Ask ten residents for the best restaurants in Abu Dhabi and you will get ten passionate answers and at least one argument about hummus. So we did the legwork instead. This is the WOW list of the top restaurants in Abu Dhabi right now, sorted by the night you actually have planned: a date, a view, a client lunch, a family table, a casual catch-up or a proper taste of the Gulf.
Every venue below was checked against its official website or an official directory in October 2026, with a location, a contact and a realistic budget. Think of it as the front door to all our food coverage: when one cuisine has you hooked, follow the links down to the deeper guides.
What are the best restaurants in Abu Dhabi?
The best restaurants in Abu Dhabi right now are Erth, Hakkasan and Talea by Antonio Guida, the city’s three one-MICHELIN-star kitchens, plus Bord Eau for French on the Grand Canal, Zuma for buzz on Al Maryah Island and Beirut Sur Mer for Lebanese on the sand. For value, 3Fils, Otoro, Mika and Al Mrzab all hold a Bib Gourmand.
Quick picks: the best restaurant in Abu Dhabi for…
| Restaurant | Best for | Area | Cuisine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talea by Antonio Guida | A big-occasion date night | Emirates Palace, West Corniche | Italian, one MICHELIN star |
| Erth | Emirati food at its finest | Al Hosn, city centre | Modern Emirati, one MICHELIN star |
| Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi | Lunch with a landmark view | Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat | French brasserie |
| Zuma | The power business lunch | The Galleria, Al Maryah Island | Contemporary Japanese |
| Beirut Sur Mer | Families and beach days | Soul Beach, Saadiyat | Lebanese |
| 3Fils Abu Dhabi | A casual, no-booking dinner | The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Al Bateen | Contemporary Asian |
| Al Mrzab | Arabic food on a budget | Airport Road | Emirati and Kuwaiti |
| Strawfire by Ross Shonhan | Somewhere new | Emirates Palace, West Corniche | Japanese warayaki grill |
A quick word on the MICHELIN references you will see below. The 2026 MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi, announced in October 2025, gave one star to Erth, Hakkasan and Talea, and a Bib Gourmand (good food at fair prices) to ten more. It is the most reliable shortlist in the city, but it is not the only one, so we have mixed in the places residents keep going back to. Our MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi coverage has the background on the awards.
Best restaurants in Abu Dhabi for date night
When the evening matters, these four do the heavy lifting for you. For sunset spots, last drinks and dates that are not dinner at all, our full date night in Abu Dhabi guide picks up where this section stops, and our guide to the best private dining in Abu Dhabi has rooms for when you want nobody else around.
1. Talea by Antonio Guida, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
If you want to make a point without saying a word, book Talea. Chef Antonio Guida’s one-star dining room serves Italian food in a “cucina di famiglia” spirit, which in practice means beautifully made pasta, generous sharing plates and a room that feels relaxed despite the palace postcode. It is the safest anniversary booking in the city, and a stroll through the Emirates Palace lobby afterwards does the rest of the romancing.
Where: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road
Contact: +971 2 690 7999 or moauh-restaurants@mohg.com
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, lunch 12.30pm to 3pm, dinner 6.30pm to 10.30pm; closed Mondays
Budget: Splurge
Vibe check: Diners talk about the warmth of the service as much as the pasta, which is rare at this level, just set a budget before the wine list arrives, because you will want to say yes to everything.
2. Bord Eau by Nicolas Isnard, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri
Candlelit French cooking on the Grand Canal, with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque glowing across the water. Bord Eau is overseen by MICHELIN-starred chef Nicolas Isnard and sits in the 2026 MICHELIN selection, and it does the classics properly: onion soup, foie gras and a beef fillet that justifies the trip. Ask for a window table when you book.
Where: Level 3 (lobby level), Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Khor Al Maqta
Contact: +971 2 509 8555
Hours: Dinner Monday to Saturday from 6pm; closed Sunday
Budget: Splurge; smart casual dress code
Vibe check: The food and service get near-unanimous praise, so the only real risk is your date expecting this standard every Thursday and quietly judging your home-made spaghetti from now on.
