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Abu Dhabi is home to some of the most utterly Instagrammable cafes and restaurants that blend mouth-watering cuisine with breathtaking decor. Whether you’re a food photography enthusiast or just love dining in beautiful surroundings, these spots are sure to leave you and your followers in awe.
Get your camera ready and come hungry, because these picturesque places are as delightful to the eyes as they are to the palate!
This post is part of our Abu Dhabi Dining series – from the best family brunches to delightful breakfast spots, we’ve got you covered for eating out on your visit to the capital!
Love Vibe Cafe
This Khalifa City newcomer has us all talking about possibly the prettiest pink cafe to hit the Abu Dhabi dining scene. Everything about this place was totally made for the ‘gram!
From the decadent interior to the pastel pink coffee maker, it’s clear to see their theme! Their specialities include a vast array of beverages from super food lattes to smoothies, along with their specialised vegan menu and Emirati breakfast platter.
Possibly their most famous offering, though, is the utterly enchanting afternoon tea experience, which can be booked Wednesdays and Fridays 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Even though this is one of the less frequented locations in the burb’s, we’d still come dressed to impress. Did we mention pretty much everything is PINK!
- Shop 10, Khalifa City Community Market (aka Waitrose Mall), Khalifa City +971 2 622 0393
- Daily 8:00 am to 11:00 pm
Alkalime
This restocafe offers boho-chic interiors and beach vibes. It is the perfect spot for capturing photos in the hammock or near the windows overlooking Soul Beach. A health-focused cafe, it offers nourishing juices and plant-based dining with a seasonal menu.
Alkalime also welcomes freelancers and digital nomads looking for a place to perch with their laptops in their beautiful surroundings. Good Wi-Fi, good food, and unbeatable beach viewsโwhat more could you want?
- Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Turquoise 7 Building Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi +971 544 491 547
- Weekdays 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, weekends 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
EL&N London, Yas Bay
Utterly oozing Instagram cuteness, this immensely photographable London chain has made its way to the UAE. With its flagship UAE branch sitting immediately outside the Etihad Arena, Yas Bay Waterfront, its the perfect spot for a pre or post show meal.
The dishes are as photographable as the interior and the dazzling pink floral exterior (even if you’re not dining, it’s relatively easy to capture a few snaps here from outside!)
- Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island + 971 2 883 9395 (Parking Waterfront P1)
- Weekdays midday to midnight; Weekends 10:00 AM to midnight
Fil Florist & Cafe
Combining a cafe and a florist, this Al Bateen location offers a romantic ambience with beautiful floral arrangements. The earthy tones and curved walls dominate this utterly beautiful setting in Al Bateen, where flawless presentation takes precedence. The menu delivers many Middle East touches, such as Umm Ali and Musakhan rolls.
- 63 Al Quffal St, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi +971 2 666 5266
- Weekdays 7:00 AM to 11:00 pm, weekends until 1:00 am
Forever Rose
Forever Rose is an imported local favourite for ladies who lunch, a unique cafรฉ with 2D illustrations that create a comic book-like atmosphere.
Opening their first UAE branch in Dubai, there are now two branches in Abu Dhabi for this unique dining experience. Their carefully crafted afternoon teas are an utterly instagrammable delight.
- The Galleria Al Maryah Island & Yas Mall, Yas Island Abu Dhabi +971 56 549 2805
- Weekdays 8:00 am to 10:00 pm; weekends open until midnight.
Joud
This homegrown Emirati brand opened its first branch in Al Bateen in 2015. It is now a multi-branch chain spotted in neighbourhoods all over the city, bringing the same classy elegance and delicious coffee it has become known for.
Offering a minimalist setup and all-day breakfasts, our favourite and one of the busiest branches is found at Al Qana. The menu is lengthy, bringing exceptional coffee as well as hearty meals; this is so much more than just a coffee shop; it’s really become entwined as part of the local cafe culture in Abu Dhabi.
Look out for the many local artists and crafts on display, which vary by branch, each offering its own unique Instagram moments!
