Novikov Abu Dhabi is Serving Up Refined Dining at The Galleria

Article by

Danika Star

July 16, 2026

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Novikov threw open the doors to their Abu Dhabi restaurant last year, and have really hit their stride in the city’s dining scene. Like many before them, Novikov made their way from London to Abu Dhabi - settling into the luxury surroundings of The Galleria Al Maryah Island. Light and airy, the spacious restaurant curves around an open kitchen bustling with activity. Dishes are primarily Italian - but upmarket, with a pizza setting you back up to AED190 and their signature Lobster Linguini coming in at AED275. Splurge on some gorgeous seafood and premium cuts of meat if you really want to push the boat out, but along with this higher price tag Novikov does deliver excellent food: it was even Michelin Selected in 2026, not a bad effort within a year of opening.

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The Man Behind the Magic

Helmed by Chef Alberto Dorigo - born and raised in Italy - he relocated to Novikov's London flagship restaurant aged 19 and began working his way up the food chain. A two-year sojourn at the three-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester honed his skills further, before a return to his ‘home turf’ in 2021 - taking a position as Head Chef of Novikov Bodrum, followed by a move to the UAE as Head Chef of Novikov Abu Dhabi. A remarkable culinary journey by just 26, Alberto is certainly doing great things in the kitchen here on Al Maryah Island: the plates arrive looking as gorgeous as they are delicious.

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What are we Eating?

The menu is undeniably very good: you’d be hard pressed to eat here and not be impressed. Elevated Italian and modern Mediterranean dishes are the mainstays of a menu that’s not overcomplicated - the quality of the ingredients is allowed to shine, and you’ll not leave hungry, a concern in many a fine dining restaurant.

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Looking for a taster of Novikov without the hefty price tag? Their business lunch is a great shout: it’ll set you back AED148 for 2 courses or AED198 for three courses, and it’s plenty of food for lunch - we couldn’t finish dessert which is almost unheard of! It’s a slimmed down selection of the main menu, which is quite perfect for lunch: smaller versions mean you can at least try to get through everything, but the dishes aren’t stingy. We adored the mushroom risotto - wild mushrooms, aged parmesan, truffle oil and fresh thyme brought a gorgeous flavour, and it was of course perfectly cooked - and the beef carpaccio topped with truffle shavings. Novikov’s tiramisu is up there with one of our favourites in Abu Dhabi, and we couldn’t help but go off-piste from the lunch menu and add the Italian meringue cake - 70 of the best dirhams we’ve spent in Abu Dhabi lately! Light, fluffy, with toasted meringue to coat - wow!

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Our recommendation? Pick a day when you can take a long lunch, so you aren’t rushed and can enjoy a leisurely visit.

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And to Drink?

With a proper bar setup, you’d expect Novikov’s drinks game to be strong, and they don’t disappoint. Cocktails are strong - taxis are a must if you’re planning to partake - and the mocktails are delightful. Treat yourself to a 971: pomegranate juice, rosemary syrup and yuzu provide a burst of fresh flavour, the whole thing topped with 24ct gold dust. At AED71 it’s one of the priciest mocktails we’ve seen but it is tasty. Cocktails will set you back AED65-85 but are creative and quite potent: look out for takes on the classics like the Pandan Old Fashioned and Lychee–Rose Crystal Martini.

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How's the Vibe?

Light-filled and airy, Novikov’s dining room is lovely. There’s a terrace for winter, and a bar area which is perfect for their daily aperitivo hour. The water views will level up entirely once the construction of The Galleria’s fountains are complete, but even now it’s a light-filled oasis which almost gives a dose of sun without the bite. The staff are lovely, accommodating and know their stuff - we’d expect no less at a restaurant of this calibre - but they add to a relaxed yet refined atmosphere. Night time makes for a different vibe - and it’s a great spot for afterwork drinks or a chic date night if you’re looking to impress. As for us? We’ll be back for lunch - it’s one of our favourite business lunches in Abu Dhabi.

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