40 editor picks in Abu Dhabi.
40 mid-range places in Abu Dhabi, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Abu Dhabi, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Abu Dhabi food.
Knead Bakery & Patisserie in Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi, bakes 48-hour sourdough, croissants and French-style pastry, with breakfast and lunch from 07:00.
TipYalla reports naturally leavened loaves with no enzymes, preservatives or enhancers, and a daily bread menu that rotates with the seasons.
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.
TipThe brand began at NYU Abu Dhabi and first roasted at Mina Zayed; its site also sells capsules, drip bags and SCA courses.
Bua Thai Cafe is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Thai room at Yas Bay Waterfront in Abu Dhabi, with steamed hagao, chicken green curry and mango sticky rice.
OrderSteamed hagao and the chicken green curry, then mango sticky rice, the dishes the Michelin Guide names.
TipMichelin suggests taking a terrace seat in cooler months and booking ahead, especially at weekends; the cafe opens from 12:00.
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.
TipFounder Nooran Albannay serves gahwa to anyone who walks in, as a symbol of welcome, and recommends the manual iced Chemex.
Things Specialty Coffee and Concept Store in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, roasts its beans on site in a shop that pairs the coffee bar with vinyl and jazz.
TipRun by Emirati barista Sulaiman Khamis Alalawi, the shop is part boutique and part cultural hub, with jazz playing over the speakers.
ryba is a Michelin Bib Gourmand seafood restaurant at Zayed Port in Al Mina, Abu Dhabi, from chef Faisal Alharmoodi, grilling local catch over charcoal.
OrderCharcoal-grilled local hammour, then the chocolate pâte à choux Michelin names as the signature dessert.
TipA Sunday set menu is AED 350 for two, according to tbreak's 2026 price check, and the restaurant is a short walk from the Zayed Port fish market.
3Fils Abu Dhabi is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Japanese restaurant at the EDITION marina in Al Bateen, sister to the Dubai original, and takes walk-ins only.
OrderThe chargrilled baby chicken, prawns and sashimi from the open kitchen, then the Take Me To The Moon dessert.
TipAbu Dhabi takes walk-ins only; on weekdays from 12:00 to 18:00 it serves four set menus from AED 90.
Mika is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Mediterranean restaurant at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, led by chef-patron Mario Loi, with in-house breads and a terrace.
OrderThe house-cured salmon and Nonna's tiramisu, two things the Michelin Guide highlights from the kitchen.
TipThe weekday business lunch runs 12:00 to 15:00: two courses AED 95 or three AED 125; Sunday lunch is a four-course set at AED 190.
Rempah Indonesian Restaurant Khalifa City serves bebek goreng surabaya, nasi goreng with satay and ikan pecak betawi in Abu Dhabi, with a branch menu.
OrderBebek goreng surabaya, the crisp herb-marinated duck The National picks, or the nasi goreng special.
TipThe two branches do not share menus, so the Khalifa City dishes named here may not appear on the Airport Road list.
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.
TipThe treats cabinet holds classic viennoiserie, pains suisse and cardamom buns, and the flower counter shares the room.
Things Specialty Coffee and Concept Store in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, is run by Emirati barista Sulaiman Khamis Alalawi, with beans roasted on site.
TipThe National's reporter orders the piccolo here, and the shop doubles as a boutique with vinyl records and jazz on the speakers.
Cartel Coffee Roasters serves coffee roasted fresh in small batches in Abu Dhabi at its Al Qana cafe, which opens at 06:30 and closes at 23:45 every day.
TipThe brand lists bags from Mexico, Colombia, Kenya and Yemen on its site, and the Al Qana cafe opens at 06:30 daily.
Tazal is a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant at Al Qana in Abu Dhabi, mixing European influences with Arabic touches, plus Gulf and Levant breakfasts.
OrderThe Iranian kabab, bang bang shrimps and kaak Al Quds that the Michelin Guide names as originals.
TipDining service starts at noon; before that the kitchen serves Gulf, Egyptian and Levant breakfast menus, and Michelin praises its weekend breakfast.
Almayass is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Lebanese and Armenian restaurant at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, with big portions and circular booths.
OrderAn Itch salad to start, then meshwi shekaf, the grilled veal with spiced bread, per the Michelin Guide.
TipPortions are made for sharing, and Michelin calls the circular booths the prized seats in the large Galleria dining room.
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.
Asyak Grill cooks Persian charcoal grills at Zayed Port in Al Mina, Abu Dhabi, with koobideh, hamour barg and mixed grill platters made for sharing.
OrderKoobideh or the marinated hamour barg, the two dishes the restaurant names on its own site.
TipWhat's On describes super-sized grills designed to share, so one mixed grill platter suits a table of friends.
