NEW RESTAURANT OPENINGS IN ABU DHABI
ERTH
QASR AL HOSN
It's hard to believe that Erth is in the middle of the city, since you really do feel like it's an escape. the menu is high-end with pricing to match but the food is worth every fil and some dishes have a distinct Emirati twist. Dishes are plated so beautifully, you'll have your phone out, unable to stop snapping.
We loved the shrimp tacos and the short ribs and will go back for the gahwa chocolate cake - we all know that coffee and chocolate are best friends.
Erth would be the best spot for a business meeting and the place buzzes at lunchtime with corporate types, enjoying a stand-up amazing meal.
Cuisine: Upscale coffee, mains, desserts
Drinks: Not licensed
Open: 12PM -11PM
Address: Qasr Al Hosn
Number: 058 600 6922
VALGERAND
MAMSHA AL SAADIYAT
Sound the alarm! Valgerand has opened in Mamsha, (closer to Antonia than Raclette) and will please anyone who likes to add a healthy element to their dining, has a deep love for Estonian and Scandinavian cuisine or loves to try something different. This Nordic food has all the hallmarks of culinary excellence with fresh ingredients, simply but well prepared and outstanding, knowledgeable service. Best of all, many of the menu items are unique to Valgerand and can't be found on any other menu in Abu Dhabi - refreshing!
We went straight for the cold smoked Norwegian salmon with a side of egg salad and typical black bread and it didn't disappoint (AED78) the the chicken liver mousse was exquisitely smooth and tasty - next time we're up for the bone marrow and toast (AED98).
The mains menu is an eclectic mix with some seafood items, a steak and a couple of good vegetarian options. We enjoyed the Swedish meatballs which come in hot at AED97, but the black cod (superb) came in at the cheapest of its Abu Dhabi counterpart. The Estonian burger is our next stop (AED97)!
Valgerand is definitely one to watch - go for a drink and a bite to eat and watch the sun set over the Arabian Gulf.
Cuisine: Nordic - Estonian and Scandinavian
Drinks: Licensed
Open: 12PM - 11PM/12AM
Address: Mamsha al Saadiyat, Antonia end
Number: 02 444 6674
SHURFA BAY
ST REGIS ABU DHABI
This beautiful new beach club has opened on the St Regis Abu Dhabi beachfront at Nation Riviera and boasts modern Levantine cuisine and shisha. Decorated in crisp blue and white hues, with a preference for squidgy cushions and rattan, Shurfa Bay is the place to come and be comfortable. It's 100% Instagram friendly and isn't licensed.
Cuisine: Upscale coffee, mains, desserts
Drinks: Not licensed
Open: 9AM - 3AM
Address: Nation Riviera, St Regis Abu Dhabi
Number: 050 952 5254
CAVE
AL QANA
Al Qana is really becoming one of Abu Dhabi's premium dining destinations, with more outlets opening by the minute.
We hit up Cave (Shangri-La side) for breakfast and were surprised, if not shocked, to find a refreshingly funky interior a la cave. Before we busted out a couple of lines from The Flintstones, we enjoyed a well-priced breakfast on beautiful on-theme crockery featuring such favourites as a croissant stuffed with scrambled egg and mushroom, Japanese pancakes and the ultimate in breakfast-not dishes, the croissant pudding.
Breakfast is kind of an also-ran for Cave, whose main jam is tapas. The menu isn't too big, is reasonably priced and the food looks delicious. Watch this space ... we're going back really soon to try it.
Cuisine: Breakfast, tapas, coffee
Drinks: Not licensed
Open: 9AM - 12AM
Address: Al Qana, Shangri-La side
Number: 02 558 1112
AMANO
EASTERN MANGROVES
Located in the prime spot where Carluccio's formerly sat at Eastern Mangroves, Amano is going to tick boxes for anyone looking for a nice little Italian with tranquil views and is a welcome addition to lower-island dwellers who really need another dining option.
We have it on good authority that the pasta dishes are good and the views spectacular - let us know when you've been!
Cuisine: Casual Italian
Drinks: Licensed
Open: 11AM - 12AM
Address: Eastern Mangroves Promenade
Number: 02 643 4928
EPISODES
EMIRATES PALACE MANDARIN ORIENTAL
The Cafe is no more, and now we have the newly-opened, very swanky Episodes, promising an outstanding culinary experience for you and your guests to swoon over.
