Abu Dhabi sits on a fishing heritage older than the skyline, so it makes sense that some of the best seafood restaurants in Abu Dhabi range from a 1960s Corniche favourite to Michelin-listed dining rooms over the water. With the cooler months here and terraces back in play, this is the season to eat fish outside.
We have checked every pick below against its official page this month, so each one comes with a location, a booking number and a realistic budget. Sorted from big-night splurges to hands-on buckets, with a fish market in the middle.
What is the best seafood restaurant in Abu Dhabi?
For a special occasion, Catch at St. Regis on the Corniche is the strongest all-rounder: sea views, a Japanese-leaning raw bar and a 2026 Michelin Guide listing. For value, Ryba in Al Mina holds a Bib Gourmand for Emirati-style seafood. For the freshest fish at the lowest price, buy it yourself at the Mina Zayed Fish Market.
| Restaurant | Area | Budget | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catch at St. Regis | Corniche, Al Khubeirah | Splurge | Sushi, oysters and sea views |
| Finz | Beach Rotana, Al Zahiyah | Splurge | Over-water dinner |
| Fishmarket | InterContinental, Al Bateen | Splurge | Picking your own catch |
| Turtle Bay Bar and Grill | Saadiyat Rotana, Saadiyat Island | Splurge | Beach-resort seafood grill |
| Em Sherif Sea Cafe | Rosewood, Al Maryah Island | Splurge | Lebanese seafood with a view |
| Ibn AlBahr | Makers District, Al Reem Island | Mid-range | Long Levantine lunches by the sea |
| Beirut Sur Mer | Mamsha Al Saadiyat | Mid-range | Beachfront mezze and grilled fish |
| Ryba | Zayed Port, Al Mina | Mid-range | Emirati-style seafood |
| Bu Tafish | Marasy Al Bateen | Mid-range | Classic grilled hammour |
| Mina Zayed Fish Market | Zayed Port, Al Mina | Wallet-friendly | Buying fish straight off the boat |
| Off The Hook | Airport Road, Al Manhal | Wallet-friendly | Seafood boils for a group |
| Seafood Express | Al Abtal Street, Al Nahyan | Wallet-friendly | Buckets with family |
Seafood restaurants in Abu Dhabi for a big night out
Catch at St. Regis
Inside the Nation Riviera Beach Club, Catch is the Corniche’s polished seafood room, listed in the 2026 Michelin Guide Abu Dhabi. The menu leans Japanese: nigiri, sashimi and the Blow Torch Dynamite Roll the inspectors singled out, alongside charcoal-grilled sea bass and miso black cod. Local Dibba Bay oysters are AED 25 each and the signature fish plates run from AED 175 to AED 240. If you want the setting without the full bill, the weekday business lunch is three courses for AED 195, and the Sunday Umi Social brunch starts at AED 395. It pairs neatly with an afternoon on the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
Where: Nation Riviera Beach Club, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Corniche Road, Al Khubeirah (valet available). Daily 12pm to midnight.
Book: +971 2 694 4553 or online via catchatthestregis.com
Budget: Splurge
Vibe check: The sushi counter quietly steals the show and the terrace does the rest, just treat the menu as a sharing game because those signature plates add up faster than the tide comes in, and book ahead for peak nights.
WOW Expert Tip: The AED 195 business lunch (Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm) is the cheapest way into Catch. Ask for a terrace table and you get the same Gulf view the dinner crowd pays triple for.
Finz
Finz sits right over the water at Beach Rotana, which is half the reason people book it for anniversaries. Chef Luca De Santis brings a Roman accent to responsibly sourced seafood, and Rotana bills it as Michelin-selected. Sit on the sea-view terrace when the weather allows, or take a window table inside when it does not. Prices are firmly in hotel fine-dining territory, so this is a celebration table rather than a Tuesday one.
Where: Beach Rotana, 10th Street, Al Zahiyah. Lunch and dinner daily.
Book: +971 2 697 9186 or finz.beach@rotana.com
Budget: Splurge
Vibe check: Diners rave about creative plates and staff who remember their names, and the over-water setting is pure date-night bait, so just go in knowing the bill will be as memorable as the view.
Fishmarket
Open since 1989 and still doing it the same way: you walk up to the counter, choose your fish, shellfish and vegetables, then Chef Sawai and his team cook it the way you like it. There is now a run of rice and noodle dishes too. The seaside setting at the InterContinental makes it an easy pick if you are exploring Al Bateen and the Breakwater.
Where: InterContinental Abu Dhabi, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Street, Al Bateen. Daily 12pm to 11pm (last orders 10.30pm).
Book: +971 56 990 8317 or 800 423 463
Budget: Splurge (you pay for what you pick)
Vibe check: Choosing your own catch and having it cooked your way is a genuine thrill, just keep an eye on what you pile into the basket because it is priced by what you pick and your solo-diner ambitions can outrun your appetite.
