These are the top restaurants in Abu Dhabi that delivered flavour, feeling and serious appetite in 2025
Some meals fill your stomach. Others feel like they’re flirting with you. Abu Dhabi served plenty of both this year, and the ones that stayed with me were the meals that made me close my eyes for an extra second. The ones that made me sigh without meaning to. The ones that felt like the chef was sending me a secret message through the plate. These were the top restaurants in Abu Dhabi that owned 2025.
25 Minutes to Tulum
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This is not a competition, but if it were, this gem wins. It’s one of the best things to happen to Abu Dhabi. Hudayriyat Island already knows how to set a scene, but 25 Minutes to Tulum turns the dial all the way up. Horses drift through the water as if they’re extras in your personal movie, and the sea breeze does its best impression of a soft fan. The tacos taste like someone’s abuela handed over her secrets with a wink. The Trio of Salsas arrives with crisp tortillas that practically beg you to scoop fast. Each salsa lands differently, from a cheeky little burn to a bright tang that wakes you right up. Then they send out the Watermelon Salad with ricotta, mint, tajin and chamoy, and suddenly you’re questioning every salad you’ve ever loved. Sweet, fragrant, salty, sharp. The Tulum Burger is a glorious tower of chipotle, cheese, caramelised onions and Toreados, with fries that disappear faster than you planned. If you still have space, the churros come out warm, soft inside, dusted in cinnamon sugar and dragged through dulce de leche like they’re writing poetry.
But the real troublemaker is the El Cabron Spicy Margarita. Tequila, triple sec, lime and enough chilli to make you sit up straight. It’s the sort of place where time slows down and life feels simple again.
Location: Bab Al Nojoum, Hudayriyat Islan, Abu Dhabi
Time: 9am to 1am
Contact: (02) 691 0208
Le Petite Maison
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LPM was my introduction to Abu Dhabi dining and it set the bar unfairly high. At The Galleria, it sits with the poise of someone who knows all the answers but won’t spoil the story. LPM tastes like the South of France if your grandmother teamed up with a chef who trained under the stars of Paris. Elegant, effortless, comforting, stylish. Everything feels familiar but elevated. The Burrata with black truffle is a gentle knockout. Creamy, earthy, indulgent and absolutely not for sharing. Then comes the beef tartare with smoked bone marrow mayonnaise, a dish so rich it should come with a small warning and maybe a fan. It’s love at first bite. The Burgundy snails are the rite of passage. Garlicky, tender and soaked in parsley butter that you will dream about days later. The sides are no afterthought either. The dauphinois gratin is creamy and bold, while the broccolini refuses to behave like a supporting act. For mains, the grilled Wagyu sirloin is a celebration on a plate. The Vivienne lamb cutlets are perfectly pink, finished with olive, eggplant caviar and pine nuts. Dessert returns for the encore. The vanilla is still the one I measure all others against. It lives up to its reputation as the UAE’s best. Light and silky with a berry compote that makes each bite sing. It remains unforgettable. The hot chocolate mousse is smooth and warm, like a love note written in chocolate.
Location: The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Time: 12pm to 1am
Contact: (02) 692 9600
West Bay Lounge
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There is something quietly powerful about West Bay Lounge. The view stretches out like it’s trying to calm your nervous system. West Bay Lounge reminds you why beachfront dining will always win. The chef tells stories with the kind of passion that makes you want to take notes. The cocktails glide across the table with a touch of drama, but the food steals the spotlight. The gambas al ajillo is the dish you write home about. Prawns cooked in porcini, button mushrooms and a punchy Mexican chilli sauce that clings to every bite. It carries heat, depth and a little swagger. The grilled tiger prawns arrive with mash so buttery it could start an argument. If you need something cool and clean, the sushi platter balances the richness with fresh, neat bites. Dessert comes in swinging with the West Bay Cioccolato. A chocolate fudge cake layered with vanilla ice cream and drowned in hot chocolate sauce. It feels like misbehaving in the best way. The Placebo mocktail, with coconut, orange, pineapple, cinnamon and lime, tastes like sunshine trying to cheer you up. Every sip matches the mood of the sea just a few steps away.
