Must-see restaurants in Abu Dhabi

California meets Afghanistan at this cafe charmer where almond butter and chia pancakes are offered alongside borani banjon (oven-baked aubergines with…

A fine-dining Levantine feast awaits. Scoop up Lebanese mezze classics of moutabel (purée of aubergine mixed with tahini, yoghurt and olive oil) and…

This budget canteen will exceed your expectations every chance it gets. This is Middle Eastern flavours Syrian-style, with some of Abu Dhabi's best hummus…

The contemporary Peruvian cuisine with its flavour-fusion of Latin American and Asian is a tastebud sensation. Dig into the menu of sharing plates…

All cosy alcoves surrounding an open kitchen, Dai Pai Dong's award-winning Chinese is where Asian foodies chase Cantonese roasted duck, spicy braised…

Housed in a three-floor villa, this cafe is run by a Lebanese arts enthusiast, Aida Mansour. Vast breakfast choices from avocado toast to shakshuka …

Amid a cluster of Middle Eastern snack and grill outlets, a short walk from the Qasr Al Hosn, the Lebanese Flower is a local legend, attracting a…

Romantic and elegant, this place hums with appreciation for the complex cuisine of India, brought to the United Arab Emirates by a large expat community…

Meaning 'old door lock', Mezlai delivers a rare chance to enjoy traditional Emirati cuisine in an upmarket and airy Bedouin-tent-inspired atmosphere. The…

Open for breakfast on weekends and lunch and dinner otherwise, this restaurant, with its emphasis on sunny Mediterranean flavours (think slow-cooked…

You can't beat the beachy atmosphere of this restaurant, surrounded by narrow water-feature canals and looking out towards the sand. The pan-Asian…

This restaurant-bar with its terrace opening out onto the reed-covered coastal dunes is one of the most pumping places on Yas Island. Order up a pumpkin…

Asia's multi-layered, spice-tinged flavours are presented amid a red-toned dining room replete with gorgeous Thai textile detailing. Malaysian, Thai and…

How good is this 1920s Chicago–inspired steakhouse at Four Seasons Abu Dhabi? We don't have enough space to tell you. American chef Marshall Roth sources…

Book ahead for a table at this trendy pan-Latin restaurant-bar, an anchor of the dining and nightlife tower inside the World Trade Center Mall known as…

Despite the mall location this is a classy, dim-lit joint that takes the flavours of the subcontinent and adds contemporary tweaks. Get stuck into masala…

The summit of Japanese cuisine in Abu Dhabi. Book ahead to enjoy the superb sushi and sashimi, the signature miso-marinated black cod or a hunk of meat…

Named after the degree of 'lean' in Abu Dhabi's famous Capital Gate skyscraper, in which it's situated, this restaurant takes inspiration from the cookery…

Clear your calendar on Friday. The Four Seasons' breakfast spot is one of Abu Dhabi's most social, indulgent Friday brunch extravaganzas. The brunch…

The United Arab Emirates is made up of a mere 10% Emiratis, and we'll be damned if you don't find nearly all of them sipping tea and savouring the…