3. Hakkasan, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
The moodier of the palace’s starred restaurants. Hakkasan holds one MICHELIN star for its Cantonese cooking, and the low lighting, lattice screens and terrace bar make it a natural choice when you want dinner to roll into drinks without changing postcode. Order the Peking duck with caviar if you are celebrating, and the crispy duck salad either way.
Where: East Wing, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road (complimentary valet)
Contact: +971 2 690 7739 or moauh-hakkasan@mohg.com
Hours: Dinner 6pm to 11.30pm, bar until 12.30am; dim sum lunch Saturdays 12pm to 3.30pm
Budget: Splurge
Vibe check: The setting and the dim sum feel suitably glamorous, just ask your server to pace the courses, so your mains do not land while you are still halfway through a dumpling and a meaningful sentence.
4. Oak Room, The Abu Dhabi EDITION
For a date that is fun rather than formal, Oak Room’s rock ‘n’ roll take on the British steakhouse hits the spot. The steaks are the headline, the sides are the supporting act and the Library Bar next door handles the encore. It sits in the 2026 MICHELIN selection, and the Al Bateen marina setting is calm and pretty after dark. Our Al Bateen and Breakwater guide has more ideas nearby.
Where: The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Al Bateen Marina
Contact: +971 2 208 0000
Hours: Dinner 6pm to 11.30pm; confirm the day when you book
Budget: Mid to high; smart casual
Vibe check: The steaks and the staff win serious praise, just do not squeeze in a tight cinema slot afterwards, so you are not the couple checking the time while the wagyu takes the scenic route from the grill.
Best restaurants in Abu Dhabi with a view
A capital built on water should be eaten beside it. These three give you a view that does more than fill the background of your photos. If you would rather walk off dinner along the seafront, our Abu Dhabi Corniche guide maps out the best stretches.
5. Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi
Eating under Jean Nouvel’s dome is one of those only-in-Abu-Dhabi moments, and Fouquet’s makes a proper meal of it. The Parisian brasserie, with a menu developed alongside chef Pierre Gagnaire, serves the classics with polish, and the weekday business lunch is the smartest way in. Afternoon tea runs from 3pm to 6pm if you are combining it with the galleries. For the rest of the island, see our Saadiyat Island guide.
Where: Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Cultural District, Saadiyat Island
Contact: +971 2 205 4200 or contact-fouquets-abudhabi@groupebarriere.com
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 12pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm to 11.30pm; closed Mondays
Budget: Business lunch (Monday to Friday, 12pm to 4pm) AED 165 for two courses, AED 200 for three; afternoon tea from AED 390 for two
Vibe check: The setting is unbeatable and the brasserie classics land well, just remember the evening dress code frowns on shorts and trainers, so do not stroll in straight from the beach.
6. Li Beirut, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
Polished Lebanese with the Arabian Gulf at your elbow. Li Beirut plates the classics with real finesse, sits in the 2026 MICHELIN selection and has outdoor tables looking out over the water. Start with hot and cold mezze, then let the grill take over. It is one of the stars of our best Lebanese restaurants in Abu Dhabi guide for good reason.
Where: Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, West Corniche
Contact: +971 2 811 5666 or online via the Conrad Abu Dhabi dining page
Hours: Daily 12pm to 11pm (last order 10.30pm)
Budget: Mid to high
Vibe check: Regulars rate the mezze and the view in equal measure, just book a terrace table in advance, so you are not admiring the Gulf from the far side of the dining room.
7. Catch at St. Regis, Nation Riviera Beach Club
Toes almost in the sand, Corniche skyline behind you. Catch serves seafood-led dishes with Japanese and Mediterranean accents, from oysters and caviar to sushi and grilled fish, and it sits in the 2026 MICHELIN selection. The “Catch by the Tide” evening sessions are the pick for sunset, and there is a weekday business lunch for when the view needs to look professional.
