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THE DUBAI EDIT · SEPTEMBER 2026
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BEST RESTAURANTS IN ABU DHABI · CHECKED 20 SEPTEMBER 2026

The 25 best restaurants in Abu Dhabi, by the people who checked whether they are open

Three starred kitchens, ten Bib Gourmands and the Emirati, Lebanese and Thai rooms the capital actually eats in. Neighbourhood, price band, the dish to order and a map for every one, with the closures other lists still carry.

LVLuxury Verdict Editorial22 min read
500px provided description: Terrace [#water ,#buildings ,#architecture ,#museum ,#dome ,#canopy ,#Abu Dhabi ,#Louvre ,#J
The Louvre Abu Dhabi dome on Saadiyat. The island now has a Bib Gourmand, a French brasserie and the capital's most photographed beach club within a ten-minute walk of each other.

Photograph: Francisco Anzola, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).

Abu Dhabi eats differently from Dubai, and the difference is worth understanding before you book anything. Dubai’s restaurant scene is built for spectacle: nineteen starred rooms, chef residencies, rooftops. The capital’s is built for repeat custom. Its MICHELIN selection is smaller, its Bib Gourmand list is proportionally larger, and the places locals argue about are a Kuwaiti-Emirati canteen behind the National Theatre and a pizza bakery in the old port. That is the list below.

We ranked nothing. Every restaurant here is currently trading, every fact carries the date we checked it, and where a source disagreed with another we said so on the card. The MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 selection, announced on 23 October 2025, is the current one: it kept three one-star restaurants, dropped 99 Sushi Bar to Selected, and added 3Fils as its Opening of the Year. The 2027 selection will replace it in the autumn and this page will be re-dated when it does.

Two closures matter. Cipriani Yas Island shut on 1 March 2025 and its Marina Mall café is the only Cipriani left. Sambusek at the Rosewood has gone, replaced by Em Sherif Sea Café. Both still appear on lists published this year. If a guide you are reading recommends either, treat the rest of that guide with care.

How to read this list

  • Price bands are the MICHELIN Guide's where the restaurant is in the guide, and our reading of the menu where it is not. $ is under about AED 100 a head, $$$$ is AED 500 and up.
  • The dish to order names who recommended it. Where nobody reliable has, the field says so rather than guessing.
  • Status was checked on 20 September 2026 against the guide, the operator or the venue. Green means trading. Amber means we could not confirm and you should call.
  • Photographs are stock images of the cuisine, credited underneath. We do not publish restaurant marketing photography.
  • Maps open in Google Maps at the pin we verified, not at a search for the name.
01

The starred rooms, and the one that lost its star

Three restaurants hold one MICHELIN star in the 2026 selection and two of them are in the same building. Talea and Hakkasan sit inside Emirates Palace, which makes the West Corniche the easiest starred evening in the Emirates: one address, two kitchens, and Mezlai downstairs if you want Emirati food in the same marble. Erth is the outlier, a modern Emirati kitchen in Al Hosn that the guide calls reasonably priced for what it is. 99 Sushi Bar is here because it was starred in 2025 and is still cooking the same menu; the star moved, the food did not.

Spaghetti with tuna sauce
01
Italian (family-style 'cucina di famiglia') · West Corniche / Al Ras Al Akhdar

Talea by Antonio Guida

One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 (announced 23 Oct 2025)starred since 2023
Neighbourhood
West Corniche / Al Ras Al AkhdarEmirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Price range
$$$$MICHELIN price band
Dish to order
Fettuccina alla Nerano (courgette, Parmesan, basil) — named by The National (17 May 2023 review)
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, The National and the hotel agree on refined, deceptively simple Italian with pasta as the strength; 3 of 3 sources positive; no negatives surfaced.

Hours: Tue–Sun 12:30–15:00 and 18:30–23:00; Monday listed 00:30–23:00 on Michelin (likely data error; confirm before you go. Licence: Licensed. Kitchen: Antonio Guida (two-star chef of Seta, Milan; his first restaurant outside Italy — mandarinoriental.com / The National). Booking: Via MICHELIN Guide reserve button / hotel (+971 2 690 7999).

