AMAZING ABU DHABI IFTARS YOU CAN'T MISS IN 2024
IFTAR IN THE BALLROOM
JUMEIRAH AT SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT
Walking through the beautiful Arabian Nights-style entry, with flowing fabric, arches and twinkle lights, you know you’re headed for something special. The ballroom is sumptuously decorated and features arrangements of dates in perfectly laid towers - definitely arrive early so you have time to take it all in.
What do we love the most? The lamb ouzi with slow-cooked lamb that falls off the bone on a bed of buttery rice, the excellent fish and chicken options, the shawarma and the shish barak - meatballs in a tomato based sauce that are absolutely delicious. There are plenty of options for vegetarians - make sure to try the vegetable lasagne, it's outstanding!
Desserts are ever-so-tempting! We love the kunafah nests filled with both ashta and lotus, the outstanding banana pudding, the citrusy bite of the passionfruit lime cake and the amazing halawet al jibn. The kunafah is a stand out, perfectly crunchy on top of a gloriously cheesy base. This is served with excellent Arabic coffee, expertly poured.
This is an upscale iftar and one not-to-miss this Holy Month.
Timing: daily | sunset - 10PM
Price: AED280 per person including Ramadan beverages
Parking: the ballroom is to the left of the hotel as you drive in so it's easy to either valet beside the ballroom or park in the covered spaces outside Offside.
Bookings: +971 2 811 4342 or email jsirestaurants@jumeirah.com
IFTAR AT AL SHORFA LOUNGE
BEACH ROTANA
20% OFF WITH BB+
If the cityscape, gently lapping waves and pink sunset sky aren’t enough to set the mood, you’ll find yourself surrounded by intricately mashrabiya tables and Ramadan decorations that leave no doubt of the impending iftar treat you are about to enjoy at Al Shorfa Lounge.
A lavish buffet awaits, blending local favourites with international specialities to keep the options interesting (and to provide the perfect reason for a return visit - you’ll be hard pressed to try everything in one night). Begin with a traditional drink and a date, before working your way to the main event. Traditional offerings - look out for lamb ouzi, shawarma and their mixed grills - are sure to win the seal of approval, and you won’t go thirsty as traditional drinks and refreshing mocktails are free-flowing. Shisha and an oud player complete the mood, allowing you to sit back and recover from the food coma the plentiful buffet is sure to induce.
Timing: daily | 6-8PM
Price: AED245 | AED90 children aged 6–12
Bookings: 02 697 9186 or email fbres.beach@rotana.com
RAMADAN NIGHTS AT SIM SIM RESTAURANT
SAADIYAT ROTANA RESORT & VILLAS
20% OFF WITH BB+
An iftar we look forward to each year, the popular Sim Sim restaurant has stepped up the game, welcoming you to their Ramadan celebration under string lights in the garden. Tasteful but traditional decorations, lilting Arabic music and warm lantern light add to the ambiance as you arrive and settle in for the evening: you’ll be glad to arrive hungry, as the traditional delicacies on offer across the buffet and live stations are top notch.
Performances by a mesmerising tanoura dancer make the evening even more memorable, as does the talent of an Arabic fusion duo band. Loved your Saadiyat Rotana iftar enough that you want to return with your loved ones? They offer an exclusive group rate, and for those who like to plan ahead, great value prepay vouchers are available.
Timing: daily | sunset - 10.30PM
Price: AED350 per person
Bookings: 02 697 0000
MAJLIS BY THE SEA RAMADAN TENT
EMIRATES PALACE MANDARIN ORIENTAL ABU DHABI
If you’re looking for the ultimate iftar experience, don’t miss Majlis by the Sea this Ramadan. With a purpose-built Ramadan tent sitting a stone's throw from Qasr Al Watan, with incredible sunset views and capacity for 1,100 guests indoor and outdoor, the wow-factor of this extravaganza is undeniable.
The opulent setting aside, prepare to break your fast with a feast of highest quality and epic proportions. Alongside the rich flavours of Arabic and Emirati dishes, Michelin-starred restaurants Talea by Antonio Guida and Hakkasan Abu Dhabi showcase their signature dishes. The Indian offerings of Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi also take pride of place, and the sushi aficionado’s dreams are realised with a Michelin-rated Japanese guest sushi chef crafting fresh delights on-site.
Tied together with live Arabic instrumental music, shisha and luxe retail offerings, the ambiance is complete: Majlis by the Sea offers a perfect blend of top notch cuisine and mesmerising views for an unforgettable Ramadan experience.
Timing: daily | sunset to 8.30PM
Price: AED345 per person | AED295 per person on weekdays on the first week of Ramadan, for groups of 50+ guests | 50% discount kids aged 4 to 11
Bookings: +971 2 690 7999 or email moauh-restaurants@mohg.com
IFTAR SET MENU AT GRAND BEIRUT
AL QANA & THE GALLERIA
With two locations to choose from, enjoying iftar at Grand Beirut this Ramadan just got a whole lot easier! From the central location of The Galleria on Al Maryah, to their picturesque and Grand Mosque-adjacent location at Al Qana, we’re fans of both. Complementing the eye-catching floral accents and swirling motifs of the decor, the Al Qana restaurant will have a beautiful display of desserts and fruits laid out to tempt diners.
Get ready for a set menu that will leave a lasting impression - it’s a round up of plenty of our all-time favourite menu items alongside some Ramadan specialities that take centre stage. Think warak arish, dolma, smokey moutabal ajami and a selection of other cold mezze, served up with their piping hot compatriots sujok, shawarma, batata bil felfol and mouajanat. Make way for the mains: a mix grill to write home about and of course lamb ouzi! Enjoy a sugar hit with Ramadan sweets to finish, and Ramadan juices jallab, tamer hindi, laban and kamr aldeen to keep your thirst quenched throughout. A treat any time of the year, Grand Beirut and Ramadan go hand in hand to deliver an iftar to remember, with Levantine cuisine that really sings!
