The Cultural District around the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Mamsha Al Saadiyat beachfront: museum cafes, Lebanese beach dining, Italian pizza al taglio and specialty coffee near NYU Abu Dhabi.
Taparelle is a Michelin Selected restaurant in Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, marrying French and Italian cooking in a room with locally sourced pottery.
OrderThe scallop Grenobloise, the oxtail ragu or the crispy charred sea bass named by the Michelin Guide.
TipFully licensed, it opens at 07:30 and closes at 23:00, or midnight on Friday and Saturday; Michelin says its Saturday brunches are a must.
Beirut Sur Mer is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Lebanese restaurant on Soul Beach, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, with an open kitchen, mezze and a beachfront terrace.
OrderMezze and mashawi from the open kitchen, then a dessert, which Michelin says are good too.
TipMichelin notes generous portions and reasonable prices, and calls it an ideal stop after visiting the nearby Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Antonia is a Michelin Selected Italian pizzeria on Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, baking pizza al taglio on an old sourdough starter and serving pasta.
OrderThe sourdough pizza al taglio, then the tiramisu the Michelin Guide calls a top choice for dessert.
TipPizza is sold by the slice from rectangular trays, and the dough ferments for 72 hours on a sourdough starter that the operator dates to 1972.
Fouquet's Abu Dhabi is a Michelin Selected French brasserie inside the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, with a menu shaped with chef Pierre Gagnaire.
OrderThe glazed duck breast and, to finish, crêpes Suzette, both named by the Michelin Guide.
TipA Tuesday to Friday business lunch runs 12:00 to 16:00: two courses AED 165, three courses AED 200; afternoon tea is served 15:00 to 18:00.
Maté is a Michelin Selected Argentinian grill at Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, cooking on a brick grill and charcoal with a touch of Lebanon.
OrderPrawns or beef from the brick grill and charcoal embers, the cooking the Michelin Guide describes.
TipThe lounge opens daily at 17:00 and dinner service starts at 18:30; the Michelin Guide suggests sitting at the counter to watch the grill.
Blue is a casual fine-dining restaurant on Mamsha Beach, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, led by head chef Noah Muscat, formerly of FZN at Atlantis The Royal.
OrderThe beef tartare with fava beans from Mina Market, the grilled wagyu flank and the plum tart.
TipChoose the garden facing the sea or the counter by the kitchen, where chefs cook over open fire; kitchen hours are listed per day.
Taparelle is a Michelin Selected restaurant in Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, marrying French and Italian cooking in a room with locally sourced pottery.
OrderThe scallop Grenobloise, the oxtail ragu or the crispy charred sea bass named by the Michelin Guide.
TipFully licensed, it opens at 07:30 and closes at 23:00, or midnight on Friday and Saturday; Michelin says its Saturday brunches are a must.
Mysk is a cafe and flower shop near NYU Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a cabinet of viennoiserie and cardamom buns.
DrinkOat flat white
TipThe treats cabinet holds classic viennoiserie, pains suisse and cardamom buns, and the flower counter shares the room.
Society serves pan-European comfort food with a focus on breakfast and brunch at Soul Beach on Mamsha Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, open every day of the week.
DrinkMatcha latte
TipBreakfast runs from sweet to savoury, with pancakes, French toast and acai bowls on one side and eggs benedict and Turkish eggs on the other.
Coffee Architecture is an Emirati-owned specialty cafe on Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, brewing espresso, V60 and Chemex; its founder has run it since 2018.
DrinkManual iced Chemex
TipFounder Nooran Albannay serves gahwa to anyone who walks in, as a symbol of welcome, and recommends the manual iced Chemex.
Aptitude Cafe sits in the park at Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, serving breakfast, salads, sandwiches and mains daily from 09:00 to 22:00.
DrinkSpecialty coffee
TipWhat's On says the cafe hosts Picnic in the Park, workshops, dinner events and themed nights alongside its daily menu.
Blacksmith Coffee Company serves espresso and filter coffee from its in-house roasting at its NYU Abu Dhabi shop on Saadiyat Island, open 07:00 to 22:00.
DrinkFilter coffee
TipThe company began at NYU Abu Dhabi and set up its first roastery at Mina Zayed; its Souq Al Mina shop is the other Abu Dhabi site.
TEN11 Beach on Mamsha Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi serves acai bowls, breakfast dishes, pizzas and sandwiches with a focus on coffee, open to 01:00 from Friday.
DrinkRose and saffron latte blends to take home
TipVisit Abu Dhabi lists beans from Ethiopia to Brazil and pre-packed rose or saffron latte blends to take away from this promenade cafe.
Cafe des Artistes sits inside the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, serving V60 coffee, matcha and cakes every day.
DrinkV60 coffee
TipThe cafe is open to foundation visitors and walk-ins alike; Yalla points to the mango matcha and the pistachio latte.
Alkalime is a healthy restocafe on Mamsha Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi serving organic, mainly vegan and vegetarian dishes, with a workspace and Wi-Fi on site.
DrinkHouse-made nut milk
TipYalla says everything from the nut milks to the vegan cheese is made in-house from scratch, and the boho-chic room has hammocks and trailing vines.
Anko Japanese Patisserie sits above teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi in the Saadiyat Cultural District, serving wagashi, yogashi and pan with specialty coffee.
Worth the queueWagashi
TipWhat's On suggests visiting around sunset for golden-hour views of the water and the Abu Dhabi skyline from the terrace.
Blacksmith Coffee Company roasts every batch in-house and pours it at its NYU Abu Dhabi shop on Saadiyat Island, using beans such as Ethiopia Guji.
BeansEthiopia, Brazil
BrewsEspresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
TipThe brand began at NYU Abu Dhabi and first roasted at Mina Zayed; its site also sells capsules, drip bags and SCA courses.
Hamilton's Gastropub is the pub at Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, serving burgers, ribs and sharing plates with a terrace.
FoodBritish and American pub food: burgers, ribs and sharing plates
TipChef Ilya's approach centres on fermentation, and the outdoor terrace suits relaxed evenings under the stars.
The Manhattan Lounge is the lobby-level bar at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi, with an indoor bar and a terrace, open daily 16:00 to 00:00.
TipChoose between the indoor bar and the outside terrace; both look out over Saadiyat Island.
Art Lounge is an outdoor rooftop bar at the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum on Saadiyat Island, with skyline views, drinks and light bites, open Tuesday to Sunday.
DrinkA selection of beverages with light bites
TipBarrière Group operates the lounge, which stays open after 18:30 according to Visit Abu Dhabi; Maps and Visit Abu Dhabi both list it closed on Mondays.
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