Open in Google MapsWebsite

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, thenationalnews.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Spaghetti with tuna sauce, not this restaurant. Photograph: Adry0104, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Seven-course tasting menu at Monstera Bistro, Ljubljana
02
Modern Emirati · Al Hosn (downtown)

Erth

One MICHELIN Star 2026 (third consecutive yearfirst Emirati restaurant to be starred, Dec 2023)
Neighbourhood
Al Hosn (downtown)Qasr Al Hosn compound (Erth Al Hosn); operated by the Erth hotel group
Price range
$$$MICHELIN price band); described as reasonably priced for a starred restaurant (t
Dish to order
The National (15 Mar 2024) review covers menu — unconfirmed specific dish
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, The National and FACT all frame it as the benchmark for modern Emirati cooking with strong local-sourcing story; 3 of 3 positive.

Licence: Dry — no alcohol. Kitchen: Head chef Debi Prasad Rath. Booking: Direct with restaurant.

Open in Google MapsWebsite

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, thenationalnews.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Seven-course tasting menu at Monstera Bistro, Ljubljana, not this restaurant. Photograph: Bex Walton from London, England, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

Peking duck slices
03
Cantonese · West Corniche / Al Ras Al Akhdar

Hakkasan Abu Dhabi

One MICHELIN Star 2026 (starred since the first 2022 selection)
Neighbourhood
West Corniche / Al Ras Al AkhdarEmirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Price range
$$$$MICHELIN); Peking duck with caviar close to AED 2,000 (Time Out
Dish to order
Peking duck (with caviar) — named by Michelin inspectors and Hakkasan Group; Saturday dim sum lunch also flagged by Michelin
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, Time Out and Hakkasan Group agree the duck and the 108-seat terrace are the draw; Time Out notes plenty of smaller plates under AED 100; 3 of 3 positive.

Hours: Mon–Fri 18:00–23:30; Sat 12:00–15:30 and 18:00–23:30; Sun 18:00–23:30. Licence: Licensed. Kitchen: Lee Kok Hua named by Michelin's 'dishes that define the capital' article; confirm before you go. Booking: Via MICHELIN reserve button / +971 2 690 7739. Note: Not to be confused with Hakkasan Dubai at Atlantis, which was paused in April 2026 and reopens 23 September. The Abu Dhabi room has traded throughout.

Open in Google MapsWebsite

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, timeoutabudhabi.com, hakkasangroup.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Peking duck slices, not this restaurant. Photograph: Fumikas Sagisavas, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

Sushi platter, Nikko, Japan
04
Contemporary Japanese (Spanish-owned) · Al Maryah Island

99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant

MICHELIN Selected 2026 (held One Star 2022–2025star removed Oct 2025)
Neighbourhood
Al Maryah IslandThe Galleria (Luxury Collection), Four Seasons podium, Level 1
Price range
$$$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Flamed red mullet with kumquat tiger milk; two-person tasting menu — both named by Michelin inspectors
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin still praises precision and Spanish-imported seafood; the star loss is the story. 2 of 2 sources positive on food.

Hours: Daily 12:00–15:30 and 19:00–00:00. Licence: Licensed (sake list noted). Booking: Via MICHELIN reserve button / +971 2 672 3333. Note: Held a MICHELIN star in the 2025 selection and lost it in the 2026 selection announced on 23 October 2025. The kitchen and the prices did not change; the star did.

Open in Google MapsWebsite

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, thenationalnews.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Sushi platter, Nikko, Japan, not this restaurant. Photograph: Joli Rumi, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

02

Where the capital actually eats

This is the section to read if you only read one. Al Mrzab is the restaurant every Abu Dhabi resident eventually sends a visitor to: lamb harees, shrimp machboos, a Bib Gourmand and a queue. Meylas on Al Raha Beach does Emirati home cooking at prices that feel like a mistake. The Lebanese rooms run from Almayass, an Armenian-Lebanese institution on Al Maryah that the guide has kept for three years, to Bait El Khetyar’s shawarma, which Time Out Abu Dhabi shortlisted for its 2026 awards. Marmellata Bakery in the old port is number sixteen on MENA’s 50 Best 2026 and sells pizza by the slice. None of these needs a reservation platform. Most of them are dry.

