The inland districts along Muroor and Airport Roads: Emirati and Kuwaiti cooking at Al Mrzab, Khaleeji plates at Villa Mamas, Pakistani grills at Al Wahda Mall, sourdough at Knead and Arabic sweets.
Al Mrzab is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Emirati and Kuwaiti restaurant on Airport Road in Abu Dhabi, with majlis seating and photos of old Abu Dhabi on the walls.
OrderThe chicken machboos at about AED 61, then cooked-to-order khanfaroush drizzled with local honey.
TipIt runs on walk-ins and queues, and Michelin advises expecting a wait; seating splits between private cabins, majlis and regular tables.
Namak is a Michelin Selected Indian restaurant inside the Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, cooking regional dishes with a lamb focus and sharing platters.
OrderThe Kashmiri rogan josh or the kakori reshmi seekh, the two lamb dishes praised by the Michelin Guide.
TipNamak is closed on Monday and Tuesday; Wednesday to Friday it opens for dinner only at 19:00, while weekends start at 12:30.
Villa Mamas is a Michelin Selected Khaleeji restaurant in Abu Dhabi from Bahraini chef Roaya Saleh, serving chicken machbous and hummus with lamb cubes.
OrderThe chicken machbous and the hummus topped with lamb cubes that the Michelin Guide names.
TipVilla Mamas states that 20% of the restaurant's profits go to the Emirates Red Crescent.
Al Ibrahimi Restaurant serves Pakistani mutton kabab, lamb chops and curries at Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi; the chain was named an Urban Treasure in 2022.
OrderThe mutton kabab or the lamb chops, which Best Bites singles out as perfectly seasoned.
TipBest Bites says it beats most food-court offers at Al Wahda Mall; the Electra branch has outdoor seating for cooler weather.
Al Mrzab is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Emirati and Kuwaiti restaurant on Airport Road in Abu Dhabi, with majlis seating and photos of old Abu Dhabi on the walls.
OrderThe chicken machboos at about AED 61, then cooked-to-order khanfaroush drizzled with local honey.
TipIt runs on walk-ins and queues, and Michelin advises expecting a wait; seating splits between private cabins, majlis and regular tables.
Villa Mamas is a Michelin Selected Khaleeji restaurant in Abu Dhabi from Bahraini chef Roaya Saleh, serving chicken machbous and hummus with lamb cubes.
OrderThe chicken machbous and the hummus topped with lamb cubes that the Michelin Guide names.
TipVilla Mamas states that 20% of the restaurant's profits go to the Emirates Red Crescent.
DRVN Coffee on Saif Ghubash Street in Abu Dhabi serves in-house roasted coffee and Neapolitan pizza beside a display of rare classic cars every day.
DrinkIn-house roasted espresso
TipDRVN roasts its own beans, and each branch keeps an exhibition of classic cars on view.
Knead Bakery & Patisserie in Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi, bakes 48-hour sourdough, croissants and French-style pastry, with breakfast and lunch from 07:00.
Worth the queue48-hour sourdough
TipYalla reports naturally leavened loaves with no enzymes, preservatives or enhancers, and a daily bread menu that rotates with the seasons.
Qwaider Al Nabulsi in Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi, sells Arabic sweets including baklava, qatayef and mamoul with nuts, open daily from 09:00 until midnight.
Worth the queueQatayef with cheese or nuts
TipProperty Finder lists pistachio Turkish fingers and qatayef with cheese or nuts among the best sellers at this Al Ramlah Street shop.
Bloomsbury's Boutique Cafe & Artisan Bakery in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi, is a brand begun in 2011 as a cupcake shop; it serves cakes, brunch and coffee.
Worth the queueCupcakes
TipThe brand's site says the first shop opened in Al Wahda Mall in 2011; this branch is on level 2 of the mall.
DRVN Coffee on Saif Ghubash Street in Abu Dhabi roasts its beans in a small-batch Giesen roaster and sells bags of beans from Ethiopia and Colombia.
BeansEthiopia, Colombia
BrewsEspresso, Whole bean retail
TipThe roast is done in-house, and the same room holds a display of rare classic cars and a Neapolitan pizza menu.
Cooper's Gastrobar is the gastropub at Park Rotana in Abu Dhabi, with a pet-friendly terrace, big-screen sport, live entertainment and a hotel brunch.
FoodPub food and a hotel brunch
TipCooper's was Highly Commended for Favourite Pub Grub and Favourite Hotel Brunch at the What's On Awards Abu Dhabi 2026, per its own site.
Park Market at Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi runs on Friday and Saturday evenings each season, with local businesses selling food, produce and other goods.
TipThe 2026-27 season opens on 23 October. The park charges entry (AED 10 for adults in the 2025 season); browsing the market stalls is free.
Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi runs Thai cooking classes at its restaurant Benjarong on Mondays to Wednesdays from 10:00 to 12:00, for AED 195 a head with lunch after the class.
Porters English Pub at Grand Millennium Al Wahda in Abu Dhabi shows live sport on big screens with British and Tex-Mex pub food, and stays open until 04:00.
TipIt opens at 12:00 from Friday to Sunday and at 15:00 from Monday to Thursday, closing at 04:00 every night.
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