Where: Nation Riviera Beach Club, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Corniche Road, Al Khubeirah (valet available)
Contact: +971 2 694 4553
Hours: Daily 12pm to midnight; business lunch Monday to Friday 12pm to 3pm
Budget: Mid to high
Vibe check: The beachfront setting and fresh seafood win people over, just note that premium fish adds up quickly, so keep half an eye on the market-price items when you order.
WOW Expert Tip: Check closing days before you fall for a plan. Talea and Fouquet’s close on Mondays and Bord Eau on Sundays. Midweek bookings are far easier to land at the big-name spots, and mentioning a birthday or anniversary when you reserve often gets you a better table.
Best restaurants in Abu Dhabi for a business lunch
Al Maryah Island is the city’s financial district, so it is no surprise the best weekday lunches cluster around The Galleria. Our Al Maryah Island guide covers the rest of the island.
8. Zuma, The Galleria Al Maryah Island
The default answer to “where shall we take them?” Zuma’s contemporary Japanese cooking, from the robata grill to the black cod, is reliably excellent, the room has energy without being chaotic and service runs like clockwork. The weekday Ebisu business lunch (miso soup, two starters and a main) gets you in and out in good time, and it sits in the 2026 MICHELIN selection.
Where: The Galleria, Abu Dhabi Global Market Square, Al Maryah Island
Contact: +971 2 401 5900 or online via zumarestaurant.com
Hours: Lunch Monday to Friday 12pm to 3.30pm, weekends 12pm to 4pm; dinner from 6.30pm
Budget: Mid to high; the business lunch is the cheapest way in
Vibe check: The food and the buzz are the real deal, just dress sharper than you think you need to, so you are not negotiating with the host about your trainers while your client pretends to study the bamboo.
9. LPM Restaurant and Bar, The Galleria Al Maryah Island
A slice of the French Riviera a lift ride from the trading floors. LPM’s sharing plates, led by the famous warm prawns in olive oil, suit a table where half the people want to talk and half want to eat. It is chic without being stiff, and from 5pm to 7pm the “Le Cinq a Sept” offer turns a late meeting into an aperitif.
Where: The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Contact: +971 2 692 9600 or info@lpmabudhabi.ae
Hours: Monday to Friday 12pm to 4pm and 6pm to 11pm; Saturday and Sunday 12.30pm to 4pm and 6pm to 11pm; bar daily 12pm to 1am
Budget: Mid to high
Vibe check: People love the food and the easy-going glamour, just ask for a quieter table if you need to talk numbers, because the dining room hums by 1pm.
10. Novikov Abu Dhabi, The Galleria Al Maryah Island
One of the newer names on the island, and already in the 2026 MICHELIN selection. Novikov’s Abu Dhabi outpost leans Italian with Mediterranean influences, with handmade pasta and fresh seafood, and its business lunch is one of the better-value ways to impress on Al Maryah. Late weekend hours mean it doubles as a dinner spot when the deal is done.
Where: Level 2, Luxury Collection (South Plaza), The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Contact: +971 2 563 2937
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 12pm to 1am; Friday and Saturday 12pm to 2am
Budget: Business lunch from AED 148 per person (Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3.30pm); dinner mid to high
Best family restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Big tables, food everyone can share and staff who do not flinch at a dropped fork. For what to do before or after, our best family activities in Abu Dhabi guide is sorted by age.
11. Beirut Sur Mer, Soul Beach, Mamsha Al Saadiyat
Lebanese food with sand between your toes. Beirut Sur Mer holds a Bib Gourmand for generous, fairly priced classics, from mezze to mashawi, and the beachfront terrace means children can burn off energy while the grown-ups order more hummus. It opens at 9am, so it works for a family breakfast too. Try the signature hummus with crab and the arayes.
Where: Lilac 5, Jacques Chirac Street, Soul Beach, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island
Contact: +971 54 395 4000
Hours: Daily from 9am to 11.30pm (12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays)
Budget: Mid-range
Vibe check: The setting and the mezze make it a weekend favourite, just book ahead for the terrace on cooler weekends, so you do not end up with a sea view through somebody else’s umbrella.