Falalel with cheese fatayer, hummus, tzatziki, baba ganoush, pita, tabbouleh and homemade pickles
05
Lebanese-Armenian · Al Maryah Island

Almayass

Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 (four consecutive Bibs)
Neighbourhood
Al Maryah IslandThe Galleria (Luxury Collection), Level 1
Price range
$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Manti and Meshwi Shekaf (grilled veal with spiced bread) — Michelin inspectors; manti also cited by AFAR
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, AFAR and Top25 agree on generous sharing portions and the Armenian specialities; 3 of 3 positive.

Hours: Daily 12:00–01:00. Booking: Via MICHELIN reserve button / +971 2 644 0440.

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Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, afar.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Falalel with cheese fatayer, hummus, tzatziki, baba ganoush, pita, tabbouleh and homemade pickles, not this restaurant. Photograph: Shreya13jain, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Machboos/ Machbus / Makboos مكبوس, Dish popular in Kuwait,Bahrain ,UAE and Qatar,
06
Emirati and Kuwaiti · Al Nahyan (behind the National Theatre, Airport Road)

Al Mrzab Traditional Restaurant

Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026
Neighbourhood
Al Nahyan (behind the National Theatre, Airport Road)Standalone
Price range
$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Lamb harees, shrimp machboos, thareed; finish with khanfaroush with local honey — all named by Michelin inspectors
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, visitabudhabi.ae and third-party listings all call it the definitive cheap Emirati meal; queues are the only complaint. 3 of 3 positive.

Hours: Daily 07:00–23:00. Licence: Dry. Booking: Walk-in; expect queues; +971 2 666 2333. Note: Walk-in only and there are queues at weekends. No alcohol, and no need for it.

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Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, visitabudhabi.ae.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Machboos/ Machbus / Makboos مكبوس, Dish popular in Kuwait,Bahrain ,UAE and Qatar,, not this restaurant. Photograph: Miansari66, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

Lebanon Flower, Abu Dhabi.
07
Lebanese · Saadiyat Cultural District (Mamsha Al Saadiyat / Soul Beach)

Beirut Sur Mer

Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 (Bib since 2022)
Neighbourhood
Saadiyat Cultural District (Mamsha Al Saadiyat / Soul Beach)Mamsha Al Saadiyat beachfront, Lilac 5
Price range
$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Mezze and mashawi; lahm mechwi and kreydes prawns with za'atar named in third-party reviews
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, saadiyatisland.ae and independent reviews agree on generous, fairly priced Lebanese with the best beach terrace near the Louvre; 3 of 3 positive.

Hours: Mon–Thu and Sun 09:00–23:30; Fri–Sat 09:00–00:30.

Open in Google MapsWebsiteReserve

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, saadiyatisland.ae.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Lebanon Flower, Abu Dhabi, not this restaurant. Photograph: pelican from Tokyo, Japan, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Chelo Kabab Soltani - 2 grilled minced lamb kebabs, grilled tomatoes and rice with saffron. Photographed in the Persian
08
Mediterranean-Arabic fusion · Al Maqta (Al Qana waterfront)

Tazal

Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 (three consecutive years per tazal.com)
Neighbourhood
Al Maqta (Al Qana waterfront)Al Qana Marina South
Price range
$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Iranian kabab, bang bang shrimps, kaak Al Quds; weekend breakfast flagged
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin and Experience Abu Dhabi agree on good-value fusion and a strong breakfast; 2 of 2 positive.

Hours: Daily 08:00–00:00. Licence: Dry — no alcohol. Booking: Direct with restaurant (+971 56 484 0073).