Anko Japanese Patisserie sits above teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi in the Saadiyat Cultural District, serving wagashi, yogashi and pan with specialty coffee.
TipWhat's On suggests visiting around sunset for golden-hour views of the water and the Abu Dhabi skyline from the terrace.
Joud Coffee runs a cafe at Al Raha Gardens Plaza in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, serving specialty coffee with breakfast, sandwiches and light meals daily.
TipJoud roasts its beans in small batches at its own facility in Abu Dhabi, and the Gardens Plaza menu runs from breakfast to light meals.
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.
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.
Auro Coffee in Souq Al Mina, Abu Dhabi, roasts beans sourced from its own Ethiopian farms and serves them in a Mina Zayed cafe open until midnight.
TipThe team will talk you through the blends, and bags of beans can be bought to take home from the Souq Al Mina cafe.
Otoro is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Japanese restaurant at Al Qana in Abu Dhabi with an open kitchen, serving fish and wagyu from several Japanese prefectures.
OrderThe otoro nigiri, then the yellowtail with green chili and leche de tigre, as the Michelin Guide suggests.
TipConsultant chef Akmal Anuar of 11 Woodfire in Dubai oversees the menu; the Michelin Guide lists it among Abu Dhabi budget-friendly picks.
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.
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.
Yann Couvreur Patisserie opened a second Abu Dhabi shop at Yas Mall in July 2026, selling Parisian-style pastries, viennoiserie and chocolates every day.
TipThe first Abu Dhabi shop is at The Galleria Al Maryah Island, which the brand's own site lists at Level L1, ADGM Square.
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.
TipDRVN roasts its own beans, and each branch keeps an exhibition of classic cars on view.
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.
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.
The QC Roastery & Academy in Al Raha, Abu Dhabi, roasts small batches, sells whole beans and runs barista and roasting courses, open Sunday to Friday.
TipBesides beans, Daymark says the roastery runs barista and roasting courses and serves tasting flights and experimental pours.
Dubai Special Kabab Grills has served kebabs in Abu Dhabi since 1987 and trades near the Ministry of Finance on Al Falah Street, an Urban Treasure.
OrderTikka bil roub, saffron chicken, kebabs and the sultani kebab that Khaleej Times names.
TipKhaleej Times says the yoghurt-based tikka bil roub recipes have stayed unchanged for generations, and some diners drive four hours from Liwa for it.
Byblos Sur Mer is a Michelin Selected Lebanese restaurant at the InterContinental Abu Dhabi, with a marina terrace, mezze, grills and live music on weekends.
OrderThe machawi mchakaleh from the grill section, which the Michelin Guide recommends to lamb lovers.
TipLive music and entertainment run on Friday and Saturday evenings, and the terrace overlooks the marina, according to the Michelin Guide.
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.
Berenjak is a London-born Persian kebab house that opened in 2026 in The House villa in Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, cooking over a mangal across two floors.
OrderThe koobideh kabab, with kashk-e bademjoon and black chickpea hummus, the signatures FACT lists.
TipBerenjak is set in a standalone villa across two floors, with a four-seat chef's table beside the open kitchen and mangal.
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.
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.
Pincode by Kunal Kapur is a Michelin Selected Indian restaurant at The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, serving upmarket street food from across India.
OrderThe Amritsari fried fish and the dates and olive malai paneer tikka, two dishes FACT magazine names.
TipMichelin suggests asking for one of the semi-private booths; the room is dressed in rich fabrics and sepia and black and white panelled walls.
Fonda Colombiana serves empanadas, arepa de choclo and patacones con carne desmechada from a colourful villa on Al Mihtham Street in Al Manhal, Abu Dhabi.
OrderEmpanadas, arepa de choclo with cheese and patacones con carne desmechada, as Best Bites advises.
TipSeating runs from inside with air conditioning to outside among hammocks, and the restaurant takes reservations on WhatsApp.
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.
Berenjak is a London-born Persian kebab house that opened in 2026 in The House villa in Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, cooking over a mangal across two floors.
OrderThe koobideh kabab, with kashk-e bademjoon and black chickpea hummus, the signatures FACT lists.
TipBerenjak is set in a standalone villa across two floors, with a four-seat chef's table beside the open kitchen and mangal.
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.
Stead Bakery in Al Raha, Abu Dhabi, opened in summer 2025 with an open kitchen, naturally fermented sourdough, croissants and cardamom karak.
TipHuntr says the sourdough sells out before closing, and the open kitchen lets you watch croissants being shaped.
Super Classic Cafe at Marsa Al Bateen in Abu Dhabi is a speciality bakery serving sourdough croissants, danishes and babka alongside pour-over coffee.
TipHuntr places the cafe in an Al Bateen park beside 3 Fils, and says the pastries are baked on site in a space of about 30 square metres.
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