Where to Eat and Drink in Al Zeina Abu Dhabi
Article by
Rachael Partington
-
April 12, 2026
Al Zeina is arguably the heart of the Al Raha Beach area, housing some 4000 residents and sporting a beach and a now buzzing community of eateries. Whether you're keen for a catch-up with a friend, want somewhere to have a coffee while you wait for a physio appointment at Align, or dinner and drinks out, there's bound to be something for you.
Al Zeina excels at daytime dining and community-style hangouts, with a few strong anchors like Antonia and The Keg Room offering places for a glass or two of wine and a good, casual meal. Nando's will be licensed later this year too!
If you're looking for a ladies night or a brunch you'd be lucky to find it at Zeina - instead, head to Yas Bay Waterfront, which is a 10 minute cab ride away.
It's also worth noting that parking in Al Zeina is at a premium - either park in one of the angle parks outside Antonia or go around the back to the designated parking area. But otherwise, Careem is your friend!
Casual dining and full meals
Antonia
By far the best foodie restaurant in Al Zeina, you'll find great Roman style pizzas, super pasta dishes, some incredible suppli and desserts to die for. This branch also offers breakfast on weekends from 9AM (eggs, bombaloni and cornetti) and of course, outstanding Italian coffee.
Open: Monday 12PM - 10.30PM, Tuesday - Friday 8AM - 11PM, weekends 9AM - 11PM
Contact: 02 622 0480
Maxzi The Good Food Shop.
While you will find some healthy options on their vast menu, Maxzi is famous for something else entirely: burgers! They're well-priced and absolutely lush. If you don't fancy a burger, get some good Tex-Mex flavours and anything you feel like in the way of comfort food.
Open: 8AM - 12AM/1AM
Contact: 02 550 6367
Nando’s
The home of peri-peri chicken, Nando's is both a family hangout and a place for teenagers to catch up. The chicken gets rave reviews and don't sleep on the garlic bread - delish! Nando's will be licensed later this year - another win for families in the area!
Open: 8AM - 1AM
Contact: 600 542525
Dandana Lounge
One of the only Arabic restaurants in the area, Dandana is the place to get a good mixed grill and most importantly a cracking shisha. It's a loungy type of affair, very casual and family run - a great place for a lazy afternoon or evening.
Open: 8.30AM - 2AM
Contact: 050 309 0032
Meatholic
This premium meat spot is great when you're craving a steak
Open: 2PM - midnight
Contact: 050 126 2191
Cafés and coffee spots
Eggcellent
This Dubai-born cafe is fabulous for breakfast - get every egg dish under the sun as well as French toast and pancakes.
Open: 8AM - 11PM
Contact: 02 584 9460
Jither
This new cafe is somewhere to go for ... well, just about everything! Grab a coffee, get a croissant or a piece of cake and order flowers. It serves the Al Zeina community well and is a welcome addition.
Open: 7AM - 11PM
Contact: 058 586 1551
Stead Bakery
Yes, we're here for it! Stead offers quite fancy pastries, whole cakes and cheesecakes and good bread. It's also a popular place for a coffee catch-up or a place to work even, though with only half a dozen tables, that's a first-come-first-served situation at this bustling little place.
Open: 7AM - 10.30PM
Contact: 050 731 0084
LOCAL
Get your coffee/cake fix amongst the crowds of Emirati men who love this cafe and call it their local (pun intended!) Not only do they have a thriving and usually packed coffee shop, the barbershop next door is the go-to for men of all ages who love a top-tier trim. It doesn't stop there: there's also a sizy area dedicated to the sale of contemporary clothes, hats, shoes and sunnies - a men's clothing paradise for anyone who needs to look good.
Open: 7AM - 11PM
Contact: 02 555 3339
The Edition Café
This new-ish addition to the cafe strip in Al Zeina is a popular choice already for its good coffee and low-key, snacks and breakfasts. We enjoy things from the counter which is stuffed full with bagels and pastries, generally a decent way to start the day.
Open: 7AM - midnight
Contact: 056 294 7179
Co Chocolat Café
This is a great addition to the Al Zeina cafe scene. Sit outside on comfortable chairs or inside and swoon over all the chocolate! This is a great option for a last minute gift - get your friend some chocolate covered dates or a selection of the 'healthy' chocolate on offer. We settled in with a few cookies, all of which had a chocolate bent and are good if you like a softer bite. We enjoyed the birthday and the chocolate chip best! Coffee is good and the staff are absolutely excellent and make for a lovely experience.
Open: 8AM - 11PM
Contact: 054 723 6772
NIGHTS OUT
The Keg Room
The Keg Room is a shining example of what a neighbourhood bar should look like: it's well priced (especially with BB+ discounts scattered throughout the week!) and comfortable, with a great outdoor area for the cooler weather. Quiz night on a Monday is really popular and the Sunday roast is a good option for a family meal.
Open: 9AM - 1AM Friday Saturday and Sunday, 11AM - midnight Monday - Thursday
Contact: 056 410 4101
MAXZI
Share This Article
JUMP TO:
- Contents link 1
- Contents link 2
- Contents link 3
- Contents link 4
- Contents link 5
More Articles
.jpg)
More Articles
Related Articles
Whatever foodie experience you're looking for, Best Bites has it covered!
The Best Bites app lists every single foodie experience in town, from brunches and ladies nights to quiz nights and business lunches. This is also the place to start saving on your days and nights out: download the app and sign up to BB+ for tons of restaurant, bar, liquor store, staycay and leisure discounts.
If it's opinions and insp you're looking for, for Abu Dhabi and Dubai, you'll find them here on bestbitesuae.com. We're especially strong on seasonal info, so make sure you check this on the regular as well as bestbitesad Instagram, full of great foodie finds!
© 2024 Best Bites
