Where To Eat On Reem Island | Plus All The Best Restaurant, Cafe & Bar Discounts

Cafe James

Shams Boutik 

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Some of the best food on Reem can be found at Cafe James: smashing breakfasts (try the shakshouka or go all out with a brill French toast), excellent mains with some French influences, buttery croissants, decadent desserts and even some good scones (high praise in Abu Dhabi, the home of sad scones), James hits the mark every time. Caffeine addicts, you’ll find your fix here - the specialty coffee menu hosts a range of different origin beans, every kind of milk and anything from an iced Spanish to nitro. 

As well as being a favourite for coffee stops and weekend breakfast with our mates, James is also a great spot to knock over some work. Counter seating means you can zero in on your laptop without taking over a whole table, and the cafe is conveniently located in Shams Boutik, perfect for a lunch meeting. Good lighting, strong WIFI, great food - tick, tick, tick. After becoming a favourite on Reem, a second James is now open in Al Qana, so you can find your favourites over that way now, too. 

Open: daily | 7AM-11PM

Contact: 02 886 9949

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London Dhaba

Al Reem Bay Tower

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Sharing their location with Sweet Greens, it’s a relaxed cafe vibe at London Dhaba - Abu Dhabi’s first London curry house. Boasting ‘desi tadka mixed with London swagger’, they’re not wrong - the food’s really good and it nails the brief. Go for the onion bhaji with mint chutney that really brings out the flavour - they’re so crispy, with enough integrity to stand up in a leaning tower of Pisa-esque construction. The butter chicken is creamy and true to its British curry interpretation, or get your BC fix with a twist and order a loaded bowl: like loaded fries but better, it’s a layered combo of butter chicken, fries, butter chicken again and a spicy sauce to pour over the top. It’s a bit like an Irish spice bag on steroids (don’t come for us for saying that if you’re British, Irish or Indian), but we couldn’t stop eating until the bowl was empty. Best part? Score 2FOR1 on mains with Best Bites - so it’s the perfect time to give this newcomer a try and save yourself some dirhams while you’re at it! 

Open: daily | 12PM-11PM

Contact: 058 661 3650

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The Kettle Corner

Shams Boutik

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Cute and cosy, this cheerful cafe in Shams Boutik is a hub for its regulars - you’ll see them gathered around their favourite tables outside shooting the breeze over a coffee. The staff are friendly - and great at remembering a face, as well as your favourite order - and they get started early, so you can grab your favourite brekky or coffee before work. You’ll find a blend of Indian and western dishes on the menu: from English breakfast to a Bombay breakfast, French toast to keema or vada pav, there’s a great mix. The coffee is solid, and they do a delicious karak - not quite as cheap as downtown, but well-priced for Reem at AED11 for a large cup. It’s not just a breakfast spot - The Kettle Corner is open until 11PM, and buzzing with diners throughout the day. 

Open: daily | 7AM - 11PM

Contact: 02 884 4560

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Thai Noodle

By The Sea Tower

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This cheerful Thai restaurant on the Reem Island waterfront, a stone’s throw from Reem Central Park, popped up in 2024. You’ll find plenty of your Thai favourites: fresh papaya salad, crunchy shrimp spring rolls, tom yum soup and of course a solid pad Thai - well priced at AED42 (chicken or shrimp).

We love to stop in after a wander along the palm-lined beach when the weather’s nice - perfect for a weeknight dinner or a fresh weekend lunch. Finish with the mango sticky rice - you won’t regret it. 

Open: daily | 11AM - 11PM

Contact: 02 447 3731

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Sweet Greens 

Reem Bay Tower A

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This well-liked neighbourhood cafe has a focus on sustainability and healthy food - they provide nutritional information for all meals - without being boring. You’ll find some popular deals here, with loyal diners returning again and again for Sweet Greens’ all-you-can-eat breakfast deal (it’s available every day - yes, even weekends) for just AED60 for adults and AED35 for kids, a cheap-as-chips business lunch for AED42 and bottomless pizza and pasta each night for AED69! The food isn’t bland, and alongside healthy choices you’ll still find tasty French toast and treats on the menu. Another bonus? They open at 6AM - one of the earliest breakfast spots on Reem Island. 

Open: daily | 6AM - 11PM

Contact: 058 597 8455

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Adam’s Beer Kitchen

ARC Tower

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The first official pub on Reem Island, Adam’s has become a go-to for catching a game, grabbing a beer and even grabbing an al fresco beverage in their now-expanded beer garden. During summer, they even pump the aircon, so sitting outside is just about tolerable - nothing short of a miracle. 

Scan the menu and order your standard pub grub - burgers, and all sorts of fried goodies to go along with your ice cold beer. You’ll find your favourites on tap, like Guinness, or go for a more local brew with a pint of Dune. They’ve got some beer-based cocktails for the adventurous amongst us to try, like the Coronarita, and a wine list that changes but usually has a decent pinot grigio on it. Opening daily from 12PM - and 11AM on weekends - you can nip in for a liquid lunch or an afterwork drink as you fancy. 

