The downtown grid between the Corniche and Hamdan Street: Kerala breakfast rooms, Indian vegetarian counters, a Pakistani grill and a Lebanese mezze house, with Erth cooking modern Emirati food at the Qasr Al Hosn site.
Erth is a Michelin-starred Emirati restaurant at Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi, cooking modern dishes from Emirati flavours and produce from farms across the UAE.
OrderThe modern lamb machboos, then the Liwa dates batheeta that the Michelin Guide suggests to finish.
TipErth opens at 08:00 on Saturday and Sunday, and the Michelin Guide lists it among the best breakfast spots in Abu Dhabi.
Al Sultan Restaurant & Grill serves Lebanese mezze, grills and seafood in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, and was honoured as an Urban Treasure in 2023.
OrderHot and cold mezze with a mixed grill, the specials What's On names in its April 2025 list.
TipThe restaurant has since opened other branches, so check you have the Al Danah room, whose phone number is +971 2 641 2511.
Taste of Kerala cooks home-style Kerala breakfasts, fish molee, beef ularthiyathu and six kinds of biryani on Old Passport Road, Al Danah, Abu Dhabi.
OrderFish molee or beef ularthiyathu with ghee rice, then a biryani from the six-kind list.
TipBreakfast plates of idly, dosa, appam and puttu with kadala curry sit beside the lunch spread, and the room opens at 06:00 most days.
Payyannur Restaurant serves nool parotta, thattu dosa with veg stew and Kerala-style biryani on Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street in Abu Dhabi, from 06:00.
OrderNool parotta and thattu dosa with veg stew, then the fish mango curry or the Kerala-style biryani.
TipOrder several plates for the table: Gulf News reports one group of six covered shrimp starters, fish mango curry, idiyappam and parotta.
Dampa Seafood Grill serves Filipino boodle-fight seafood in Al Mariah Mall on Fatma Bint Mubarak Street, Abu Dhabi, with platters of shrimp, crab and mussels.
OrderA mixed seafood platter of shrimp, crab and mussels, or the Cajun shrimp, eaten with disposable gloves.
TipWhat's On notes platters arrive on paper with disposable gloves, so the meal suits a group sharing one large seafood platter.
Aroy Dee Thai Restaurant serves Thai street food such as pad Thai and curries on Electra Street in Abu Dhabi, with a bigger second room at Mushrif Mall.
OrderPad Thai, which Best Bites calls the national favourite, or the red curry with roasted duck.
TipBest Bites puts a meal for two under AED 120 and says the Mushrif Mall room is bigger, with floor seating as well as tables.
Qian Zhou Hot Pot serves buffet-style Chinese hotpot from AED 49 in the old cinema building on Najda Street, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, with a BBQ option.
OrderThe individual hotpot at AED 49 with the buffet counter, or hotpot with BBQ at AED 69, plus tax.
TipIt takes cash only and charges extra for food waste, so take only what you will finish from the buffet counter.
Tikka Tonight serves Pakistani BBQ platters, chicken boti and chapli kabab at its Madinat Zayed branch in Abu Dhabi, open daily until midnight or later.
OrderThe BBQ platter with marinated chicken boti and chapli kabab, ordered as several dishes to share.
TipBest Bites picks the Madinat Zayed branch over the chain's other rooms because it is quick and parking outside is usually easy.
Al Sultan Bakeries & Markets runs a branch in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, selling Arabic bread, samoon, baklawa and knafa, open daily from 06:00 to 00:30.
Worth the queueKnafa with cheese
TipThis is the Najda branch opposite the Vision Twin Towers; the operator's list says its Khalidiya branch in Al Hisn is open 24 hours.
The Tavern is the British-style pub at Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort on Corniche Road, with live sport on screens and doors open until 03:00.
DrinkLager pulled fresh on draught
TipOpen every day from 12:00 to 03:00, with live sports channels on screen throughout.
Chaat Chaska sells vegetarian pani puri, dahi puri, samosas, jalebi and falooda near Madinat Zayed in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, with chaat items all under AED 12.