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Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, experienceabudhabi.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Chelo Kabab Soltani - 2 grilled minced lamb kebabs, grilled tomatoes and rice with saffron. Photographed in the Persian , not this restaurant. Photograph: Benreis, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).

kuwaiti lgemat
09
Emirati home cooking · Al Raha Beach (Al Muneera)

Meylas

MICHELIN Selected 2026
Neighbourhood
Al Raha Beach (Al Muneera)Al Muneera waterfront promenade
Price range
$MICHELIN); two courses and a drink under AED 100 (Spoon University
Dish to order
Balaleet (saffron vermicelli with omelette) and chebab pancakes with date syrup — Michelin 'iconic dishes' article (19 Sep 2025) and AFAR
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, AFAR and Etihad's guide agree it is the most genuine Emirati home-style table in the city, founded by sisters from a food truck; 3 of 3 positive.

Hours: Daily 08:30–23:00. Licence: Dry — no alcohol. Kitchen: Founder Shaikha Al Kaabi. Booking: Direct (+971 2 444 8884).

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Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, etihad.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of kuwaiti lgemat, not this restaurant. Photograph: Aldousari, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

شاي عربي تقليدي
10
Emirati (1960s-Dubai themed) · Yas Island

Al Fanar Restaurant & Café (Yas Mall)

Neighbourhood
Yas IslandYas Mall
Price range
$$estimate from menu reports — unconfirmed basis
Dish to order
Not yet confirmed
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Chain heritage concept; useful for Yas families rather than a destination — 2 of 2 listing sources neutral-positive. Consider dropping in favour of Al Mrzab/Meylas.

Hours: Mall hours ~10:00–22:00; confirm before you go. Licence: Dry. Booking: Walk-in / direct.

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Sources read 20 September 2026: alfanarrestaurant.com, yasmall.ae.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of شاي عربي تقليدي, not this restaurant. Photograph: pixabay, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

Special Chicken Shawarma Plate
11
Lebanese / Levantine (shawarma, manakish, all-day) · Al Danah / Najda Street (plus other branches)

Bait El Khetyar

Time Out Abu Dhabi Restaurant Awards 2026 shortlist
Neighbourhood
Al Danah / Najda Street (plus other branches)Standalone
Price range
$Time Out review basis
Dish to order
Shawarma — Time Out Abu Dhabi calls it among the best in town
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Time Out and delivery-platform listings agree: unglamorous location, very good Lebanese street food; 2 of 2 positive. NOTE: the brief says 'Emirati breakfast' — it is Lebanese, not Emirati.

Hours: Daily 07:00–00:00. Licence: Dry. Booking: Walk-in.

Open in Google Maps

Sources read 20 September 2026: timeoutabudhabi.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Special Chicken Shawarma Plate, not this restaurant. Photograph: Dr. Chinchu C., via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).

Abu Dhabi, UAE.
12
Lebanese (since 1983) · Multiple: Al Zahiyah (Tourist Club, original), Defence St, Muroor, Al Khalidiyah, Al Dhafrah

Zahrat Lebnan

Neighbourhood
Multiple: Al Zahiyah (Tourist Club, original), Defence St, Muroor, Al Khalidiyah, Al DhafrahStandalone branches
Price range
$menu-platform basis
Dish to order
Not yet confirmed
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

An Abu Dhabi institution since 1983 with seven branches; listings agree it is the everyday Lebanese standby. 2 of 2 neutral-positive.

Licence: Dry. Booking: Walk-in.

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Sources read 20 September 2026: zahratlebnan.com, zomato.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Abu Dhabi, UAE, not this restaurant. Photograph: Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

Mmm... pizza!
13
Pizza, focaccia, calzone · Mina Zayed (Souk Al Mina / Zayed Port Freezone 2)

Marmellata Bakery

MENA's 50 Best Restaurants 2026, No.16Time Out Abu Dhabi Best Pizza 2024. Not in MICHELIN Guide (brief's 'Bib Gourmand' assumption is wrong).
Neighbourhood
Mina Zayed (Souk Al Mina / Zayed Port Freezone 2)Standalone in Souk Al Mina
Price range
$pizza pricing per Time Out/Khaleej Times — unconfirmed
Dish to order
Fig and gorgonzola pizza with pistachios; pepperoni with spicy honey — MENA's 50 Best 2026 entry and Time Out
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

50 Best, Time Out and Khaleej Times agree it is the city's cult pizzeria with queues before opening; 3 of 3 positive.

Hours: Wed–Sun 17:00–21:00 per Time Out/Curly Tales; confirm before you go; sells out. Licence: Dry. Kitchen: Founder Raj Dagstani (ex-Thomas Keller operations) with sons Emile and Sebastian (50 Best, Khaleej Times). Booking: No reservations; queue (Khaleej Times).