Offering an extensive selection of the finest teas from around the world, fabulous pastry creations and artisanal savoury classics, no matter what you are in the mood for, Episodes has it all.
Enjoy an incredible selection of tea, a gourmet deli with the best sandwiches in Abu Dhabi as well as a viennoiserie section to die for. Cake lovers will love The Mandarin Cake shop and there's even a gelateria for lovers of fine Italian ice-cream.
Episodes has really elevated Emirates Palace and is definitely worthy of the Mandarin Oriental brand.
Cuisine: Upscale tea, deli, viennoiserie, gelato,
Drinks: Licensed
Open: Tea and deli: 8AM - 11PM, viennoiserie and gelato 10AM - 11PM
Address: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Number: 02 690 7999
BEACH BAR
JUMEIRAH AT SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT
Never has a bar been so aptly named: the Beach Bar is completely, 100% majestically situated right on the sand of the delectable Saadiyat Beach at Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort.
This is the perfect place to while away a late afternoon and watch the sun go down. It's reminiscent of a very upscale Hampton's beach hut, complete with whitewashed walls and rattan accents and drinks and bites follow suit.
See you down there for an ice-cold prosecco and a cheeky dish of calamari!
Cuisine: Bar snacks, drinks
Drinks: Licensed
Open: 5PM
Address: The beach, Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island
Number: 02 811 4243
MYSK
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
This very funky, Insta-beautiful eatery at NYU is going to be the best thing to happen to Saadiyat Island since they started the surf school! And speaking of surf, Mysk is the closest thing to Australian cafe culture we have in Abu Dhabi - that's your reason to go.
There's a whole host of healthy food, balanced out by those who really just want a big wodge of something sweet. Fabulously, there's a sizeable gluten free section in the cabinet, catering for the increasing number of people who need this in their lives.
We chose the old favourite red pasta and it came out looking so beautiful, definitely a cut above the rest. The raspberry cronut is a winner - and we'll leave that there!
Cuisine: Casual cafe food, coffee, cakes
Drinks: Not licensed
Open: Weekdays 7AM - 10PM, weekends 8PM - 10PM
Address: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Number: 02 690 7999
BA:TE
EASTERN MANGROVES PROMENADE
Probably the most exciting cuisine to be featured in the plethora of new restaurants in Abu Dhabi, Ba:Te serves Japanese with accents of Peruvian and Korean. Probably the most intriguing thing about about this fabulous new venue on the Eastern Mangroves Promenade is Jumak, an intimate and almost 'hidden' bar space, which is entered through a Narnia-esque Korean wardrobe. This alone brings the (chic and sultry) noise and we can't wait to hear what you think.
Cuisine: Japanese
Drinks: Licensed
Open: 5PM - 12AM
Address: Eastern Mangroves Promenade
Number: 02 632 5272
JOSÉ BY PIZZARO
CONRAD AT ETIHAD TOWERS
What is tipped to be Abu Dhabi's best tapas bar, José by Pizzaro is set to open on March 17th with a bang. Expect an intimate space, outstanding tapas and drinks, all from José Pizzaro, the doyen of tapas in London. With a huge bar and enough space to create an incredible ambiance, this will be an amazing spot for a night out, date night or evening soiree.
Cuisine: Spanish tapas
Drinks: Licensed
Open: Tuesday - Saturday 5PM - 11.30PM, Sunday 3PM - 10.30PM
Address: Lobby level, Conrad Etihad Towers
Number: 02 811 6999
PAVO
AL QANA
Pavo is one of the new additions to the very cool Al Qana are, between the bridges. It ticks a whole lot of boxes: dining with a view of the marina, easy parking, a great interior ambience with a really great earthy, natural aesthetic, and of course, excellent food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We loved the crispy chicken tacos and the dark chocolate cookie skillet, perfect for an afternoon snack or a dessert treat.
Cuisine: Cafe food, sliders, breakfast, desserts, coffee.
Drinks: Unlicensed
Open: 9AM - 11PM
Address: Al Qana, Shangri-La side
Number: 02 641 1772
Rachael Partington
1/9/2023
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