Open: daily | 12PM - 2AM | 11AM - 3AM from Friday - Sunday

Contact: 056 863 7522

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Pizza Express

ARC Tower

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A little bit of England in Abu Dhabi, this well-loved chain is also a popular choice on Reem Island. Located on the ground floor of ARC Tower, the spacious restaurant is great for families - they have a kids menu and some great deals for kids parties too, so the kids can get their hands dirty with a pizza making party. Grab a spot on a booth and make the most of 15% off with BB+. They’re one of the few licenced venues on Reem Island, so you can enjoy a beer or wine with your Romana-style pizza, pasta or deliciously calorific garlic-drenched dough balls. Pizza Express do a decent salad too, if you want to feel better about having a glass of wine on a weekday - just saying!

Open: daily | 10.30AM - 11.30PM | until 12.30AM on weekends

Contact: 02 666 0068

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Peninsula Drinks and Food 

ARC Tower

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Abu Dhabi-owned Peninsula is one of the go-to alcohol stores on Reem Island. Find your favourite tipple amongst a wide selection of wines, craft beers and spirits in their well-stocked shelves - sourced from around the world by their team of experts. Every month, Peninsula spotlight a different country or variety of wine, perfect for our wine enthusiasts and sommeliers-in-the-making keen to try something different. BB+ members score 20% off full priced products - winning - and it’s conveniently located on the ground floor of ARC Tower, walking distance to Shams and the surrounding community. 

Open: daily | 9.30AM - 10PM

Contact: 02 447 8753

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Grapes & Hops 

Reflection Tower A

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A little further up the island, Grapes & Hops’ Reem Island branch is located downstairs of Reflection Tower A. You’ll find a great range of beer, wine and spirits to choose from - changing regularly, so there’s always something new to try. Check out their weekly specials - and anything not on special, nab 20% off with your BB+ membership. Basically, that means everything you buy will always be on sale - sounds pretty great to us! 

Open: daily | 10AM-10PM

Contact: 02 309 8696

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Where To Eat - and the Best Discounts - in Reem Mall

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LevanTurk Restaurant

Reem Mall

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Great for sharing, as the name would suggest LevanTurk serves up good Turkish and Lebanese food. You’ll find seafood, grills and some really nice mezze - making for a fab choice before (or after) your trip to the movies with your crew - it’s perfect for sharing.  Score 20% off with BB+ excluding breakfast - which is already a steal, at just AED49 for their breakfast buffet on weekdays (and only AED20 for kids) - bargain!

Open: daily | 9AM - 11PM

Contact: 050 656 5036

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Boost Juice 

Reem Mall

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When Australia’s most famous juice brand flung open their doors in Abu Dhabi, we were waiting on the doorstep to order our first Mango Magic and All Berry Bang on this side of the Equator. It’s still our go-to for the most thirst-quenching smoothies and juices, perfect to sip on while you do laps of the mall - or for a sneaky cinema drink perhaps! The 20% off makes these smoothies such good value - and a little taste of home for our southern hemisphere expats!

Open: daily | 10AM - 10PM | until 12AM Friday - Saturday

Contact: 02 635 9451

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EL&N Deli & Bakery

Reem Mall

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No pink in sight, the newest EL&N outlet nails the deli vibe, right here in Reem Mall: the interiors are chic, with sage green tiling and pops of red, and an enviable display of baked goods by the entrance. You’ll find lots of your favourite EL&N cakes - selfishly, I’m so glad I can now get these in my neighbourhood - but plenty of newcomers as well. Pastries, sweet croissant cubes - the savoury version of these are also well worth a try - and beautiful individual cakes all vie for your attention. Savoury focaccias and pizzettas will tempt you too - and the full menu is available if you prefer something from the kitchen. Our picks? Stracciatella pistachio focaccia, EL&N shakshouka and pretty much anything from the sweet cabinet. Drinks are dreamy - the ocean blue iced matcha and strawberry & coconut iced matcha concoctions are as pretty as they are tasty. It’s a relaxed spot, and a welcome addition to the dining scene in Reem Mall - find them on level one, with a sweet 20% off with BB+ Monday to Friday! 

Open: daily | 10AM - 10PM | until 12AM on weekends

Contact: 02 632 5001

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Mooah Parfait Bar

Reem Mall

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Pronounced ‘mwah’ - like the sound you’ll make after you dig into your custom parfait! - this is the UAE’s first parfait bar. How cool is that? Their remit is healthy but delicious - and they really nail both! Choose a base, pick your toppings and away you go! It’s well-priced, especially with a 20% BB discount, and you can even DIY a savoury parfait - who knew? The sweet options are delish, but we really enjoyed Mexican-inspired parfait with a cottage cheese base - helping you hit your protein goals without even trying! They seal it up on the spot for you, so it’s perfect to take into VOX next door as your next movie snack - thank us later!