- Al Qana, Al Bateen, West Yas Plaza. Al Bateen, Al Seek Village, Khalifa City & My Town Centre
No.FiftySeven Boutique Cafe
Influenced by “The Dinner Club by No.57” (sadly now closed), this cafรฉ features a charming ambience with candles, wire baskets, terrariums, and stylish furniture.
They are well-known in the catering and pop-up dining scene, such as the Grand Prix and corporate events, but spare a moment to pop into their cafe in Al Bateen for a feast on the eyes and a fabulous range of healthy foods using locally sourced ingredients that will have you instantly reaching for the camera.
- Building 2 Al Marasy Al Bateen Harbour, Abu Dhabi +971 2 441 6100 / Whatsapp +971 50 124 7118
- Daily 9:00 am to 10:45 pm
Rain
Featuring soothing blue hues and offering a variety of meals, smoothies and aromatic coffee, Rain has exploded over the sleek Abu Dhabi dining scene. Multiple branches are now found across the city, as well as pop-up cafes at popular local events (including the Zayed Festival and Liwa Festival).
Not just aesthetically appealing, their meals are supper tasty and filling, from brilliant breakfast dishes reflecting many international influences to unbeatable desserts for the sweet tooth.
- Multiple venues, including Muroor, TAMM, MOFA, Corniche, Yas Mall & Hudayriyat Mar Vista
- Hours vary by venue – learn more here
tashas Cafe
Fairly recently renovated, this chic waterfront cafe in Al Bateen perfectly blends menu and setting for an instagrammable delight. With ample indoor and outdoor seating, the ambience is always buzzing but does not feel crowded.
A chain of South African origin, tashas has very much engrained itself as part of the local culture. Their Al Bateen Branch offers many Spanish-inspired dishes such as Spanish eggs and seafood paella.
All-day breakfast is served until 6pm makes this one of our longtime dining favourites for taking our visitors to for that little bit of wow-factor and filling feeds throughout the day.
- Unit B02 Cafรฉ, Marsa Al Bateeen Marina, Abu Dhabi +971 445 0890
- Daily 8:00 am to midnight; Sundays 11:00 pm
Zoe Modern Greek Kouzina
Zoe’s Modern Greek provides an authentic Greek dining experience with stunning decor, including mosaic tiles and Greek murals; this has long been THE place for the best ambience and dining experience in Abu Dhabi.
Their al fresco dining on the patio is a beautiful spot for a winter breakfast, surrounded by the beautiful pink bougainvillaea and lush Greek stylings of blue and white reminiscent of Santorini everywhere you look.
- Marsa Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi +971 2 886 8286
- Weekdays Midday to 11:00 pm, Fridays midday to midnight, Saturdays 10:00 am to midnight; Sundays 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
BB Social Dining
Offering a unique and charming interior adorned with modern artworks and offering al fresco dining views in winter, this is the city’s home of exceptional and elegant dining. BB Social pride themselves on Middle Eastern and Modern Asian dishes.
Its location near ADGM makes it a brilliant spot for business lunches and happy hour evenings.
- Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Ground Floor, Al Maryah Island +971 2 236 2600
- Weekdays open Midday to Midnight; Weekends Midday to 1:00 am
Episodes at Emirates Palace
New kid on the block Episodes at Emirates Place Mandarin Oriental is every bit as elegant as its namesake hotel.
Serving up delicious fresh bakes daily, the highlight is their decadent afternoon tea but you can grab pastries and coffees as well as more hearty meals at any time of day. Smart dress required for entry.
- Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road, Al Ras Al Akhdar, +971 2 690 7999
- Daily 9:00 am to 11:00 pm
Beirut Sur Mer
Elegance is abound in every detail of the bold and eclectic interior while delivering an unforgettable culinary experience of modern Lebanese dishes.
This is the perfect spot to capture the sunset over the Arabian Gulf in Abu Dhabi and enjoy sundowners, including shisha, well into the evening. Indoor and out, this is a wonderful year-round venue to feast your eyes.
- Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island +971 543 954 000
- Weekdays 9:00 to midnight; weekends 9:00 am to 1:00 am
Sanderson’s Cafe
Sanderson’s has long set the scene as a community favourite, not only offering a wonderful cafe in Al Seef but exceptional family-friendly service, too, with a separate play area and outdoor playground to keep the little ones entertained while you dine.
While their hearty breakfast captures the stomach, the eye-catching and art-filled interior keeps you coming back for more, as does the small and eye-catching boutique for local buys.
- Andalus Al Seef Resort & Spa, Salam Street Near Khalifa Park, Abu Dhabi, +971 2 222 1142
- Open daily 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Ritual Cafe & Studio
For those who seek out a sleek, modern look, Ritual is known for its all-white ambience, ideal for relaxing and enjoying their carefully crafted breakfast and more filling meals, overlooking the mangrove waterfront.
Bringing a slice of serenity to this urban setting, Ritual is best enjoyed in the winter breeze for a lazy Sunday brunch (the old-fashioned style that happens somewhere between breakfast and lunch). We also love their sleek smoothies and kids’ dining choices.
Join in with their monthly arts and crafts workshop program – check their insta for details. The promised Yoga Studio still looks to be a work in progress.
- Unit 10, Reem Central Park, Reem Island, Abu Dhabi +971 502 637 100
- Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 am to 11:00 pm. Weekends 9:00 am to midnight
J. Lato Gelataria & Cafe
This fun little cafe is seriously one of the city’s hidden gems that deserves more credit! Hidden away somewhat in Souq al Mina, coffee and gelato come together for your afternoon sweet treat or the perfect finish to your day.
- Location: Souq Mina Street, Zayed Port Al Mina +971 2 550 4446
- Weekdays 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM (Closed Monday), Weekends 11:00 Am to midnight
Raclette Brasserie & Cafe
We couldn’t resist one more entry from Marsanaโhonestly, it’s a bit of a foodie photographer’s dream at Abu Dhabi’s most desirable address! Raclette is a French-themed dining experience offering several cosy nooks inside its well-appointed dining room as well as a delightful al fresco dining patio for the winter.
They are one of the few venues on our list that’s fully licensed, so this is your spot for a special champagne breakfast or a chilled-out Saturday brunch with live entertainment overlooking the beach.
Cheese and wine nights are another featured favourite, and of course, their extensive menu of French cuisine makes this one of the city’s gems that shines above the rest for both meal quality and ambience.
- Lilac Building, Mamsha al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island +971 2 546 2277
- Weekdays 9:00 am to midnight, weekends 9:00 am to 1:00 am
Yellow Door Cafe
Known for its distinctively painted yellow door and an old-school yellow pick-up truck parked outside, this is one of those hidden gems you’ll only hear about from locals (or the AI content scrapers!). We love that it’s open early in the morning, so it’s perfect for those on the school run, and they have even added a cute kids’ colouring corner.
Not just a pretty place to dine with its chic boho interior, you can pick up some local specialities here, too, such as date milkshakes with a caffeine twist and mojito mocktails. The selection is quite simple, but it’s a quirky and fun find for your Instagrammers seeking somewhere new.
- Al Quffal St, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi +971 567 146 648
- Open 7:00 am to 11:00 pm (adjust hours Ramadan until late evening)
Somewhere
This opulent Mediterranean restaurant has expanded its reach from Saudi to the UAE. There are now two branches of Somewhere to be found in Abu Dhabi at Yas Mall and Marina Mall. Marina Mall has the added bonus of also serving breakfast, which includes our favourite dish, the beautiful shakshuka.
- Abu Dhabi Marina Mall, Ground Floor (adjacent to Bounce), Al Marina 600 555 551
- Weekdays 9:00 am to 11:00 pm, weekends 9:00 am to midnight (breakfast until 1:00 pm)
Before you go… Important things to consider when planning a trip to Abu Dhabi
- Pop into our essential planning information page; it includes everything you need to know about getting around Abu Dhabi, a handy guide on what to pack and top tips for first-timers on the dos and don’ts, laws, and customs in the UAE.
- Start planning your itinerary around the 60+ top places to visit in Abu Dhabi.
- Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!
- Discover the best places to stay in Abu Dhabi.
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