Abu DhabiRestaurants

The definitive dining guide to Abu Dhabi: Michelin-starred culinary institutions, iconic local bistros, reservation secrets, and must-order signature dishes.

01

Hakkasan Abu Dhabi

CUISINE:CANTONESE
SETTING:WATERFRONT
ATMOSPHERE:FINE-DINING
SPECIALTY:PEKING DUCK WITH CAVIAR

Hakkasan Abu Dhabi sits inside Emirates Palace with dark wood screens and blue glass. The room feels polished and private, with carved latticework shaping each table. Outside, the terrace faces manicured palace grounds and the Abu Dhabi skyline.

Must Try:Peking Duck with Caviar
02

Cipriani Yas Island

CUISINE:ITALIAN
SETTING:WATERFRONT
ATMOSPHERE:FINE-DINING
SPECIALTY:CARPACCIO ALLA CIPRIANI

Cipriani Yas Island sits over Yas Marina with polished wood, white tablecloths, and yacht club restraint. The room feels Venetian, but the water, lights, and circuit-side energy keep it firmly in Abu Dhabi.

Must Try:Carpaccio alla Cipriani
03

99 Sushi Bar Abu Dhabi

CUISINE:JAPANESE
SETTING:WATERFRONT
ATMOSPHERE:FINE-DINING
SPECIALTY:TORO FLAMBE NIGIRI

99 Sushi Bar feels polished, quiet, and precise inside The Galleria on Al Maryah Island. Dark wood, clean lines, and low lighting keep the focus on the counter. Plates arrive with disciplined color, from glossy tuna to bright yuzu and caviar.

Must Try:Toro Flambe Nigiri
04

Talea By Antonio Guida

CUISINE:ITALIAN
SETTING:WATERFRONT
ATMOSPHERE:FINE-DINING
SPECIALTY:LINGUINE ALL'ASTICE

Talea sits inside Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, with polished rooms and a terrace facing the Gulf. The mood is elegant but warm, shaped by Italian craft rather than hotel theatre. Plates arrive clean and focused, with handmade pasta, seafood, garden herbs, and quiet precision.

Must Try:Linguine all'Astice
05

Erth Restaurant

CUISINE:EMIRATI
SETTING:HIDDEN-GEM
ATMOSPHERE:FINE-DINING
SPECIALTY:LAMB MACHBOOS

Erth sits beside Qasr Al Hosn with quiet, sculptural interiors and warm Emirati materials. The room feels polished but grounded, with low light, clean lines, and a strong sense of place.

Must Try:Lamb Machboos
06

Fouquet's Abu Dhabi

CUISINE:FRENCH
SETTING:WATERFRONT
ATMOSPHERE:FINE-DINING
SPECIALTY:SOLE MEUNIÈRE

Fouquet's Abu Dhabi sits beside the Louvre Abu Dhabi, with polished Parisian brasserie style and Saadiyat light. Red leather, crisp linen, and quiet service give the room a private, old world confidence.

Must Try:Sole Meunière
07

Li Beirut

CUISINE:LEBANESE
SETTING:WATERFRONT
ATMOSPHERE:FINE-DINING
SPECIALTY:ZAATAR CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB

Li Beirut feels polished and warm, with soft light, linen tables, and quiet service. The room has a calm Abu Dhabi gloss, yet the food stays rooted in Beirut. Plates arrive fragrant with olive oil, lemon, sumac, mint, and warm bread.

Must Try:Zaatar Crusted Rack of Lamb
08

Byblos Sur Mer

CUISINE:LEBANESE
SETTING:WATERFRONT
ATMOSPHERE:FINE-DINING
SPECIALTY:MACHAWI MCHAKALEH

Byblos Sur Mer sits above the marina with terraces, warm light, and polished stone. The room feels coastal, formal, and quietly social without losing its Levantine soul. Plates arrive bright with olive oil, lemon, herbs, grilled seafood, and soft bread.

Must Try:Machawi Mchakaleh
09

Villa Toscana

CUISINE:ITALIAN
SETTING:WATERFRONT
ATMOSPHERE:FINE-DINING
SPECIALTY:TIRAMISU

Villa Toscana feels like a country table set between garden rows and coastal air. The restaurant moves with Tuscan restraint, using vegetables, olive oil, ancient grains, and local fish. Plates are clean, seasonal, and rooted in the land around Venturina Terme.

Must Try:Tiramisu
10

Oak Room Abu Dhabi

SETTING:INDOOR
DRESS:SOPHISTICATED
VENUE:SPEAKEASY
MUSIC:OPEN-FORMAT
ENERGY LEVEL:SOPHISTICATED

Oak Room sits in low light, with dark timber, leather, and polished brass. The room feels tailored, private, and charged after dinner service starts. Rock records and precise cocktails give the bar a controlled late-night voltage.

11

Martabaan By Hemant Oberoi

CUISINE:INDIAN
SETTING:WATERFRONT
ATMOSPHERE:FINE-DINING
SPECIALTY:VARQUI CRAB

Martabaan sits inside Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental with a polished, intimate dining room. The mood is calm, precise, and built around contemporary Indian fine dining. Aromas of roasted spices, coconut, tamarind, and saffron move through the room before the first plate arrives.

Must Try:Varqui Crab
12

Meylas

CUISINE:EMIRATI
SETTING:WATERFRONT
ATMOSPHERE:CASUAL
SPECIALTY:SALONAT BEDU

Meylas feels like a polished Emirati home, with warm wood, woven details, and a calm waterfront rhythm. The room is relaxed, but the food carries real weight. You taste saffron, cardamom, dates, rice, and slow-cooked chicken in a way that feels rooted, not staged.

Must Try:Salonat Bedu