Where can I eat traditional Emirati food in Abu Dhabi?

Al Mrzab on Hamdan Street is the most accessible option - full Emirati dishes at moderate prices. The Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental and some Saadiyat Island restaurants also serve Emirati specialities, albeit at luxury prices.

What is the dining scene like compared to Dubai?

Abu Dhabi has excellent restaurants but fewer of the celeb-chef big names than Dubai. The quality is high, queues are shorter, and the atmosphere is generally more relaxed. Several hotel restaurants on Saadiyat and the Corniche are outstanding.

Is alcohol available in restaurants in Abu Dhabi?

In licensed venues - primarily hotels and some standalone restaurants in designated areas. The rules are the same as Dubai: alcohol is available in licensed venues but not in regular restaurants or shops.

Abu Dhabi Restaurants | The UAE Guides

Abu Dhabi’s restaurant scene is quieter than Dubai’s but should not be underestimated. The city has a high concentration of excellent hotel restaurants, a strong Lebanese and Iranian dining tradition from longtime resident communities, and some genuinely outstanding Emirati-focused options. Below we cover the range by price and neighbourhood.

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Budget and Casual (AED 20–70/person)

Hamdan Street (Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Street): The old commercial street in central Abu Dhabi is lined with affordable Iranian, Pakistani, and Lebanese restaurants. No names dominate - explore and look for busy places with handwritten specials.

Al Mrzab Restaurant, Hamdan Street: One of the few restaurants in Abu Dhabi specifically serving traditional Emirati food at approachable prices. Harees, machboos, and the daily fish special run AED 30–60 per person. Open for lunch and dinner.

Lebanese Flower, various locations: A long-established Lebanese chain with very good mezze and grills. Lunch combo menus are particularly good value - around AED 40–50 per person.

Sajway Restaurants: Emirati-owned quick-service chain serving saj flatbread wraps with various fillings. Good for a quick lunch, approximately AED 20–35.

Mid-Range (AED 80–200/person)

Li Beirut, Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche: Lebanese mezze and grills in a stylish setting. Excellent for a long mezze lunch - the fattoush, kebbeh, and grilled prawns are all good. Around AED 100–160 per person including soft drinks.

Marco Pierre White Steakhouse and Grill, Abu Dhabi Edition: A reliable British-style steakhouse concept with good cuts and classic sides. Around AED 180–250 per person for a full meal.

Crust at the Four Seasons Al Maryah Island: A modern Italian-influenced restaurant with excellent pasta and decent wine list. Around AED 150–200 per person.

Meylas: Contemporary Emirati restaurant in the Al Seef area. One of the most thoughtful takes on Gulf cuisine in the emirate - ingredients are locally sourced where possible. Around AED 120–180 per person.

Fine Dining (AED 250+/person)

Talea by Antonio Guida, Four Seasons Al Maryah Island: The Italian chef’s Abu Dhabi outpost. Refined pasta, seafood, and Italian classics in an elegant room overlooking Al Maryah Island. Around AED 400–500 per person with wine.

Hakkasan Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace: The Cantonese fine dining restaurant inside the Emirates Palace setting. Excellent dim sum and Peking duck. Around AED 350–500 per person.

Nahaam, St. Regis Saadiyat Island: Arguably the best restaurant in Abu Dhabi for Emirati cuisine - locally sourced fish and seafood, heritage grains, and Gulf spices reinterpreted for fine dining. Approximately AED 300–450 per person. Reservations recommended.

Azura Panoramic Lounge, Intercontinental Abu Dhabi: Sunset cocktails and light bites on the 33rd floor with panoramic Corniche and Gulf views. A worthwhile splurge for a sunset drink - cocktails from approximately AED 60.

Brunch Culture

Abu Dhabi has its own Friday brunch culture, though it is slightly more restrained than Dubai’s.

Turquoiz at the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri: Beach-view Friday brunch with seafood and Arabic stations. Approximately AED 350–450 per person with beverages.

Riviera at the Rosewood: Overlooking the canal with an extensive buffet and live stations. Around AED 300–400 with drinks.

Neighbourhood Eating Districts

Abu Dhabi has a few distinct eating areas worth knowing before you set out.

Hamdan Street (Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Street): The old commercial core of central Abu Dhabi. Iranian, Pakistani, and Lebanese restaurants have been feeding the city’s long-resident communities here for decades. No single name dominates — wander, look for busy tables and handwritten specials boards, and you will eat well for AED 40–70 per person.

Electra Street: Running parallel to Hamdan, Electra Street has a mix of cafeterias, Filipino-run rice-and-protein spots (AED 15–25), and reliable Lebanese quick lunches. More casual and useful when time is short.

Khalidiyah district: West of the Corniche, this residential neighbourhood has a cluster of Lebanese and Levantine restaurants with lower rents — and often lower prices — than the hotel strip. Good for a quieter, more local dinner without tourist-district pricing.

Mina Port area (Fish Market): Near the wholesale fish market, several grills and cafeterias serve the morning’s catch grilled to order, approximately AED 60–80 per person. Go before 1pm for the freshest selection.

Saadiyat Island: More spread out and higher-end. Worth the taxi for a special occasion meal or a Friday brunch at one of the beach resort hotels near the Louvre.

Key Emirati Dishes to Order

Harees: Slow-cooked wheat and lamb (or chicken), porridge-like in consistency, seasoned with cinnamon and ghee. Common during Ramadan but available year-round at dedicated Emirati restaurants.

Machboos: Spiced rice cooked in the meat’s stock, served with lamb, chicken, or seafood and a side of fresh salad and yoghurt.

Luqaimat: Small fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup or honey. A popular street snack or dessert.

Balaleet: Sweet vermicelli noodles with saffron and rose water, often paired with a fried egg. A common Emirati breakfast dish.

Rigag: Thin, crispy flatbread cooked on a hot griddle, eaten with cheese and eggs at breakfast or alongside main courses.

Al Mrzab on Hamdan Street serves most of these at everyday prices (AED 30–60 per person). Meylas and Nahaam are better for elevated interpretations.

Practical Tips

Tipping: Not compulsory, but 10–15% is appreciated in hotel restaurants where service charges are not always automatically applied. Check the bill — many hotel venues include a 10% service charge. In casual cafeterias, rounding up or leaving AED 5–10 is common.

Halal and pork: All restaurants in Abu Dhabi serve halal food. Pork appears only in licensed hotel restaurants and is marked on menus separately. It is never served in street-level or mall eateries.

Alcohol: Available only in licensed hotel restaurants and a small number of approved standalone venues. Wine and cocktails in hotel restaurants typically start at AED 55–75. Street-level and mall restaurants do not serve alcohol.

Ramadan dining: Restaurants remain open during Ramadan but many close curtains or screen off dining sections. Eating and drinking in public during daylight hours is not permitted — stay inside licensed venues. Most hotel restaurants offer Iftar (fast-breaking) buffets at sunset, typically AED 180–300 per person, with good spreads of Emirati and Levantine food. Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) dining in tented or rooftop settings is also common.

For a broader overview of the city, read our Abu Dhabi travel guide.

GetYourGuide lists food tours and cooking classes in Abu Dhabi - a guided tour of the souk and spice markets is a good orientation before eating independently.

Best Restaurants in Abu Dhabi

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