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Sources read 20 September 2026: the50.com, khaleejtimes.com, timeoutabudhabi.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Mmm... pizza!, not this restaurant. Photograph: jeffreyw, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

Bacalhau à Brás at Restaurante Figus, Lisbon
14
Southern European / Mediterranean all-day · Al Maqta (Al Qana waterfront)

Oii

MICHELIN Selected 2026
Neighbourhood
Al Maqta (Al Qana waterfront)Al Qana Marina, next to The National Aquarium
Price range
$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Grilled octopus with mojo rojo; Portuguese rabanadas at breakfast — What's On review and Michelin best-of list
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin and What's On agree on bright, good-value Mediterranean plates and a big shaded terrace; 2 of 2 positive.

Booking: Direct with restaurant.

Open in Google MapsWebsite

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, whatson.ae.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Bacalhau à Brás at Restaurante Figus, Lisbon, not this restaurant. Photograph: MollySVH, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

Kaeng Kheaw Wan (Thai green curry), served at Rongros
15
Thai · Yas Island (Yas Bay)

Bua Thai Café

Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 (new)
Neighbourhood
Yas Island (Yas Bay)Yas Bay retail strip (YS2)
Price range
$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Steamed dumplings, curries, mango sticky rice — Michelin inspectors
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin only (1 of 1): small, authentic, good value — useful as the Yas-side cheap eat.

Booking: Direct (+971 2 575 3158); booking advised weekends.

Open in Google MapsWebsite

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Kaeng Kheaw Wan (Thai green curry), served at Rongros, not this restaurant. Photograph: Chainwit., via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

03

Chef-driven, mid-priced

Two Bib Gourmands that belong to nobody’s hotel. Otoro at Al Qana flies tuna from Toyosu and charges $$ for it. 3Fils opened its Abu Dhabi room in July 2025 and was the guide’s Opening of the Year four months later; the Dubai original has been the city’s most-argued-about Japanese-inspired counter since 2016.

a dark view of the 8 Counter Seats at Sushi Masa by Ki-setsu, an omakase Singapore Restaurant
16
Contemporary Japanese · Al Maqta (Al Qana waterfront)

Otoro

Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026
Neighbourhood
Al Maqta (Al Qana waterfront)Al Qana Marina South, next to The National Aquarium
Price range
$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Otoro nigiri (Toyosu tuna); yellowtail with green chilli leche de tigre; wagyu striploin with truffle jus — Michelin inspectors and The National (30 Sep 2022)
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, The National and FACT agree it lifted Japanese dining in the capital at mid-range prices; 3 of 3 positive.

Hours: Daily 12:00–23:00. Licence: Dry — no alcohol. Kitchen: Consultant chef Akmal Anuar. Booking: Direct with restaurant (+971 2 886 9995).

Open in Google MapsWebsite

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, thenationalnews.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of a dark view of the 8 Counter Seats at Sushi Masa by Ki-setsu, an omakase Singapore Restaurant, not this restaurant. Photograph: Bobby.Creations, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).

bowl of ramen at Akita Station
17
Modern Japanese-inspired · Al Bateen (Al Bateen Marina)

3Fils Abu Dhabi

Bib Gourmand + Opening of the Year Award, MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 (23 Oct 2025)
Neighbourhood
Al Bateen (Al Bateen Marina)Three-storey standalone at Al Bateen Marina, addressed at The Abu Dhabi EDITION
Price range
$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Not yet confirmed
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, The National and Gulf News all treat it as the opening of 2025 — a larger, more relaxed sibling of the Dubai original; 3 of 3 positive.

Licence: Dry — no alcohol. Booking: Direct with restaurant.

Open in Google Maps

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, thenationalnews.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of bowl of ramen at Akita Station, not this restaurant. Photograph: Cheng-en Cheng, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).

