As a true melting pot of cultures, Abu Dhabi’s restaurant scene features practically every cuisine imaginable – and then some, thanks to its brilliant fusion eateries. And for those who think dining out is more than just about the food, UAE's capital city is also home to some of the most beautifully designed restaurants in the Middle East.
From 1920s Chicago-style steakhouses to Mediterranean tavernas with a view, these are the most beautiful restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
Ba:TE
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With a menu from award-winning chef Eric Jung, Ba:TE was always destined for greatness. But after bursting onto Abu Dhabi’s restaurant scene in early 2023, it wasn’t just the food that caught our eye, but the interiors, too. The name Ba:TE is derived from the Korean word for field, and the interior design is meant to highlight the different elements of Japan and Korea’s four distinct seasons, with various landscapes painted onto screens throughout the space. The ideal time to visit both countries is undoubtedly cherry blossom season, and the best seat in the house is found in the restaurant’s hidden bar, Jumak. Step through the vintage green wardrobe and you’ll find yourself under a canopy of sakura (and surrounded by people inevitably taking photos).
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BB Social Dining
Since opening in Dubai in 2017, BB Social Dining has been the cool kid on the block, and the same goes for its Abu Dhabi branch. The venue is modern, with dark wood grain and copper furnishings paired with deep blues alongside bright whites to ensure the restaurant feels warm and welcoming rather than dark and moody. Mirrors make this restaurant feel bigger, with vintage-effect mirrors behind the bar and in the entranceway where you’ll find the neon ‘meet me at BB’ sign. Pops of greenery bring the outdoors indoors, and the outdoor terrace offers views over the waters around Al Maryah Island in the cooler months. Every design element comes together to create one of the most beautiful restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
Broadway
Emirates Palace is known for its love of gold and marble, but Broadway takes a leaf from a whole new book – or, more accurately, a playbill. Inspired by New York’s famed theatre district, the only thing it has in common with the hotel restaurant is its high ceilings. The space has been transformed into an old warehouse with exposed pipework and a retrofitted brewery, giving the restaurant a lived-in feel, but it retains an element of 1920s glamour through its plush booths and glowing Broadway signs. It stands apart from the rest of the hotel in its design, but doesn’t feel out of place.
Butcher & Still
Another restaurant in the UAE’s capital taking its cue from the 1920s, Butcher & Still is meant to feel like a Prohibition-era Chicago steakhouse. Designed by AvroKo, it achieves this look through its colour scheme, with vibrant green walls in the bar, black and white tiling in the restaurant, plus white and brown leather banquettes to sink into. Vintage tube lights adds to the atmosphere, but the attention to detail is what makes the restaurant really special: from the imperial mixed drinks shaker to the bullets in the grouting of the bathroom tiles.
Erth
Meaning ‘legacy’ in Arabic, Erth is meant to reflect traditional Emirati culture in both its menu and its interior design. Part of the Qasr Al Hosn complex – which is home to Abu Dhabi’s oldest stone building – AD100 studio Bone has made use of raw and natural materials, with travertine slabs in the kitchen and concrete walls and floors throughout. The seating area has been carved into the concrete to form a sunken majlis, while outside the terrace makes the most of its position next to the water feature created as part of the Al Musallah Prayer Hall’s modern cultural park. It’s easily one of the most beautiful restaurants in Abu Dhabi, and with the gongs to prove it.
Flamingo Room by tashas
South African restaurant brand Tashas has long had a cult following in the UAE, and Flamingo Room by Tashas became its second Abu Dhabi outpost (and third Flamingo Room overall) when it opened in October 2023. Bucking trends that use typical African motifs to express its origins, Flamingo Room by Tashas is instead meant to reflect the continent’s vast landscapes, wildlife and botanical beauty through its African-inspired glamour. The dominant colour, salmon pink, was chosen by interior architect Neydine Bak from AD100 studio Verhaal to reflect Miami during the ‘70s, meant to set a mood of “both comfort and sophistication”, while the hand-blown glass installation by South African artist Mike Hyam captures the beauty of baobab flowers. Further nods to Africa’s wildlife come in the form of bronze monkey and meerkat statues from Donald Greif, as well as lamps with duck feet and brown glass tops created in a collaboration between two independent South African artists. The restaurant’s design turns the typical image of African-inspired interiors on its head with a very beautiful outcome.
Hakkasan
First opening in Fitzrovia in 2001, Hakkasan has become the benchmark for upscale Chinese restaurants the world over. With a distinct design, you know you’re in a Hakkasan as soon as you step through the door thanks to the carved wooden cage dining area and the use of blue glass and Chinese sculptures and pottery. The Abu Dhabi branch was designed by Gilles & Boissier, and its overall layout was curated using the principals of Feng Shui to create the most uplifting, harmonious experience. Come wintertime, the outdoor terrace is a must-visit for its views of the Abu Dhabi skyline.
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Mika
Designed by FighterBrands, Mika is meant to feel like a contemporary Mediterranean tavern. The restaurant has several distinct spaces, including a wine-cellar-inspired dining area near the entrance with terrazzo flooring, a secret garden, and, of course, the outdoor terrace with its spectacular views over Yas Marina and out to W Abu Dhabi. The main dining area is our favourite place to pull up a chair – the open kitchen dominates the room, and as a chef-owned and operated restaurant, you’ll often get the chance to chat with Chef Mario Loi himself. Mika is bright and colourful without being garish, making use of terracotta hues and dark blues with bistro chairs and sofas to sink into.
Sal
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Originally found at Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, Sal’s new home is equally spectacular, just steps away from the pristine beach and azure waters of Jumeirah Saadiyat Island. Its nautical design featuring bleached ropes and off-white hues will make you feel as though you’re in a beach cottage. Patterned floor rugs, cushions and artwork bring pops of colour to the space, but really, it’s all just to complement the bluer-than-blue waters of Saadiyat Beach. The restaurant itself is housed within a mirrored cube and is meant to blend in with the surroundings, and lends a more modern touch to a restaurant otherwise dominated by a casual coastal feel reminiscent of Mykonos or Capri.
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