Restaurants in Abu Dhabi

There was a time when the discerning diners of the Abu Dhabi would head to nearby Dubai in search of fine dining, but thanks to an influx of international brands and world-class chefs, the capital is now more than capable of holding its own.

The Abu Dhabi restaurants below have been handpicked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over Dhs350)
Moderate (Dhs150 to Dhs349)
Cheap (up to Dhs150)

These prices are for a three-course meal for one and include tax, service and half a bottle of house wine or equivalent.

Hakkasan

Price: Expensive
Cuisine: Cantonese

Impeccably cooked dishes and first-class service are de rigueur at this high-end Cantonese restaurant in the Emirates Palace hotel. Order a few sharing plates, but be sure to splash out on extras of the jasmine tea-smoked wagyu beef ribs – you’ll want those all to yourself. The cocktails are excellent too.

Address: Emirates Palace, Corniche Road West, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 2 690 7999.

Sayad

Price: Expensive
Cuisine: Seafood

This is as good as seafood gets. With a terrace overlooking the marina, the views at this wonderful restaurant inside the Emirates Palace hotel are nearly as enjoyable as the meals. Sayad (Arabic for fisherman) dishes up modern fish dishes with finesse in a setting that swims with aquatic décor.

Address: Emirates Palace, Corniche Road West, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 2 690 7999.

Zuma

Price: Expensive
Cuisine: Japanese

This long-awaited Dubai export certainly lives up to its reputation by serving some of the tastiest sushi in the city. Everything is flawlessly presented within a luxury setting, and while the business lunch is great value, the brunch is the best way to sample all that the creative chefs have to offer.

Address: Sowwah Square, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 2 401 5900.

Bonna Annee

Price: Moderate
Cuisine: Ethiopian

For something different, try the excellent Ethiopian food at Bonna Annee. This no frills street restaurant specialises in spicy stews served with injera – a tasty traditional Ethiopian flatbread that you use to scoop up the sauce. There are plenty of tangy dips to choose from, and the food is great value for money.

Address: Al Salam Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 2 491 2128.

Benihana

Price: Moderate
Cuisine: Japanese

Enjoy open grilled, Japanese food while you sit at the teppanyaki bar (iron griddle bar) at Benihana. The chef cooks meat, eggs, fish, vegetable or whatever else you’re in the mood for, with Asian soy, lime and spices. The choice is vast, but the sashimi and steaks prepared in the American-Japanese style are best.

Address: Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, 10th Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 2 697 9011.

BiCE Restaurant

Price: Moderate
Cuisine: Italian

Widely recognised for its superb Italian cuisine, this restaurant in the Jumeirah is very popular with the locals so booking is recommended. The windows running from floor to ceiling ensure panoramic views of the Gulf outside as wonderfully presented pastas, carpaccios and risottos keep the crowds coming back.

Address: Podium Level 1, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Corniche Road West, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 2 811 5666.
Website:

Sura

Price: Cheap
Cuisine: Korean

Ignore all the nonsense of the pasta and burgers on the menu at this authentic Korean restaurant and plump straight for seafood pancakes, the chicken katsu (Japanese dish of breaded, deep-fried chicken) or the bulgogi (Korean dish of stir fried beef with vegetables). Sura translates to ‘a royal meal’, and you’ll need all your servants in tow as you take the mic in the onsite karaoke booths.

Address: Al Salam Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 2 659 7666.

Zahrat Lebnan

Price: Cheap
Cuisine: Lebanese, Middle Eastern

Offering a wide selection of delicious mezze, Lebanese Flower is part of a popular chain of restaurants and is usually packed with hungry locals. The grilled meats are excellent and the hummus is a creamy as it comes, but it’s best to go all out with several dishes and share.

Address: Hazza Bin Zayed Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 600 500502.

Sofra Istanbul

Price: Cheap
Cuisine: Turkish

This welcoming restaurant offers excellent Turkish cuisine of the highest standards. Low-hanging lanterns and cool, Alaçatı blue décor give this charming grill a sense of Istanbul mysticism, though it’s the wonderful grilled meats that are the most memorable. For something extra special, try the succulent sea bream in salt.

Address: Muroor Rd, Al Dhafrah, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 2 677 7767.
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