04

Hotel dining rooms worth crossing town for

Hotel restaurants earn a place here when the room stands on its own, not because the hotel is good. Li Beirut at Etihad Towers is modern Lebanese with a view that explains the prices. Mezlai is the only Emirati fine-dining room in a palace hotel, and its camel dishes are the reason to go. Em Sherif Sea Café at the Rosewood is the Lebanese seafood counter that replaced Sambusek; you choose the fish on arrival.

This photo shows an intimate nighttime dining scene, likely at an outdoor restaurant or terrace in Pattaya, Thailand. Th
18
Modern Lebanese · West Corniche (Etihad Towers)

Li Beirut

MICHELIN Selected 2026
Neighbourhood
West Corniche (Etihad Towers)Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
Price range
$$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Beiruty kebab and tabbouleh; chef's family-recipe dishes such as freekeh with roasted cauliflower (What's On)
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, Time Out and What's On agree on classic Lebanese with polished presentation and the Gulf-view terrace; Michelin notes a shortish à la carte. 3 of 3 positive.

Hours: Daily 19:00–23:30. Licence: Licensed (hotel). Booking: Via MICHELIN reserve button / +971 2 811 5666.

Open in Google MapsWebsite

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, timeoutabudhabi.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of This photo shows an intimate nighttime dining scene, likely at an outdoor restaurant or terrace in Pattaya, Thailand. Th, not this restaurant. Photograph: PattayaPatrol, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

A dallah of Arabic coffee
19
Emirati fine dining · West Corniche / Al Ras Al Akhdar

Mezlai

Not in MICHELIN 2026 selection
Neighbourhood
West Corniche / Al Ras Al AkhdarEmirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Price range
$$$estimate from OpenTable/Zomato listings — unconfirmed basis
Dish to order
Camel dishes — Time Out Abu Dhabi 'dish of the week: camel tongue'; camel-milk mash with hammour cited in user reviews
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Billed as the UAE's first fine-dining Emirati restaurant; sources agree on setting and camel-led menu, user reviews split on service; 2 of 3 positive.

Hours: Daily 13:00–22:30 per OpenTable; confirm before you go. Booking: OpenTable / hotel.

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Sources read 20 September 2026: timeoutabudhabi.com, opentable.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of A dallah of Arabic coffee, not this restaurant. Photograph: Abdulla Al Muhairi, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

Plateau de fruits de mer (huîtres n° 2, bulots, crevettes roses). Les Huîtres de Trousse Chemise (Etablissements Franck
20
Lebanese seafood · Al Maryah Island

Em Sherif Sea Café

MICHELIN Selected 2026
Neighbourhood
Al Maryah IslandRosewood Abu Dhabi
Price range
$$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Choose from the seafood counter on arrival; specific dish unconfirmed
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin and Hotelier ME agree on fresh, sharing-style Lebanese seafood in an azulejo-tiled waterside room; 2 of 2 positive.

Hours: Daily 12:30–00:00. Kitchen: Concept by restaurateur Mireille Hayek. Booking: Direct (+971 2 626 2895). Note: Replaced Sambusek in the Rosewood line-up. Sambusek is gone; several directories have not noticed.

Open in Google MapsWebsite

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, hoteliermiddleeast.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Plateau de fruits de mer (huîtres n° 2, bulots, crevettes roses). Les Huîtres de Trousse Chemise (Etablissements Franck , not this restaurant. Photograph: Jean-Pierre Bazard Jpbazard, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).

05

The scene

Rooms you book for the evening rather than the plate. COYA and Zuma on Al Maryah are the capital’s versions of the Dubai originals and behave the same way: loud, expensive, reliably good. Fouquet’s on Saadiyat is the French brasserie the cultural district was always going to need, closed on Mondays. Buddha-Bar Beach is the sunset booking on Saadiyat, with a caveat about the St. Regis works on its card. Cipriani Dolci is the survivor.