Open: 8.30AM - 10PM weekdays | 10AM - late on weekends | until 12AM Friday - Saturday

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La Zona Cafe

Reem Mall

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Looking for an early breakfast spot in Reem Mall? You can find yourself a solid breakfast and some excellent coffee at La Zona - Lavazza coffee no less. The rest of the menu skews Italian: hearty pizzas and pasta, as well as regular cafe fare like burgers and salads. It’s family friendly, and a great option to refuel next time you’re hitting the shops. 

Open: daily | 8AM - 11PM | until 12AM Saturday and Sunday

Contact: +971 54 289 8820

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Spinneys Liquor

Reem Mall

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Skip any extra stops on the way home from the shops and stock up at Spinneys in Reem Mall on your way out - even better, you can grab 20% off with your BB+ sub. We love a liquor store discount - and we love the range at Spinneys. 

Open: daily | 10AM - 10PM

Contact: 02 447 1934

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Other Places To Eat on Reem Island 

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Ritual Cafe

Reem Central Park

A favourite on Reem in the winter months - active islanders love to nab a table outside with mangrove views after a walk or paddle around the mangroves - Ritual is a go-to summer retreat as well. Serving up excellent food (and some properly delicious baked goods, like their creme brulee cinnamon scroll), it’s a perfect retreat if you want to get some work done on weekdays. Weekends are busier, but indoor tables are in shorter supply. Grab a seat for sunset and sip on a yummy mocktail or smoothie as the sun sets - or go all out with dinner as well. Another thing to love? They’re dog friendly outside - so you can bring your four-legged friends along too. 

Open: Sunday - Thursday 8AM - 11PM | Friday - Saturday 9AM - 12AM

Contact: +971 50 263 7100

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Save Our Souls - SOS

Reem Central Park

Another option in Reem Central Park that we’re partial to, SOS is bustling on weekends and after work: tables of diners decked out in active wear beeline here for a coffee post-work out, or stop in for a beverage to-go, perfect for a stroll around the canals with your mates. It’s also a handy little oasis during the day that’s perfect for knocking over your to-do list - the big windows and mangrove views make for a welcome distraction if you’re waiting for some inspiration to strike, and the food leaves the sad sandwich you might have packed for the office in its dust. 

Parking during the day at Reem Central Park is usually a breeze before the evening influx, and it’s a great spot in summer when outside time is a faint memory but you want to get close to the water and some greenery. 

Open: daily | 8AM-11PM

Contact: 02 886 8844

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Art of Dum

Reem Mall

A fresh new Indian restaurant has just opened 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 Indian 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! There’s plenty of starters to choose from, and they’re highly recommended: nizam-e-pakwan (AED40) is a great sharing starter you can really dig into - our waiter called it ‘Indian nachos - and Mumbai-style pani puri (AED35) is lovely and fresh, with crispy shells, well flavoured sauces and a lovely lentil filling for you to DIY. Don’t skip the signature Art of Dum dal makhani (AED55). Dubbed the black gold of India, it’s really flavourful - we’ll be back for more of this top notch Indian food soon. 

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

Contact: 056 856 1276

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49ers

Leaf Tower Reem Island

Well known for their burgers and steaks, country and western vibes and popular quiz night, 49ers migration to Reem Island has been a success. It’s one of only a handful of bars on Reem Island, and it’s an easy skip to the city or Al Maryah if you want to kick on afterwards - although they’re open until 4AM daily, so you’ll find some night action there into the early hours. 

Book ahead if you’re heading in for quiz night with a bigger group - you can usually nab a table, but when all the teachers are in Abu Dhabi they flock to this one, and rightly so - it's a fun quiz. It gets a bit smoky - just a heads up if you’re sensitive to it - but the burgers and steaks are really solid, and there’s a daily happy hour as well as some other weekly deals to keep an eye on. 

Open: daily | 12PM - 4AM

Contact: 02 645 8000

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Eataly 

Reem Mall

Eagerly awaited, Eataly is a welcome addition to Reem Mall: as well as delicious Italian food, you can shop up a storm for your pantry with authentic Italian products - direct from the motherland to Reem Island! You’ll find everything from fresh pasta and bread to cured meats and cheeses - perfetto! A welcoming combination of restaurant, cafe and grocer, you can also grab some ready-made pastries, focaccia and gelato from the deli counter to-go, a good substitute if you don’t have time to linger over a coffee and lunch. 

Open: daily | 10AM - 11PM | until 12AM Friday & Saturday

Contact: 02 691 0581

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Vietnamese Pho

Al Reem Bay Tower B

Asian food lovers on Reem Island all know about this one! From the friendly owner - who remembers almost everyone after you’ve been in a couple of times - and lovely staff to food that’s so fresh and authentic, the whole experience is a good one. Whether you opt for their namesake - flavourful beef or chicken pho - or perhaps their fresh summer rolls, a salad or stir fry, you won’t be disappointed. Add some starters - it’s always a case of the more you try, the better, at Vietnamese Pho. 

Open: daily | 11.30AM - 10PM | 11PM on weekends

Contact: 056 422 0621

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