8 Abu Dhabi Restaurants You Have To Try

As one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, it will come as no surprise to learn that Abu Dhabi is filled with world-class restaurants.

Yes, you’ll find fine dining in abundance in the United Arab Emirates capital city, but the restaurant experiences go beyond Michelin-starred spots (though there are still a fair few on this list).

Oceanside alfresco dining, family-friendly buffets with every cuisine you could think of, secluded restaurants inside palaces and Instagram-worthy interior design – you’ll find it all around Abu Dhabi.

With so many fantastic places to dine, we’ve made your travels easier with this curated list featuring the best of the best.

1. Hakkasan

Where: Emirates Palace
Perfect For: Date night
You Have To Try: The dim sum menu

The UAE edition of the famous, Michelin-starred London restaurant is a must-do for any foodie visiting Abu Dhabi.

Housed inside the opulent Emirates Palace hotel, enjoy Chinese cuisine inspired by ancient Cantonese recipes given a modern twist. Book a spot on Hakkasan’s terrace for sweeping skyline views.

exterior Hakkasan, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi — Enjoy city views and incredible dim sims.

2. Buddha-Bar Beach

Where: The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
Perfect For: Sunset chill outs
You Have To Try: The chicken salad

Buddha-Bar venues pop up each summer at picturesque places around the world (like Mykonos and the Maldives) but its Abu Dhabi location, situated on the pristine waters of Saadiyat Island, is permanent.

Enjoy the day-to-night ambience of the Asian-fusion restaurant, and pick one of the outdoor tables or, even better, a lounge space to enjoy the sunset colours spreading across the sand.

Buddha-Bar Beach, Abu Dhabi — Sit outside to enjoy the ocean views.

3. Saddle Cafe

Where: Marsa Al Bateen Marina
Perfect For: Lazy Sunday brunch
You Have To Try: The coffee

This is the first dine-in venue for the famous Saddle Cafe, which until this year was known for its food trucks and incredible coffee.

At its new venue, you can sit and enjoy the cafe’s famous coffee (some say the best in Abu Dhabi) from 8am, or head down for dinner and sample the Mediterranean-inspired fare until midnight.

Saddle Cafe Abu Dhabi — Stop for breakfast or dinner, and a famous coffee.

4. Butcher and Still

Where: Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island
Perfect For: When you just want a great steak
You Have To Try: The signature tomahawk chop

interior Butcher and Still, our Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi restaurants — The dark, sultry interior is half the beauty at Butcher And Still.

Arguably Abu Dhabi’s best steakhouse, Butcher and Still is 1920s Chicago-inspired, with dark, sultry interiors featuring leather banquettes and rich wood floors.

Menu-wise, expect a decadent cocktail offering inspired by the Prohibition era, and select prime cuts of American beef – the signature tomahawk chop is a 21-day aged bone-in rib-eye steak that will probably be the best you’ll ever eat.

Butcher and Still, our Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi restaurants — Enjoy prime beef cuts and decadent cocktails.

5. Rosewater

Where: Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Al Bateen
Perfect For: Family meals
You Have To Try: Anything from the live cooking stations

Rosewater has one of the best buffet restaurants in the city, so it’s a must for those bringing busy little ones along who won’t stay put at a fine dining establishment. They’ll love the interactive feel of the live cooking stations, plus the plethora of desserts to choose from.

Rosewater Abu Dhabi restaurants — Enjoy something sweet with an even tastier view at Rosewater.

6. Cipriani

Where: Yas Marina Circuit
Perfect For: People watching
You Have To Try: Any of their pasta dishes or the steak tartare, which gets rave reviews

Known as one of the best Italian restaurants in Abu Dhabi, and arguably the best on the popular Yas Marina Circuit, Cipriani is the place to go if you want to people-watch at the popular evening area or marvel at the superyachts docked in the marina.

You’ll also enjoy exquisite dishes inspired by founder Giuseppe Cipriani Sr. and his creativity – he invented the Bellini in 1948.

Cipriani, Abu Dhabi restaurants — Find authentic Italian in the middle of Abu Dhabi.

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7. Li Beirut

Where: Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Al Bateen
Perfect For: Seeing Abu Dhabi from above
You Have To Try: The Arabic Mixed Grill

Honestly, if there is an Arabic Mixed Grill on any Lebanese restaurant menu, you order it. That goes double at Li Beirut which made it into the 2023 Michelin Guide for the city.

Vegetarians need not worry, there are plenty of mouth-watering meals of the veggie kind here as well.

As one of 2022’s hottest restaurants, it also comes with a stellar view of the ocean thanks to its sky-high location within the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers.

Li Beirut, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi restaurants — Take in some of the best views of Abu Dhabi while you eat.

8. Meylas

Where: Al Muneera, Al Raha Beach
Perfect For: The best authentic Emirati food
You Have To Try: The luqamaat (fried dough balls served with sticky date molasses)

Meylas means “a place that gathers people", and this restaurant embodies home; from its warm atmosphere to the family recipes passed down through generations. This is the restaurant to visit for a true Emirati cuisine experience.

Machboos is a must-order – pillowy rice spiced with traditional flavours, dry lemon and your choice of meat or fish. And the luqamaat, of course. This is one place where dessert isn’t optional, it’s practically mandatory.

Meylas, Abu Dhabi Restaurants — Soak in cosy vibes while enjoying a true Emirati cuisine experience.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The 8 restaurants you have to try in Abu Dhabi