Ceviche peruano, restaurante en Ciudad de México CDMX
21
Peruvian (Nikkei/Chifa influences) · Al Maryah Island

COYA Abu Dhabi

MICHELIN Selected 2026Time Out and FACT 'Best Latin American' 2020
Neighbourhood
Al Maryah IslandThe Galleria, Four Seasons podium
Price range
$$$$MICHELIN; lunch menu called good value by Michelin
Dish to order
Chilean sea bass in an iron rice pot — Michelin inspectors and Time Out; ceviche to start
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, Time Out and Etihad agree it remains the scene restaurant of Al Maryah with reliably strong ceviche; 3 of 3 positive.

Hours: Mon–Thu 12:00–16:15, 18:30–23:30; Fri–Sat 12:30–16:15, 19:00–00:15; Sun 12:30–16:15, 18:30–23:00. Licence: Licensed (pisco bar). Booking: Via MICHELIN reserve button / +971 2 306 7000; also OpenTable.

Open in Google MapsWebsite

Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, timeoutabudhabi.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Ceviche peruano, restaurante en Ciudad de México CDMX, not this restaurant. Photograph: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Asado tradicional argentino en preparación dentro de una parrilla de ladrillos. A la izquierda, un brasero de hierro con
22
Contemporary Japanese izakaya · Al Maryah Island

Zuma Abu Dhabi

MICHELIN Selected 2026Gault & Millau UAE listed
Neighbourhood
Al Maryah IslandThe Galleria (ADGM Square)
Price range
$$$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Miso-marinated black cod in hoba leaf — The National review and Gault & Millau UAE
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin, The National and Gault & Millau agree on consistent execution and the Baikingu brunch; user reviews are mixed on value. 3 of 3 critic sources positive.

Licence: Licensed (sake and wine lists noted). Booking: Via MICHELIN reserve button; zumarestaurant.com.

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Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, thenationalnews.com, gaultmillauae.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Asado tradicional argentino en preparación dentro de una parrilla de ladrillos. A la izquierda, un brasero de hierro con, not this restaurant. Photograph: Maxd2, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Noix de Saint-Jacques de la Côte d'Armor et ses perles de ciboulette
23
French brasserie (menu with Pierre Gagnaire) · Saadiyat Cultural District

Fouquet's Abu Dhabi

MICHELIN Selected 2026
Neighbourhood
Saadiyat Cultural DistrictLouvre Abu Dhabi
Price range
$$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Glazed duck breast and crêpes Suzette — Michelin inspectors
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin and What's On agree it is grander than a brasserie with the museum terrace as the reason to go; 2 of 2 positive.

Hours: Mon closed; Tue–Thu and Sun 12:00–23:00; Fri–Sat 12:00–23:30. Licence: Licensed. Kitchen: Menu designed with Pierre Gagnaire (louvreabudhabi.ae / What's On). Booking: Via MICHELIN reserve button / +971 2 205 4200; fouquetsabudhabi.com.

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Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, louvreabudhabi.ae.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Noix de Saint-Jacques de la Côte d'Armor et ses perles de ciboulette, not this restaurant. Photograph: Marianne Casamance, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

The photo shows a beautiful seaside dining scene at dusk or night. There's an outdoor restaurant or café area with table
24
Pan-Asian / Nikkei beach club · Saadiyat Island

Buddha-Bar Beach Abu Dhabi

Not in MICHELIN selection
Neighbourhood
Saadiyat IslandThe St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
Price range
$$$$review consensus: expensive
Dish to order
'King of the Beach' seafood platter; robata wagyu with shiso chimichurri — BBC Good Food ME / The Luxe Diary reviews
Status
Call the venue to confirmchecked 20 September 2026

Critics praise the setting and sushi; recent user reviews are polarised and cite price; 2 of 3 positive.

Licence: Licensed. Booking: Direct / buddhabarbeachabudhabi.com. Note: The St. Regis is refreshing rooms and its adult pool until mid-October 2026. Marriott’s dining page still lists the beach club as open, but nobody has confirmed it to us in writing, so ring before you book a sunbed.