Location: Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche Road,
Time: 12pm to 1am
Contact: (02) 692 4375
Market at Edition
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Breakfast at the Market feels like your morning is being reset by someone who genuinely wants the best for you. The terrace leans over the marina, all pale light and calm water. Fresh juices that taste like they were made by someone who wants good things for you. Eggs done exactly the way you like them. Pastries that test your self control. The homemade granola with Greek yogurt hits all the right notes, crunchy, fresh and lightly sweet. The guacamole with poached eggs and toast feels like a hug on a plate. The halloumi brings the salt and the bite. If you need a sharper kick, the hibiscus basil kombucha and ginger, turmeric and orange shot will jolt you awake in seconds. It’s breakfast as therapy. There’s a quiet confidence in the simplicity of the menu, as if the restaurant knows that the best mornings don’t need fuss, just good ingredients and a beautiful view.
Location: The Abu Dhabi Edition, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi
Time: 6:30am to 5pm
Contact: (02) 208 0000
Sand & Koal
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If romance had a physical address, this might be it. Emirates Beach glows like it’s been hand painted. At Sand and Koal the waves hum behind you, the sand warms your feet and the teal ocean glows as the day shifts. The atmosphere alone could seduce you, but then the food arrives and suddenly you’re making promises. The energy shifts too, from sunshine calm to DJ-soaked buzz, with crudos and cocktails swirling across the deck. Everything on the plate feels intentional. Flavours layered with care, textures that play well together, dishes that land with a soft flourish. It’s the kind of place where conversation stretches long into the night and where you could easily fall in love with someone or something, even if it’s just the dessert. The whole king crab leg arrives like royalty, dressed in crustacean hollandaise and beurre noisette. Sweet meat, warm butter, a little nuttiness. Pure indulgence. The grilled fillet of mangrove jack with local spinach and chermoula shows off the kitchen’s finesse. Bright herbs, preserved lemon, a clean flaky fish.
It’s a place to fall in love with the moment, the people, the music and definitely the food.
Location: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Time: 5pm to 1am
Contact: (02) 690 7999
Sophia
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Sophia’s at The St Regis Saadiyat is subtle elegance dressed in Mediterranean charm. Soft light, white tablecloths, bold art and a room that makes everyone look like they belong in a glossy magazine. The Çiğ Köfte Slider packs a spicy, rich punch thanks to the beef, isot pepper and tomato paste. The Smoked Feta Dip leans creamy and sharp, a smoky red pepper glow carrying the flavour. The Vegetable Risotto is a gentle, fragrant bowl layered with datterino tomatoes, basil, mint and a swirl of dill oil. The Sea Bass lands silky and bright with kakavia sauce, lamb lettuce and charred lemon. It’s balanced, generous and clean. Sophia’s is the kind of place where conversation stretches and plates empty without you remembering how it happened.
Location: The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
Time: Lunch 1pm to 4pm; Dinner 6pm to 12pm
Contact: (02) 498 8443
Bord Eau by Nicolas Isnard
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At Shangri La, Bord Eau feels like walking into a French culinary daydream, it’s an ode to precision and imagination. The restaurant treats ingredients the way galleries treat their paintings. Each dish arrives looking like something a museum would protect, but the flavours remind you that food is meant to be eaten, not admired from afar. The mains range from generous beef cuts to refined seafood, while the bistro favourites offer comfort with polish. Desserts glide out with the kind of confidence that says they know you cannot resist them. The textures, the colours, the sense of play in every course, it’s all crafted with an artist’s confidence. You taste technique, but you also taste heart. It’s a restaurant that invites you to slow down and savour everything, even the silences between bites.
Location: Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi
Time: 6pm to 11pm
Contact: (02) 509 8555
Episodes at Emirates Palace
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Afternoon tea at Emirates Palace is one of those Abu Dhabi moments that feels a little surreal. Marble, gleaming gold, and chandeliers that twinkle even at midday. The trays arrive stacked with delicate sandwiches, pastries so glossy you see yourself in them, and teas that smell like entire gardens. The Palace Cappuccino with its shimmer of real 24 karat gold is the moment everyone waits for. It feels celebratory, theatrical, a little over the top and absolutely worth it. It’s indulgent in the most charming way, like someone giving you permission to spoil yourself simply because you showed up.
Location: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Time: 8am to 11pm
Contact: (02) 690 7999