Turtle Bay Bar and Grill
A relaxed, open-air grill near the shore at Saadiyat Rotana, with prime cuts on one side of the menu and freshly grilled seafood on the other. Recent diners keep mentioning the raw bar, the sea bass and the ceviche, plus a pool and sunset outlook that makes the whole evening feel like a holiday. If you are booking a night on the island, it sits well with our best staycations in Abu Dhabi.
Where: Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas, Saadiyat Island. Dinner only.
Book: +971 56 994 8890 or turtlebay.saadiyat@rotana.com
Budget: Splurge
Vibe check: The service is so warm that regulars name-check their waiters like old friends, and the seafood grill earns its fans, just remember it only opens for dinner so do not rock up hungry at lunch.
Em Sherif Sea Cafe
The seaside spin-off of the famous Beirut name opened its first UAE branch at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, and it is listed in the 2026 Michelin Guide. A seafood counter greets you at the entrance, and the menu is built for sharing: Lebanese mezze, shrimp fatteh, sayadieh and whole fish, with a beef section for the non-fish fans. The dining room overlooks the water on Al Maryah Island, and there is live music and shisha later on. More Levantine favourites are in our best Lebanese restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
Where: Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island. Daily 12.30pm to midnight.
Book: +971 2 626 2895
Budget: Splurge
Vibe check: The shrimp fatteh has people coming back for a second birthday dinner, and the waterfront room is a looker, just budget for a bill that a few diners found steep and ask about valet charges before you hand over the keys.
Waterfront seafood with a Levantine accent
Ibn AlBahr
The Dubai fishermen-owned favourite opened in Abu Dhabi in November 2025, taking over the old Cove Beach site in Makers District. It is a big, breezy, fisherman-themed space with an open deck facing the Gulf, and the fresh catch is laid out on ice for you to choose from: red snapper, prawns, crab and lobster, plus Lebanese classics such as hummus topped with prawns and crispy fried sardines. Lunch here can easily run into the afternoon. If you live nearby, our Al Reem Island guide has the rest of the neighbourhood covered.
Where: Makers District, Al Reem Island (former Cove Beach site).
Book: 800 426252247 or via ibnalbahr.me
Budget: Mid-range
Vibe check: Fresh market fish, a beach and pool view and a shisha that has its own fan club make this the current crowd favourite, just call before a Monday visit because opening days have been listed differently online.
Beirut Sur Mer
A Bib Gourmand holder in the 2026 Michelin Guide, Beirut Sur Mer sits right on Soul Beach at Mamsha Al Saadiyat. The food is elevated Lebanese, with crab, octopus and shrimp done the Beirut way alongside mezze and grills, and the bold, eclectic room opens on to some of the clearest water in the city. It works from breakfast to late dinner, which makes it a handy post-beach stop. More ideas for the island are in our Saadiyat Island guide.
Where: Soul Beach, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Jacques Chirac Street, Saadiyat Cultural District. Daily from 9am to 11.30pm (12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays).
Book: +971 54 395 4000
Budget: Mid-range
Vibe check: The beach view is so ridiculously turquoise it looks edited, and the grilled fish gets plenty of love, just come with patience on busy afternoons because service can drift while you are busy taking photos.
Local favourites and Emirati-style seafood
Ryba
Tucked into the Al Mina Souq area of Zayed Port, Ryba took Opening of the Year in the 2025 Michelin Guide and holds a Bib Gourmand for 2026. The menu follows the day’s local catch with Emirati spicing: Ryba soup with blue crab and mussels, sea bass marinated with dill, ginger and tamarind plus a lobster biryani that has its own following. Portions are built for sharing and the charcoal grill does wonders with local hammour. It is an alcohol-free restaurant.
Where: 31 Al Marabi’ Street, Zayed Port, Al Mina. Daily 12pm to midnight.
Book: +971 2 584 5645 or online via seenholding.ae
Budget: Mid-range
Vibe check: The whole sea bass and shrimp rice win over most of the room, just know the Emirati spices are proudly bold, so if you like your fish plain say so when you order.
Bu Tafish
Bu Tafish started in 1968 as a kiosk on the Corniche and became the emirate’s first floating restaurant, and in 2022 the Department of Culture and Tourism named it an Urban Treasure. Today its flagship sits at Marasy Al Bateen, still serving the classics: grilled hammour, sultan ibrahim and sheri, saffron seafood soup and generous prawn platters. On the current menu, whole local fish runs from AED 80 to AED 140, soups start at AED 20 and a prawn bucket is AED 105. There is also a branch in Khalifa City.
Where: Marasy Al Bateen, 132 Street, Al Bateen. Daily 10am to 1am. Khalifa City branch: +971 2 556 5477.
Book: +971 2 666 6108
Budget: Mid-range
Vibe check: Fresh hammour, fast and friendly service and decades of loyal regulars say it all, just do not expect designer decor and turn up early on weekends when half of Abu Dhabi has the same idea.
