Abu Dhabi's food scene has quietly become one of the region's best. It runs from humble shawarma counters to Michelin-listed dining rooms, with deep benches of Emirati, Levantine and South Asian cooking and an ever-growing cast of global names — so much so that the city hosts The World's 50 Best Restaurants ceremony in 2026. Here is how to eat well across every budget and mood.
Emirati & Levantine
Start with the local flavour. Emirati cuisine — slow-cooked meats, fragrant machboos rice and dates — is at its most refined at Mezlai inside Emirates Palace, and at Erth, a stylish modern-Emirati room near the Founder's Memorial. For Levantine cooking, Li Beirut at Conrad Etihad Towers sets the standard for fine-dining Lebanese, while Sofra bld at the Shangri-La lays on a vast souk-style spread.
Beyond the hotels, neighbourhood Lebanese and Syrian institutions serve generous mezze, charcoal grills and fresh-baked bread late into the night — often the best value in town.
Insider tips
- Most licensed bars and restaurants sit inside hotels.
- Friday brunch is an Abu Dhabi institution — book ahead.
Al Maryah Island — the gourmet hub
If you only have one night, Al Maryah Island holds the city's highest concentration of big-name tables. The Galleria mall and the Four Seasons and Rosewood hotels share a roll-call that includes Zuma (Japanese izakaya), LPM (French-Mediterranean Riviera cooking), COYA (Peruvian), Cafe Milano (Italian), the American steakhouse Butcher & Still, and Dai Pai Dong for Cantonese dim sum — plus the rooftop Eclipse for drinks over the skyline.
Emirates Palace & the Corniche
The grand hotels along the Corniche hold the most special-occasion rooms. Emirates Palace alone is home to Hakkasan, the Michelin-recognised Cantonese stalwart, and Talea by Antonio Guida for elegant Italian. Nearby, TAON brings fine-dining Korean to the Sofitel, Marco Pierre White Steakhouse anchors the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, and the waterfront towers serve Gulf-view dinners up and down the Corniche.
Yas, Saadiyat & the waterfront
Out on the islands, dining doubles as a day out. Yas has Mika at the marina (Mediterranean), the licensed Mr Kim in Yas Mall (Korean steak), and the beach-club restaurants of Yas Bay such as Cafe del Mar and Buddha-Bar. Al Qana, beside the National Aquarium, and the Mamsha Al Saadiyat promenade add relaxed waterfront strips, while the Abu Dhabi EDITION's Oak Room at Al Bateen Marina is among the city's best steakhouses.
Insider tips
- Island and beach-club tables are busiest at sunset — reserve a terrace.
Everyday eats & street food
For everyday brilliance, Abu Dhabi runs on its cafeterias and curry houses. A freshly carved shawarma with a fresh juice costs a few dirhams; South Asian, Filipino and Egyptian kitchens serve home cooking across the city; and a karak chai at a roadside stand is a ritual in itself. You can eat superbly here without ever setting foot in a hotel.
