27 of the best · Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Erth, Hakkasan and Talea with one MICHELIN star each, the Bib Gourmands from Al Mrzab to 3Fils, Emirati breakfasts, Lebanese by the sea and the big rooms of Al Maryah.
Our 27 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated November 2026
Browse by type
Three Abu Dhabi moments we keep going back to: the Grand Mosque in the late afternoon, the light under the Louvre’s dome, and a kayak into the mangroves at high tide.
MICHELIN star · Emirati legacy
Modern cooking anchored in Emirati flavours, on the Qasr Al Hosn cultural site; one MICHELIN star.
North Parking, Al Hosn, Abu DhabiExplore View on map
MICHELIN star · Cantonese
Hakkasan’s Cantonese classics inside Emirates Palace; one MICHELIN star.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road, Al Ras Al AkhdarExplore View on map
MICHELIN star · Italian
Antonio Guida’s family-style Italian cooking at Emirates Palace; one MICHELIN star.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road, Al Ras Al AkhdarExplore View on map
Restaurants
How Abu Dhabi eats, from the starred rooms to the souk.
The back story
Three MICHELIN stars, Lebanese mezze by the sea, the fish of Al Mina and Emirati breakfasts.
The back story
Gahwa from the dallah, dates, machbous and grilled hammour: the Emirati table and where to taste it.
Restaurants
One star each, 2026.
MICHELIN star · Emirati legacy
Modern cooking anchored in Emirati flavours, on the Qasr Al Hosn cultural site; one MICHELIN star.
North Parking, Al Hosn, Abu DhabiExplore View on map
MICHELIN star · Cantonese
Hakkasan’s Cantonese classics inside Emirates Palace; one MICHELIN star.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road, Al Ras Al AkhdarExplore View on map
MICHELIN star · Italian
Antonio Guida’s family-style Italian cooking at Emirates Palace; one MICHELIN star.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road, Al Ras Al AkhdarExplore View on map
Restaurants
And the Gulf’s.
Manaqeesh from the oven
A bright Middle Eastern restaurant in Al Khalidiyah, popular for breakfast and fresh manaqeesh.
Khalidiyah Street, Al Khalidiyah, Abu DhabiExplore View on map
Bib Gourmand · Emirati and Kuwaiti
Emirati and Kuwaiti dishes under a bright neon sign; a Bib Gourmand, with a queue.
Airport Road, Abu DhabiExplore View on map
From a food truck
An all-day Emirati kitchen run by two sisters, hidden among the apartment blocks of Al Muneera.
Al Raha Beach, Al Muneera, Abu DhabiExplore View on map
Khaleeji cooking
Bahraini chef Roaya Saleh’s Khaleeji restaurant, in a room like a conservatory.
Muroor Road, Al Rawdah, Abu DhabiExplore View on map
Restaurants
Mezze, mashawi and the catch.
Bib Gourmand · Lebanese-Armenian
Lebanese and Armenian cooking in The Galleria, from a Beirut house founded in 1996; a Bib Gourmand.
Level 1, The Luxury Collection, The Galleria, Al Maryah IslandExplore View on map
Bib Gourmand · on Soul Beach
Lebanese mezze and mashawi on Soul Beach, near the museums; a Bib Gourmand.
Soul Beach, Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat IslandExplore View on map
On the beach
Seafood with a Japanese accent on the sand at Nation Riviera Beach Club.
Nation Riviera Beach Club, Corniche RoadExplore View on map
Lebanese over the harbour
Contemporary Lebanese cooking with harbour views at the Conrad Etihad Towers.
Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, West CornicheExplore View on map
Bib Gourmand · the local catch
Seafood a stone’s throw from the Zayed Port fish market; a Bib Gourmand.
31 Al Marabi Street, Zayed Port, Al MinaExplore View on map
Restaurants
The Galleria and its hotels.
The steakhouse
A classic American steakhouse at the Four Seasons, with great cocktails.
2 Global Market Street, Al Maryah IslandExplore View on map
Peruvian on the waterfront
Peruvian cooking in several colourful rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows on the water.
The Galleria, Four Seasons Al Maryah IslandExplore View on map
Cantonese at the Rosewood
Cantonese cooking for sharing at the Rosewood, with Sichuan dishes and weekend brunch.
Level B3, Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah IslandExplore View on map
French Riviera cooking
La Petite Maison’s French-Mediterranean cooking in The Galleria.
Level 1, Luxury Collection, The Galleria, Al Maryah IslandExplore View on map
The robata grill
Zuma’s Japanese menu and its party atmosphere, in The Galleria.
The Galleria, Al Maryah IslandExplore View on map
Restaurants
Beyond the starred rooms.
An intimate Indian room
An intimate Indian restaurant inside the vast palace; the tasting menu is the way in.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche RoadExplore View on map
Wood fire on the beach
Woodfire cooking in beachside gazebos at Emirates Palace, facing the Gulf at sunset.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche RoadExplore View on map
Cooked over burning straw
Warayaki cooking over burning straw at Emirates Palace; winner of MICHELIN’s cocktail award.
Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche RoadExplore View on map
Restaurants
Yas, Al Bateen, Al Qana and Saadiyat.
Bib Gourmand · Opening of the Year
Contemporary Japanese over three floors at Al Bateen; Bib Gourmand and Opening of the Year.
Al Bateen Marina, Abu DhabiExplore View on map
French, by the creek
Nicolas Isnard’s French classics and travel dishes at the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri.
Level 3, Shangri-La Qaryat Al BeriExplore View on map
Bib Gourmand · Thai
A cosy, colourful Thai café at Yas Bay; a Bib Gourmand. Book at weekends.
Yas Bay, Yas IslandExplore View on map
At the Louvre
The Paris brasserie’s grand outpost at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Cultural DistrictExplore View on map
Bib Gourmand · the Riviera
Mediterranean on Yas Marina, with its own bread and cured salmon; a Bib Gourmand.
Building 7, Yas Marina, Yas IslandExplore View on map
The robata counter
Contemporary Japanese at Mamsha Al Saadiyat: take the counter, or the terrace for the sea.
Building 9, Mamsha Al SaadiyatExplore View on map
Bib Gourmand · Japanese
A relaxed Japanese kitchen at Al Qana, beside The National Aquarium; a Bib Gourmand.
Al Qana Marina South, Al Maqta StreetExplore View on map
MICHELIN distinctions are quoted from the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi, read in November 2026. We use no other awards or ratings as scores, and we leave the price blank rather than guess.