12. Almayass, The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Lebanese and Armenian food on one table, in sharing portions built for families. Almayass holds a Bib Gourmand, and the circular booths are made for a multi-generation lunch. Order from the Armenian side of the menu: manti dumplings, sour cherry kebab and the itch salad. It also opens at 10am on Sundays if you want a long, lazy lunch.
Where: Level 1, Section D, The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Contact: +971 2 644 0440
Hours: Monday to Saturday 12pm to midnight; Sunday 10am to midnight
Budget: Mid-range
Vibe check: Portions are generous and the Armenian dishes win plenty of converts, just order in rounds rather than all at once, or you will be taking half the menu home in boxes.
13. Villa Mamas, Al Rawdah
Founder Roaya Saleh’s Khaleeji restaurant brings Bahraini home cooking to the capital, and it joined the MICHELIN selection in 2026. The menu is built around big, fragrant sharing dishes that feel like Sunday lunch at a Gulf grandmother’s house, which is exactly what a family table needs. It is a halal kitchen, so everyone at the table is covered.
Where: Emirates Red Crescent Authority Building, Muroor Road, Al Rawdah
Contact: +971 2 627 8885 or book via villamamas.com/abudhabi
Hours: Daily 12pm to 11pm
Budget: Mid-range
Best casual restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Great food, no tie, no fuss. All three hold a Bib Gourmand, which is MICHELIN’s way of saying you are getting more than you pay for.
14. 3Fils Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen
Dubai’s cult harbourside favourite opened in the capital in 2025 and picked up a Bib Gourmand almost immediately. Expect contemporary Asian cooking with a Japanese twist: sushi made with fish flown in from Japan weekly, wagyu sandos and seasonal specials. It is walk-in only, which is either liberating or stressful depending on how hungry you are.
Where: The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Marsa Al Bateen, Al Bateen
Contact: +971 56 591 1772 (walk-ins only, no reservations)
Hours: Daily 12pm to midnight
Budget: Mid-range; weekday business lunch sets from AED 90 (Monday to Friday, 12pm to 6pm)
Vibe check: The food lives up to the Dubai hype, just arrive early or late on weekends, so you are not doing laps of the marina waiting for a table.
15. Otoro, Al Qana
A modern Japanese restaurant from chef Akmal Anuar on the Al Qana waterfront, holding a Bib Gourmand for good reason. The produce is serious (Kagoshima wagyu, Hokkaido uni, tuna belly worthy of the name) but the mood stays relaxed, which makes it a brilliant Thursday-night default. Pair it with a walk along the canal afterwards.
Where: Al Qana Marina South, Al Maqta Street
Contact: +971 2 886 9995
Hours: Daily 12pm to 11pm
Budget: Mid-range
Vibe check: Diners rave about the quality of the fish for the price, just go easy on the premium specials, so a casual dinner does not quietly turn into an omakase bill.
16. Mika, Yas Marina
Chef-patron Mario Loi’s modern Mediterranean kitchen on Yas Marina is the island’s quiet overachiever, with a Bib Gourmand and a seasonal menu that runs from crudo to handmade pasta. The prices are refreshingly honest for a marina address, and Angel Hour (2-for-1 on selected drinks, Sunday to Friday, 4pm to 7pm) makes an early dinner very tempting. Our Yas Island guide covers what else to do nearby.
Where: Building 7, Yas Marina, Yas Island
Contact: +971 56 433 1422 or reservations@mika.ae
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 12pm to midnight; Friday and Saturday 12pm to 1am
Budget: Mains AED 90 to AED 245; business lunch AED 95 for two courses or AED 125 for three (Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm)
Vibe check: The cooking punches well above the price tag, just check the calendar before you go, because on themed brunch and party nights the mood is livelier than a quiet dinner.
