Where to Eat & Drink

A 1:1 replica of the legendary Parisian brasserie, designed by Jean Nouvel as part of the museum complex. Wagyu beef tartare, Crêpes Suzette, and a wine list that takes French classics very seriously. Book at least 48 hours ahead for dinner — the terrace tables overlooking the dome are the most sought-after seats on the island.

Set among floating pavilions — the restaurant appears to sit on the hotel's pools. Southeast Asian cuisine with elevated Thai and Vietnamese cooking. The sunset hour here is one of the most romantic settings on the island: the light off the water turns everything gold.

The global Buddha-Bar brand transplanted directly onto the beach. Pacific Rim fusion, serious sushi, and a resident DJ playing what the brand calls 'electro-ethnic' music. Polarising to some, but for a high-energy evening on the sand it is unmatched. Dress well.

The only Michelin Guide-listed restaurant on Saadiyat Island. Argentinian cooking with Lebanese technique — a combination that sounds improbable but works with real conviction. The open wood-fired asado grill is the centrepiece: prime cuts and smoky seafood, charred to order. Book in advance; Thursday and Friday evenings fill quickly.

The best Japanese restaurant on the island. A contemporary boutique space — minimal, considered, and focused. The sushi and robata grill menu is built around quality of ingredient rather than variety of option. The kind of restaurant that rewards repeat visits.

Vibrant, colourful Lebanese dining with a Michelin Bib Gourmand. The mezze spreads here are enormous — arrive with an appetite and a group. The location on the promenade gives it a beachfront energy that lifts everything. Very good value by Saadiyat standards.

An Italian trattoria with a very specific obsession: 'Pizza al Taglio' made with 72-hour fermented dough. Lively, unpretentious, and genuinely excellent pizza. Feels like a slice of Rome transported to an Arabian beach promenade — which is exactly what it is.

A French-Mediterranean restaurant where melting raclette cheese is the centrepiece of half the dishes on the menu. Jungle-luxe interior design, views of Soul Beach, and a wine list that leans heavily French. The kind of dinner that turns into a long evening.

A Jamaican restaurant and lounge that brings serious Caribbean energy to Saadiyat. Jerk chicken, oxtail sandwiches, and cocktails that are unambiguously tropical. The mood is high and the music is loud — ideal if you want the evening to feel like a party.

A precision-brewing coffee boutique for people who think carefully about their coffee. The menu is deliberately short — the focus is method and bean origin. Minimal, architectural interior. Excellent for remote work in the morning before the promenade fills up.

The health-conscious option: cauliflower-crust pizzas, nourish bowls, turmeric lattes, and a general philosophy of making food that feels good rather than guilty. Bright, eco-friendly space. Popular with residents for a mid-week working lunch.

A casual beachside café on the sand. Acai bowls, pancakes, and hearty sandwiches — the menu covers all bases for a post-swim brunch. Trendy but unpretentious. The location is the main draw: your feet in the sand, coffee in hand.

Inside the NYU Abu Dhabi campus on the Cultural District waterfront. Locally roasted beans, excellent filter coffee, and the atmosphere of a working university campus. Used heavily by students and island residents — a more authentic, less resort-facing experience.

An industrial-style pub with craft beers, genuinely good burgers, and live sports on large screens. The closest thing to a proper British pub on the island. Lively on weekends — arrive early for the good seats during major fixtures.

A dedicated sports bar with massive screens, pool tables, and a weekend roast that draws hotel guests and residents alike. The broadcast setup is serious — every major sport, every major match.

A barefoot-luxury rooftop bar with panoramic ocean views. The best sundowner spot on the island if you want calm and sophistication rather than a DJ set. Arrive 20 minutes before sunset and stay through the first hour of dark — the light progression is exceptional.

A sleek rooftop terrace on top of the museum with cocktails, light bites, and the Abu Dhabi skyline as a backdrop. Feels genuinely civilised — the museum setting adds a layer of calm that pure resort bars rarely have. Book ahead for the after-dark sessions.

The flagship Saadiyat brunch experience. A massive sustainable Saturday spread with live cooking stations from multiple world cuisines. Very family-friendly with dedicated kids' activities running alongside the adult experience. The white design of the restaurant photographs beautifully; the food backs it up.

Home to 'The Market Brunch' — an award-winning Friday spread that feels like a high-end food festival. Lebanese and French influences from Chef Elias. Consistently rated the best-value brunch on the island for food quality.

The St. Regis flagship restaurant does a Mediterranean-influenced buffet with a beautiful outdoor terrace. Ideal for a long, unhurried family breakfast or lunch. The outdoor setting and butler service standard make it the most elegant brunch on the island.

A quirky, colourful café that earns its reputation with children: rainbow lattes, a playful menu, and an atmosphere designed to delight rather than sedate. The adults are catered for too, but this is genuinely one of the few Saadiyat dining spots where children are the primary consideration.