TryPani puri, dahi puri and samosa chaat
TipBest Bites puts a meal for two at AED 49, and the Madinat Zayed outlet is one of three branches, with Musaffah and Mushrif Mall.
Al Alamain Restaurant sells hot dog and liver sandwiches at AED 6 in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, a long-running street-food counter that opens at 05:00.
TryHot dog and liver sandwiches
TipFACT recommends the falafel sandwich here, and the room opens at 05:00, so it works as an early breakfast stop.
Tours By Emirati leads a two hour walk from the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi to the Khalidiya district, with seven tasting stops from manakeesh and shawarma to harees and kunafa.
Bait Al Gahwa at Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi shows Emirati Arabic coffee being roasted, ground, brewed and served with dates, in a demonstration open to all ages.
TipOne ticket covers Bait Al Gahwa, Qasr Al Hosn and the House of Artisans, and Visit Abu Dhabi lists entry as free for visitors under 18.
École Ducasse Abu Dhabi Studio lists an Authentic Emirati Cuisine class for up to 12 cooks; its sample dates ended 30 August 2026 and no classes showed on 2 October, so ask for a date.
Dragon Bao Bao cooks Northern Chinese dumplings, handmade noodles and a revolving hot pot at AED 39 on Electra Street in Abu Dhabi, open daily until late.
TryRevolving hot pot and dumplings
TipChoose a broth base, fillings and condiments for a personal hot pot; Yalla says the handmade noodles and baozi set it apart from stir-fry rooms.
Golden Spoon Indian Vegetarian serves family-run vegetarian curries with some Chinese twists in Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi, with mains at AED 17 to 28.
TryVegetable akbari, dahi bhalla and garlic naan
TipBest Bites says the manager's mother creates the dishes behind the scenes, and Mawaqif parking is available outside the door.
Nihal Restaurant serves Indian and Chinese dishes such as butter chicken and mutton biryani in a large room behind Lifeline Hospital in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi.
TryMutton biryani, butter chicken and Indian-Chinese mains
TipBest Bites rates the butter chicken and mutton biryani at AED 38 each; Experience Abu Dhabi notes a banquet hall upstairs for events.
Salam Bombay Vegetarian Restaurant serves Mumbai street dishes such as pav bhaji, paani puri and kachori chaat on Electra Street in Abu Dhabi from 07:00.
TryPav bhaji and paani puri
TipBest Bites says paani puri is served only from 16:00, so time a visit for the afternoon, and recommends finishing with masala chai.
Taste of Kerala serves Kerala breakfasts, fish molee and biryanis on Old Passport Road, Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, at about AED 45 for two, says Curly Tales.
TryKerala biryani and nadan curries
TipGulf News calls the portions generous and the prices gentle, and the same menu runs from idli and appam breakfasts to nadan lunches.
Chaat Chaska sells vegetarian chaat, samosas and falooda near Madinat Zayed in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, where Best Bites says AED 49 feeds two people.
TryPani puri, dahi puri and samosas
TipBest Bites says nothing on the chaat list tops AED 12 and the food comes out quickly, which makes it a fast, cheap lunch.
Al Alamain Restaurant sells hot dog and liver sandwiches at AED 6 in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, and keeps long hours, from 05:00 to 01:00 every day.
TryHot dog and liver sandwiches
TipWhat's On notes generous portions at very low prices; FACT adds the falafel sandwich to the order.
Al Alamain Restaurant in Al Danah, Abu Dhabi, serves sandwiches from the early morning until 01:00, and it stays open for a late hot dog or liver sandwich.
TryHot dog and liver sandwiches
TipThe room opens at 05:00 and closes at 01:00, so it serves both early breakfasts and late snacks.
Up & Below is the rooftop bar and restaurant of Courtyard by Marriott World Trade Center in Abu Dhabi, overlooking the hotel pool with hand-crafted cocktails.
TipThe rooftop overlooks the swimming pool with city and skyscraper views, and the menu is hand-crafted cocktails and small plates.
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