if you’re after a laidback lunch or dinner with a group, this might be right up your alley. 

Open: daily | 11AM - 11PM 

Contact: 02 205 3003

LAUNDRY ROOM

ROYAL M HOTEL

This new restaurant and bar in Royal M in Al Bateen has some real quirks. Decor couples a proper glitzy laundromat feel, alongside fresh patterns and sea views. This is one to watch especially for the drinks selection which promises to be fairly epic. It's Insta cool - and worth a look-see!

They've launched the Dirty Laundry Saturday brunch - all the details for this can be found on the Best Bites app!

Open: 12PM - 1AM

Booking: 054 308 8664

THE OBA

AL ZAHIYAH

This beautiful new Turkish restaurant is going to be the fancy go-to for all the people in the new apartments cropping up along the Al Maryah Bridge area and Reemies too! Serving high end food, but with some really good deals The Oba has something for everyone. There are comfy sofas, perfect for looking out at the view, which when the construction finishes, will be excellent. There's a private dining area upstairs which would seat maybe 20 people, and they plan to have shisha in the near future.

There's a breakfast deal not to miss: enjoy a breakfast tray (which is suitably beautiful!) with unlimited tea for just AED139 for two people. This might be your entry into the restaurant but we know you'll be back.

Open: 8AM - 12AM

Breakfast 8AM - 2PM

Contact: 054 774 7770

AMARA

YAS ISLAND

If you’re on the hunt for excellent Lebanese food on Yas Island, you’d be hard pressed to top Amara. Located on the back terrace of The WB Hotel - a stone’s throw from the entrance to the Warner Brothers theme park entrance - this bright and airy new restaurant is one we can see ourselves returning to again and again.

It really does tick a lot of boxes: ideal for a quiet morning of remote work (or co-working, as we did - there’s wifi and plenty of powerpoints), there are big tables that are perfect for a larger group, an informal meeting or a team lunch. Parents are well looked after - the restaurant isn’t cramped, and there’s plenty of space for prams indoors and out (when the weather allows), along with a well equipped kids playroom. 

The real star of the show? The food. Come hungry if you plant to tackle their breakfast feast - between 4 of us, we didn’t even come close to finishing it. An overflowing, two-tier parade of fruit, bread, preserves, shakshouka, falafel, moutabel, flat breads… the list goes on, and our stomachs were doing a happy dance with every bite. Other worthy mentions? Try the golden-baked halloumi, wrapped in a delicate pastry and crowned with Aleppo cherry salsa - seriously yum - and the kunafa nabulsiyeh, finished tableside with velvety ashta cream, makes for a lovely sweet finish. We can see this becoming a classic Lebanese go-to in Abu Dhabi - from the warm hospitality and beautifully finished interiors, to shisha service, a great location and most importantly, excellent food - make sure you give it a try. 

Open: daily | 8AM - 11.30PM | until 1AM Friday - Sunday 

Contact: 050 777 0543

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