Mina Zayed Fish Market
Not a restaurant, but the most Abu Dhabi way to eat seafood. The rebuilt market, opened by the Department of Municipalities and Transport with Modon in 2022, has 104 fresh fish stalls, 44 fish cleaning stations and eight restaurants. Buy your fish, have it scaled and gutted at the cleaning counters, then take it home or to one of the market restaurants to be grilled or fried. Prices vary from stall to stall, and a little polite bargaining is part of the fun. It is one of our favourite hidden gems in Abu Dhabi.
Where: 159 Al Doum Street, Zayed Port (Mina Zayed), Al Mina. Open from early morning until late evening daily.
Book: No bookings, just walk in. Details via Modon
Budget: Wallet-friendly
Vibe check: Shoppers are pleasantly surprised by how clean and organised it is, just compare a few stalls before you buy because prices wander about as much as you will.
WOW Expert Tip: Go in the morning for the best of the day’s catch, ask your stall to take the fish to the cleaning counter for you, then hand it to one of the market’s restaurants to grill. Lunch costs a fraction of a hotel seafood platter and you know exactly how fresh it is.
Cheap seafood in Abu Dhabi: buckets and boils
Off The Hook
Louisiana-style seafood boils tipped straight on to the table, with gloves, bibs and a choice of seven sauces and three spice levels. The Solo set is AED 72.45 and serves up to two, half a kilo of shrimps is AED 61.95 and a kilo of lobster is AED 135.45, so a group can eat well without wincing. The menu is short and the room is no-frills, which is exactly the point.
Where: 2 Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (Airport Road), Al Manhal. Daily 11am to 11.30pm.
Book: 800 684
Budget: Wallet-friendly
Vibe check: Even people who hate messy eating admit the shrimp in the house sauce wins them over, just leave the white shirt at home and consider takeaway if you would rather fight your crab in private.
Seafood Express
Pick your seafood, choose one of five sauces and a bucket size, and Seafood Express does the rest. A small shrimp bucket is AED 110 (AED 200 for medium, AED 380 for large) and fish buckets start at AED 80, all before VAT, with rice or fries included. There are platters, soups and a kids’ menu too, which makes it an easy family dinner.
Where: Lulu Express Building, Al Abtal Street, Al Nahyan. Daily 12pm to midnight.
Book: +971 2 565 6707 (also on WhatsApp)
Budget: Wallet-friendly
Vibe check: Generous buckets, fair prices and none of that fishy smell keep this one rated sky-high, just know the seafood soup is a sharing pot in disguise so do not order one each.
Before you book
- Know your local fish. Hammour (grouper), sheri (emperor), safi (rabbitfish) and sultan ibrahim (red mullet) all appear on Emirati-style menus such as Bu Tafish and Ryba.
- Book the views. Terrace tables at Catch, Finz and Beirut Sur Mer are in demand in the cooler months, so ask for outdoor seating when you reserve.
- Check the bill style. Fishmarket and the fish market both price by what you choose, so set a rough budget before you start pointing.
- Make a night of it. For more romantic tables, see our date night guide, and for weekend feasts our best brunches in Abu Dhabi. The latest openings are tracked in new restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best seafood restaurant in Abu Dhabi?
Catch at St. Regis on the Corniche is our top pick for a special night, thanks to its sea views, sushi and 2026 Michelin Guide listing. For better value, Ryba in Al Mina holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for Emirati-style seafood.
Where can I buy fresh fish and have it cooked in Abu Dhabi?
Head to the Mina Zayed Fish Market on Al Doum Street in Zayed Port. Buy from one of the 104 fresh fish stalls, have it cleaned at the cleaning stations, then take it to one of the market’s restaurants to be cooked. For a hotel version, Fishmarket at the InterContinental lets you choose your seafood from a counter.
Which seafood restaurants in Abu Dhabi are in the Michelin Guide?
In the 2026 Michelin Guide Abu Dhabi, Ryba and Beirut Sur Mer hold Bib Gourmands, while Catch at St. Regis and Em Sherif Sea Cafe are listed as selected restaurants. Rotana also describes Finz as Michelin-selected.
Where can I eat seafood by the water in Abu Dhabi?
Finz sits over the water at Beach Rotana, Catch looks out from the Corniche, Beirut Sur Mer is right on Soul Beach at Mamsha Al Saadiyat and Ibn AlBahr has an open deck facing the Gulf in Makers District on Al Reem Island.
Where can I find cheap seafood in Abu Dhabi?
Off The Hook’s Solo seafood boil set is AED 72.45 and serves up to two, and Seafood Express buckets start at AED 80 before VAT. Buying your own fish at the Mina Zayed Fish Market is cheaper still.
Do I need to book a seafood restaurant in Abu Dhabi?
For hotel restaurants such as Catch, Finz, Fishmarket and Turtle Bay, yes, especially on weekends and in the cooler months. Casual spots like Off The Hook and Seafood Express usually take walk-ins, and the fish market needs no booking at all.
Prices and details checked in October 2026 and can change – confirm with the venue before you go.