Best Arabic and Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
If visiting friends ask where to try local food, these are the answers. Li Beirut and Beirut Sur Mer above cover Lebanese in style, and our Lebanese restaurant guide has 15 more.
17. Erth, Al Hosn
The restaurant that put modern Emirati cooking on the world map. Erth has held a MICHELIN star in 2024, 2025 and 2026, and its kitchen works with produce from farms in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Hatta to cook food that is, in its own words, “nostalgic and experimental”. Book it for visiting family, or for yourself when you want to understand the country through its plates. It is unlicensed and has its own car park.
Where: North Parking, Al Hosn, city centre
Contact: Reservations +971 2 679 4014 or info@erthrestaurant.ae
Hours: Daily 12pm to 11pm
Budget: High
Vibe check: Guests leave impressed by the flavours and the storytelling behind each dish, just ask your server to walk you through the menu, so you do not miss the dishes that make the place special.
18. Al Mrzab, Airport Road
Unpretentious, spicy and cheap, Al Mrzab serves Emirati and Kuwaiti home cooking such as majboos and harees, and it holds a Bib Gourmand at MICHELIN’s lowest price tier. You can sit at a table or settle on floor cushions around low tables, which is half the fun. Come hungry and order to share.
Where: Airport Road
Contact: +971 2 666 2333
Hours: Daily 7am to 11pm
Budget: Budget
19. Tazal, Al Qana
Modern Arabic cooking that borrows from across the region, served from breakfast to dinner on the Al Qana waterfront. Tazal holds a Bib Gourmand, and its all-day menu (breakfast, brunch, business lunch and dinner) makes it one of the most flexible tables in the city. Pair it with Otoro next door for an Al Qana evening.
Where: Al Qana Walk, Al Qana
Contact: +971 50 152 0815 or info@tazal.com
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 8am to 11.30pm; Friday and Saturday 8am to midnight
Budget: Mid-range
Best affordable restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Good food does not have to mean a hotel bill. Al Mrzab above is the cheapest MICHELIN-recognised meal in the city, the weekday business lunches at 3Fils and Mika are serious bargains, and our guide to the best places to eat in Abu Dhabi for under AED 50 goes cheaper still. Two more to know:
20. Al Farah, Al Khalidiyah
A neighbourhood institution in the 2026 MICHELIN selection at the lowest price tier. Al Farah does Middle Eastern comfort food from breakfast onwards: foul and fatteh in the morning, manakeesh and shawarma at lunch and a mixed grill when the whole family turns up. It is the kind of place you take friends to prove Abu Dhabi has soul beyond the hotels.
Where: Khalidiyah Street, Al Khalidiyah (more branches on Hamdan Street, in Mohammed Bin Zayed City and M44)
Contact: 600 570000
Hours: Daily 8am to midnight
Budget: Budget
Vibe check: Locals love it for big flavours at small prices, just expect a busy, no-frills room at peak times, so save the candlelight for another night.
21. Antonia, Mamsha Al Saadiyat
Roman-style pizza al taglio by the slice, handmade pasta, supplì and an affordable Italian wine list, which is a winning formula on any day of the week. Antonia joined the MICHELIN selection in 2026, and it is walk-in only, so you can decide at the last minute. Children tend to approve of anything that comes by the slice.
Where: Turquoise 9, Soul Beach, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island (other branches at The Galleria Level 2, Al Zeina and Ansam on Yas Island)
Contact: +971 2 667 2554 (Mamsha Al Saadiyat; walk-ins only)
Hours: Daily 12pm to 11pm
Budget: Budget to mid-range
Vibe check: The pizza and pasta win fans for value as much as flavour, just go early on weekend evenings, because walk-in only means everybody else had the same idea.
WOW Expert Tip: The weekday business lunch is the cheapest way into the city’s best kitchens. 3Fils (from AED 90), Mika (AED 95), Novikov (from AED 148) and Fouquet’s (AED 165) all run set menus Monday to Friday, often at a fraction of the dinner bill. Book for 12pm to beat the office rush.
