Cuisines from around the world mingle in Abu Dhabi, with restaurants offering a vibrant and varied mix of internal flavours and impressive culinary standards, there really is something to suit every taste and budget.
All food outlets are regularly for hygiene by Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. Non-Muslims can consume pork in certain outlets – any dishes using pork ingredients will be prepared separately from non-pork dishes, and clearly marked on the menu.
Taxes, Service Charges & Tipping
Many fine dining and high end restaurants may add a service charge (usually around 10%) and a tourism levy of 6% (in hotel restaurants only) to your bill. These charges are often included in the menu prices and the menu
will denote when they are. You may choose to reward your waiter directly with a tip – the usual is 10%.
Search our comprehensive restaurant database to find the dining experience of your choice. Our restaurant listing includes information on cuisine, facilities, licensed establishments, contact details and directions.
Dining Out
Abu Dhabi’s restaurants offer a wide range of Arabic, Far-Eastern, European, Latin and Continental cuisines, served in authentic style and unique ambience. Multiple-cuisine is served by many restaurants. Other than authentic cuisine some restaurants are specialized in certain type of food such as seafood, vegetarian and others. Many of Abu Dhabi’s supmarket restaurants are located inside hotels. If you fancy a scrumptious buffet, head out to one of the popular areas around the Breakwater, Sheikh Zayed Street, Corniche Road or Tourist Club area, where you will find some of the best restaurants tucked away in hotel lobbies. Many international chains of restaurants, such as steak houses, have outlets in Abu Dhabi. Many pubs at hotels also serve a full meal. In the evening, restaurants usually open at 19:00. Weekends are usually busy; it is therefore advisable to book a table in advance.
Coffee
An integral part of the social scene in Abu Dhabi involves friends and family gathering around coffee parlours during evening hours to watch football matches or to simply unwind. The a la carte menus offer a range of freshly baked snacks, salads and sandwiches along with a range of hot and cold beverages whereas others offer full-fledged buffets. Most of them offer wireless Internet connectivity and are located near shopping malls or entrance of hotel lobbies.
The Shisha is available in many flavours, you can experiment with one new flavour each day and will still not be over with the many aromatic flavours. If you visit Abu Dhabi during the month of Ramadan we recommend you try one of the shisha tents put up around beaches.
Bars, Pubs and Clubs
The nightlife of Abu Dhabi has undergone a makeover over the past few years with more and more number of nightclubs and bars opening up to entertain huge crowds of thirsty expats who love to swing to the beats of music. Dress to impress at these sophisticated cocktail.
There are a number of traditional British and Mexican Bars, most of which only fill up after 23:00 and run till the wee hours. Huge crowds of multi-cultural people turn up on weekends to enjoy live R&B bands or to tap to the fresh beats of some of the best known international DJs. On special occasions like Christmas and New Year's the evenings are organised around special themes. Abu Dhabi is a safe place with fewer restrictions in place and relaxed door policies that welcome people of all nationalities.
The relaxed atmosphere, cosy interior and friendly crowd of most pubs are able to recreate the same feeling of pubs back home. Most pubs run ladies night, happy hours (usually between 17:00-19:00) and quiz nights to cater better to different tastes. The same goes for nightclubs that play to the tune of music lovers' different tastes ranging from Western-style beats to traditional Arabic, Indian and Iranian music. If you happen to chance upon an Arabic nightclub you’ll surely enjoy watching the art of belly dancing. Tequilana Discotheque is one of the most unique nightclubs of Abu Dhabi, located inside Hemingway’s complex, set along the West Corniche beach. Its interior is adorned with tiny huts and palm trees, amateur singers can also book for semi-private karaoke rooms. The club is known to organise salsa nights and attractive promotions which keep its customers coming back for more.
Almost all pubs, nightclubs and bars are located inside hotels and offer a range of exotic and colourful cocktails, vintage brandies, snacks and Arabic mezzes.