Timing: daily | 6.30PM to 8PM
Price: AED165 per person
Bookings: 050 442 9211
IFTAR AT KHAYAL
MARRIOTT AL FORSAN
Home of the popular Asian night brunch, Ramadan sees Khayal make way for an outstanding iftar experience for four weeks of nightly indulgence. Step through the enormous doors and you’ll be met with an array of traditional Arabic flavours, elegantly set tables and towers of Arabic sweets just asking to be sampled. Alongside the traditional offering, international favourites are crafted across six live stations, including a sushi counter we can happily vouch for!
Fresh juices and authentic Ramadan beverages will wet your whistle and allow the feasting to continue. You’ll want to save room for the dessert stations boasting a great variety of treats, baklawa towers and indulgent ice cream. The whole setting is pretty as a picture - but the food is so fab you may well forget to take one! Always one of the Abu Dhabi iftar stand-outs, Khayal is set to wow diners again and makes breaking your fast there an excellent choice.
Timing: daily | sunset to 9.30PM
Price: AED240 per person | AED95 per child
Bookings: 02 201 4131 or email diningalforsan@marriott.com
GRAND IFTAR DELIGHTS | SOFRA BLD
SHANGRI-LA QARYAT AL BERI
Everything about this iftar feels like a treat: from the arched ceilings and on-theme interiors to the dates sculpturally arranged, this is what you’d expect a really great iftar to deliver, and Sofra Bld does so in outstanding fashion. The buffet is beautifully laid out, and you’re likely to find yourself doing multiple laps to see what you might have bypassed with everything from aromatic Middle Eastern delicacies to perfectly flavoured desserts, trust us - you don’t want to miss anything!
The cherry on top? Or should we say - the crispy onion atop the lamb ouzi ? - guest chefs from Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul, are in residence, specially flown in this Ramadan month to showcase authentic Turkish flavours and enrich the culinary offering.
Timing: daily | sunset to 8PM
Price: AED288 including Ramadan-inspired beverages | enjoy a 20% saving when dining between 9th-15th March 2024
Bookings: +971 2 509 8555 or email restaurantreservations.slad@shangri-la.com
RAMADAN IN THE OASIS TENT
THE PARK HYATT ABU DHABI
Bedouin-style ambiance awaits you at the aptly-named Oasis Tent, with a backdrop of the Park Hyatt’s lush gardens and the signature Saadiyat Island sunset skies. This Arabian-nights themed iftar goes all out: a fully air-conditioned environment, you’ll unwind to soothing melodies of oud music while breaking the daily fast with traditional Arabic mezze, unbelievable tagines, shawarma, and mixed grills from the live cooking kitchen.
The sumptuous buffet features an amazing spread of signature dishes and delectable desserts, while the live cooking stations include Indian, Emirati, Moroccan, Jordanian and international specialties. Our picks? Don’t miss the rich flavours of Emirati machboos, which sits comfortably alongside aromatic Moroccan tagines and exotic Jordanian mansaf, the tagines and the excellent range of desserts.
Timing: daily | sunset to 9PM
Price: AED350 per person inclusive of refreshing juices | children aged 6 to 11 dine at 50% discount | complimentary dining for children up to 5 years
Bookings: +971 50 740 5323
A MICHELIN SELECTED IFTAR | LI BEIRUT
CONRAD ABU DHABI ETIHAD TOWERS
What could beat a waterfront iftar with views of the Gulf, at a Michelin selected Arabic restaurant specialising in Levantine cuisine? Not much, in our opinion! Promising an intimate and luxurious dining experience, Li Beirut delivers. Settle in for a delightful set menu featuring premium mezze, succulent grilled kebabs and traditional Lebanese desserts. Live music completes the mood, as the sea breeze invites you to savour the last days of winter in proper Ramadan style.
Post-iftar, suhoor tempts you to stay, sipping on signature mocktails with a wide selection of shisha flavours available.
Timing: daily | sunset to 9PM
Price: AED250 per person
Bookings: 02 811 5666
LAYALI HARITNA
GRAND MILLENNIUM AL WAHDA
25% OFF WITH BB+
Layali Haritna is a late entry to the Amazing Iftars feature this year. Having attended the preview last week, we were astonished at just how much effort the team has put in to make this an iftar to remember.
Sitting under a canopy of fairy lights, there are numerous live stations, each more interesting than the last. We enjoyed watching the fteer being made, with the chef tossing the massive piece of dough high into the air, fresh shawarma, meat being grilled over hot coals and great desserts - the numerous trays of kunafah were stand outs!
Added to this, there's a children's play area and shisha available for adults throughout the meal. This is a great iftar to take your family or friends and with a 25% BB+ discount, it doesn't break the bank.
Time: daily | sunset - 9.30PM
Price: AED190 | 50% discount for children aged 6 to 12 years | 25% off with BB+
Bookings: 056 990 1991 or email foodnbeverage.gmaw@millenniumhotels.com
ARE YOU RAMADAN READY?
Check out these other features to get up to speed!
- IFTARS TO TRY - a round up to iftars across the city to cater to every taste
- THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO RAMADAN IN ABU DHABI 2024 - all your questions, answered!
- UNMISSABLE: CELEBRATE IFTAR AND SUHOOR AT BEACH ROTANA THIS RAMADAN - a spotlight on this Abu Dhabi favourite
Danika Star
2/28/2024
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