New restaurants in Abu Dhabi worth booking
Several of the picks above are recent additions, including Novikov, Villa Mamas and Antonia. For everything that has opened in the last few weeks, our running list of new restaurants in Abu Dhabi is updated as doors open, and our explainers on Nobu Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Grove cover what is still to come. One newcomer already earning its keep:
22. Strawfire by Ross Shonhan, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Chef Ross Shonhan’s Japanese restaurant is built around warayaki, the technique of searing over straw-fired flames, which delivers smoky, theatrical cooking you will smell before you see. It joined the MICHELIN selection in 2026 and adds a younger, livelier energy to the palace’s dining line-up. Sit near the grill if you can.
Where: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road
Contact: +971 2 690 7999 or moauh-restaurants@mohg.com
Hours: Daily 6pm to 11.30pm
Budget: High
Explore Abu Dhabi restaurants by cuisine and meal
This list is the starting point. When you know what you are craving, go deeper with our dedicated guides:
- The best Indian restaurants in Abu Dhabi, from palace fine dining to Salam Street vegetarian thalis
- The best Lebanese restaurants in Abu Dhabi, from hotel mezze to shawarma legends
- The best brunches in Abu Dhabi, the ten actually worth your Saturday
- The best breakfast spots in Abu Dhabi for slow weekend mornings
- Date night in Abu Dhabi, from sunset to last drink
- Private dining rooms in Abu Dhabi for celebrations
- New restaurant openings in Abu Dhabi, updated as they open
WOW Expert Tip: Plan by neighbourhood to avoid a 40-minute taxi between dinner and drinks. Emirates Palace has Talea, Hakkasan and Strawfire under one roof, The Galleria has Zuma, LPM, Novikov and Almayass, and Al Qana pairs Otoro and Tazal. If alcohol is involved, leave the car at home: the UAE has zero tolerance for drink driving.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best restaurant in Abu Dhabi?
There is no single winner, but the three one-MICHELIN-star restaurants, Erth, Hakkasan and Talea by Antonio Guida, are the strongest all-round picks. Erth is the one to choose if you want Emirati food, Talea for Italian and Hakkasan for Cantonese.
How many MICHELIN-star restaurants are there in Abu Dhabi?
Three. The 2026 MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi, announced in October 2025, kept one star for Erth, Hakkasan and Talea by Antonio Guida. Ten restaurants hold a Bib Gourmand, including 3Fils, Otoro, Mika, Al Mrzab, Almayass, Beirut Sur Mer and Tazal.
Where can I try Emirati food in Abu Dhabi?
Erth in Al Hosn serves modern Emirati cooking with a MICHELIN star, while Al Mrzab on Airport Road offers traditional Emirati and Kuwaiti dishes such as majboos and harees at budget prices, with floor seating if you want the traditional experience.
What are the best affordable restaurants in Abu Dhabi?
Al Mrzab, Al Farah and Antonia all deliver MICHELIN-recognised food at low prices. For a cheap way into a higher-end kitchen, try a weekday business lunch at 3Fils (from AED 90) or Mika (from AED 95).
Which Abu Dhabi restaurants have the best views?
Fouquet’s sits inside Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat, Li Beirut at Conrad Etihad Towers has outdoor tables facing the Gulf and Catch at St. Regis is right on the beach at Nation Riviera Beach Club. Bord Eau looks across the canal to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Do I need to book restaurants in Abu Dhabi?
For hotel restaurants and anything MICHELIN-starred, yes, especially Thursday to Saturday. A few popular spots, including 3Fils and Antonia, are walk-in only, so arrive early at weekends.
Where is the best business lunch in Abu Dhabi?
The Galleria on Al Maryah Island is the hotspot, with Zuma, LPM and Novikov (business lunch from AED 148) all a short walk from ADGM. Fouquet’s at Louvre Abu Dhabi runs a weekday business lunch from AED 165 if you want a change of scene.
Prices, hours and details checked in October 2026 and can change – confirm with the venue before you go.