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Sources read 20 September 2026: buddhabar.com, bbcgoodfoodme.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of The photo shows a beautiful seaside dining scene at dusk or night. There's an outdoor restaurant or café area with table, not this restaurant. Photograph: PattayaPatrol, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Risotto de gambas, restaurant Danieli (Vienne, Autriche).
25
Venetian Italian café-restaurant · Breakwater / Marina Mall

Cipriani Dolci (Marina Mall)

MICHELIN Selected 2026 (new addition)
Neighbourhood
Breakwater / Marina MallMarina Mall, ground floor
Price range
$$$MICHELIN
Dish to order
Carpaccio alla Cipriani; baked green tagliolini — Michelin Italian best-of article
Status
Openchecked 20 September 2026

Michelin's write-up is warm on classics and pastry; Tripadvisor average is middling; 1 of 2 positive.

Hours: Mon–Thu and Sun 09:00–23:00; Fri–Sat 09:00–00:00. Licence: Dry — no alcohol. Booking: Direct (+971 50 903 9722). Note: This is the Marina Mall café, new to the guide in 2026. Cipriani Yas Island closed on 1 March 2025 and is still listed by most guides.

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Sources read 20 September 2026: guide.michelin.com, instagram.com.

Illustration only: a stock photograph of Risotto de gambas, restaurant Danieli (Vienne, Autriche), not this restaurant. Photograph: Benoît Prieur, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).

What we could not confirm, and what we left out

  • Nolu's at Al Bandar appears on its own website but every review we found is from 2016 or earlier. We could not confirm it is trading in 2026, so it is not on the list. If you have eaten there this year, tell us.
  • Six restaurants have no published opening hours anywhere we could read: Erth, 3Fils, Zuma, Oii, Bua Thai Café and Mezlai. Their cards say so. Book rather than turn up.
  • Alcohol status is confirmed for twelve of the twenty-five. Where the card is silent, assume a hotel restaurant is licensed and a street restaurant is not, and check if it matters to you.
  • Three Al Qana restaurants (Otoro, Tazal, Oii) have map pins placed by us from the development's address, not from a geocoder, because the geocoder put Al Qana in the wrong suburb.
  • Warner Bros. World and the Yas Marina Circuit are on the things-to-do page, not here; Yas Island's restaurant scene is thinner than its hotel scene and the two Yas entries here, Al Fanar and Bua Thai Café, are the ones we would actually cross the bridge for.

Every closure named on this page was checked against the operator's own current listing on 20 September 2026. The MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2027 selection will change the starred section; we will re-date the page the week it is announced.

Questions readers ask

How many Michelin-starred restaurants are there in Abu Dhabi?

Three, all with one star, in the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 selection announced on 23 October 2025: Talea by Antonio Guida and Hakkasan at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, and Erth in Al Hosn. There is no two- or three-star restaurant in the capital. 99 Sushi Bar held a star in 2025 and is now listed as Selected.

What is the best Emirati restaurant in Abu Dhabi?

For traditional cooking, Al Mrzab in Al Nahyan: a Bib Gourmand, walk-in only, dry, with lamb harees and shrimp machboos as the dishes to order. For a modern reading of the same food, Erth, which holds a MICHELIN star. For a cheap home-style breakfast, Meylas at Al Raha Beach for balaleet.

Is Cipriani Yas Island still open?

No. It closed on 1 March 2025. The only Cipriani in Abu Dhabi is Cipriani Dolci at Marina Mall, which is dry and entered the MICHELIN Selected list in 2026.

Do Abu Dhabi restaurants serve alcohol?

Licensed venues are almost all inside hotels or on hotel land, plus the Al Maryah Island and Yas Bay developments. Street restaurants, including most of the Bib Gourmand list, are dry. Each card states the licence where we could confirm it.

Which Abu Dhabi restaurants have closed recently?

Cipriani Yas Island (1 March 2025) and Sambusek at the Rosewood, replaced by Em Sherif Sea Café. Nolu's at Al Bandar could not be confirmed as trading and is omitted. Angar at the W Yas is no longer on the hotel's restaurant list.

How far ahead should I book?

The starred rooms and the Al Maryah scene restaurants take bookings through SevenRooms or the hotel and fill on Thursday and Friday nights a week or more ahead. The Bib Gourmand and local rooms are mostly walk-in with queues at weekend dinner.

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