From BBQs in the desert to Michelin-starred restaurants, Abu Dhabi’s rich heritage and kaleidoscope of cultures guarantees memorable encounters with local and international cuisines in breath-taking settings. Whether you are looking for authentic Arabic cuisine or international flavors, you will have endless choices from the capital’s diverse range of restaurants.
Obviously, there are too many restaurants to mention here, but to help you out during your stay, we would like to make some suggestions for culinary experiences you shouldn’t miss during your visit to Abu Dhabi. We have also made a list of some of the most popular restaurants in Abu Dhabi according to specific categories:
- Asian Buddha-Bar Beach
- South American COYA Abu Dhabi
- Chinese Dai Pai Dong
- European Le Petite Maison
- Indian Namak by Kunal Kapur
- Italian Circo
- Japanese Zuma
- Middle Eastern Byblos Sur Mer
- Afternoon Tea Observation Deck at 300
- Bar Food Hamilton’s Gastropub
- Breakfast tashas
- Budget Burro Blanco
- Café Café 302
- Fine Dining Brunch Zuma
- International Brunch Nahaam
- Outdoor Restaurant Mare Mare
- Pub Food PJ O’Reilly’s
- Romantic Sontaya
- Seafood Finz
- Steakhouse Oak Room
Friday Brunch
Friday marks the start of the weekend in this part of the world, and the legendary Friday brunch is the optimal way to start your weekend. Many of Abu Dhabi’s restaurants and hotels offer brunch on a scale that will blow you away. The variety and size of these brunch buffets are just astounding, and the indulgence goes on for hours. From cheap and cheerful, family-friendly with kids’ activities and party brunches to extravagant high-end gastronomy, you can easily find a brunch that suits your taste and wallet.
Dining in authentic Arabic style
One thing you shouldn’t miss, during your stay in Abu Dhabi, is dining in the desert under the canopy of stars. Book a desert safari or a private romantic dinner and experience a unique meal out in the middle of nowhere. After being picked up by a chauffeured car and driven through the dunes, you will sit down on a carpet in the idyllic setting of the desert and feast on a locally inspired meal while the sun sets. It’s quite something. Desert dining typically includes a buffet with a wide range of Arabic food as well as live cooking stations for BBQ and Emirati specialties. You can also choose to stay overnight in a Bedouin tent and wake up to the smell of Arabic coffee and freshly made Emirati breakfast.
Keeping it traditionally Middle Eastern, you should try to make time for a dinner cruise on a dhow, a wooden boat used through the ages by merchants and traders on the waters of the Gulf. As you cruise around Abu Dhabi, you get to see the city’s attractions and buildings from the sea, all the while enjoying a lavish buffet, music and entertainment.
Bars
Yes, tourists and visitors are allowed to buy and drink alcohol in licensed venues, such as hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs. Please note that the legal age for drinking alcohol in public spaces in Abu Dhabi is 21. Also, equally important, there is zero tolerance for drinking and driving as well as drunken behavior in public. Keeping this in mind, you are welcome to have a drink in a hotel bar or an individual bar, many of which have happy hours, ladies’ nights, pub quizzes and special deals. Cheers. Here’s a few of our favorite bars:
- Buddha Bar Beach Abu Dhabi
- Hemingway’s Bar
- Loca
- 3rd Avenue
- Zuma Abu Dhabi
- Iris Yas Island
- Asia de Cuba
- Ray’s Bar
- McGettigan’s Abu Dhabi
- Stratos
- Trader Vic’s