New Restaurant Openings In Abu Dhabi

BAYSIDE BURGERS

YAS BAY WATERFRONT

This little burger joint is in a prime spot at Yas Bay, right beside the entrance to the new beach. It has a gorgeous little terrace overlooking the bay and the interior gives Baja with images of surfies, sand, waves and a kind of 50s diner vibe. Grab a frozen margarita, pina colada or a cold beer, or a cheeky little blue (yes, that's a flavour!) slushy, and your burger of choice and sit and watch the world go by.

The menu is small but  perfectly formed. Choose a good quality beef patty combination with your house-made bun, or chicken with some of the dirtiest fries imaginable and get involved. Not to be missed, vege or not, is the Shroom Boom - this incredibly well textured mushroom burger is insane.

Open: 1PM - midnight

Contact: 02 563 9329

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HY BAKERY

3RD FLOOR, THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH

This fabulous new Korean bakery has opened in the Galleria al Maryah Abu Dhabi. Serving a range of matcha - and non-matcha - treats Hy is a great idea for a pit stop in the mall. There are plugs beside every seat, views over ADGM  to the water and lovely staff. Food is well-priced, including some excellent breakfast items for around AED40. It's officially our favourite place in the mall - you need to go!

Open: 10AM - 10PM

Contact: 054 429 6477

ANTONIA ANSAM

Abu Dhabi's best home-grown Italian chain has opened its fifth Abu Dhabi outlet in Ansam, Yas Island. This one is equally as funky as the others but has the added excitement of offering Nonna's Rosticceria - gorgeous rotisserie chickens and veal roasts too. Desserts are excellent and perfect for a quick bite - get a maritozzo!

This is an excellent addition to the Yas Island dining scene - and it already has a wealth of happy customers.

Open: 12PM-11PM

02 681 1699

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SOPHIA

ST REGIS SAADIYAT

This new high-end Mediterranean is going to be a popular choice for diners on Saadiyat Island. The menu offers all your favourites that bring back memories of holidays in the Aegean, blue seas and warm evenings. Food is light and delicious while the drinks are outstanding, boasting flavour profiles not often seen in Abu Dhabi.

This is one to add to your list!

Open: 12PM - 10.30PM

Contact: 02 498 8888

IBN ALBAHR

MAKERS DISTRICT, REEM ISLAND

This is literal beachside dining! This high end Arabic food is as great for intimate seaside date nights as it is for groups of friends to sit around over a few drinks and some good Arabic food. The menu is great for anyone with a seafood craving, but also the mezze is top-tier. It won't be the cheapest Levantine food you've ever had but it might be some of the best. Check it out!

Open: 12PM - 12AM

Contact: 800 426252247

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ASH & OAK LOUNGE

MARRIOTT AL FORSAN

If you're a cigar lover, Ash & Oak Lounge is the bar you wish you'd always had in your life. Offering options to buy some excellent specimens as well as great drinks, Ash and Oak is a cigar smoker's paradise! There's a small bar menu, a huge drinks offering and a ton of reasons to head there for an evening of relaxing and chewing the fat with your squad.

Open: 5PM - 1AM

Contact: 052 831 4659

COCO CAFE AND PLAYHOUSE

HIDD AL SAADIYAT

Parents assemble! (And even non-parents who don’t mind the odd child or two appearing while they eat!)

This new outlet combines a sensory and play paradise for younger children with a really good cafe, great for breakfast or lunch, whatever your status. 

In terms of play, this Montessori inspired space features colours and textures that are calming, contemporary and almost chic, with massive ball pits, tables for quieter play and lots of options for imaginative play - we loooved the little train and the kitchen and the little road running through the play zones (as did the children in attendance!) as well as the guided sing-a-longs and games.

The cafe offers good coffee and light meals.  We enjoyed the avo toast on charcoal sourdough - yes, the toast was cooked properly!  But our surprising find was the coffee with passionfruit - not our usual jam and we were super dubious, but it was actually refreshing and good! 

We’d go back (even though we’re child-free!) because the staff were excellent, the food was good and if we must reference this word, it was just a massively wholesome experience. 

Open: 8AM - 7/8PM

Contact: 02 446 4011

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CHIPOTLE

YAS MALL

Chipotle is one of those places that you head straight for the minute your feet touch American soil. Rock in and request your fillings for some of the hugest burritos known to humankind, great burrito bowls (if you're pretending to be healthy) and gorgeous tacos. The store at Yas Mall gives you all this, with a bit of a UAE flavour. Bottomless soft drinks are the order of the day and the guac is great - though be prepared to pay an extra AED12 for the privilege.

This is definitely worth a shout if you love Mexican and are looking for quick Mexican food in Abu Dhabi!

Open: 10AM - 11PM

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L'ANTICA PIZZA DA MICHELE

YAS BAY WATERFRONT

If you had to say that Yas Bay was lacking something, it would be an Italian - and so L'Antica Pizza da Michele enters the chat.

With a quality fit-out, the most beautiful pizza oven in the universe and an outdoor terrace, this will prove popular both with tourists and Abu Dhabi's finest. The menu is broad enough, with pastas and mains, as well as a great range of pizzas. The pizza is authentic Napoli style which means an insanely thin crust, toppings that aren't too heavy and taste that's on point - because the ingredients are high quality. Pizzas prices range from AED90 for a provola e pepe to around AED150 for a truffle or cappriciosa. We really enjoyed the Zola and the Maradona - getting the name vibe? - and the bruschetta (AED60) for starters and will go back to try the tiramisu which we feel sure will be authentic and beautiful.

Open: 12PM - 11PM

Contact: 02 559 3885

COMING SOON

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

1. Craft by Side Hustle - yes, we'll see the fan favourite opening outlet number 2 in Yas Bay Waterfront - bring it!
2. Ocean's Basket - this favourite seafood outlet will be a fan-favourite in Reem Mall
3. Brass Monkeys - The Galleria al Maryah. We're looking forward to seeing this one in action!
4. Marcello - Yas Bay Waterfront. Say ole!
5. Everything at Hilton LXE!
6. EL&N - the pink extravaganza will soon be open in Marina Mall, Reem Mall
7. NAC - where Table Otto used to be in Yas Mall
8. Saddle -Al Qana
9. Bar du Port -Yas Marina

Watch this space Abu Dhabi!

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