Abu Dhabi's restaurant circuit has had a busy few months, and if your usual dinner rotation is starting to feel stale, there's a fresh batch of openings worth building a weekend around — from a patisserie heavyweight making its capital debut to a beloved sandwich shop that finally has a permanent home.
On Yas Island, two very different additions are pulling crowds. Rowley's, the cult steak-and-fries brand, has landed at Yas Bay with a deal worth knowing about: a weekday Power Lunch of Angus steak, salad and unlimited fries for Dhs80, served Monday to Friday. Over at Yas Marina, Café du Port brings French-Mediterranean breakfasts and grab-and-go specialty coffee to the waterfront, open daily from 7.30am. There's also an opening perk — a free coffee with every order from November 9 to 18.
Marina Mall is now home to Pierre Hermé Paris' first flagship restaurant in Abu Dhabi. Beyond the famous macarons and pastries, there's a full savoury menu: think avocado toast and a club sandwich, finished with a signature wheel of macarons. Budget around Dhs200 for two.
On Saadiyat, Eva at Mamsha Al Saadiyat is the sunset pick. It serves light Greek and Mediterranean plates with cocktails and mocktails, and indoor-outdoor seating facing the sea — the closest thing to a Santorini evening without leaving the Gulf. Expect roughly Dhs200 for two.
Sandwich fans have two reasons to celebrate. Rascals Deli, the homegrown sando shop with a devoted following, now has a permanent spot at the Al Qana Waterfront, open daily from 7.30am, with merch on sale if you want to rep the brand. And in the same Al Qana development, Landers is the slow-breakfast option — croissants and poached eggs served until 1pm daily.
Two more for the list: Bkry at The Arcades, Al Khail Square, pairs croissants and all-day breakfast with a genuinely good view — its patio overlooks the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club's training grounds, so you can watch horses go by with your coffee. Signature dishes include a Korean Chicken Sando and a Chocolate Peanut Caramel Babka. And in Al Zeina, Oui Oui is a female-led gelateria and café founded by Caterina Bernal and Manue Marescia, built around quality gelato and a living-room feel; it stays open until 1am on weekends.
The practical takeaway: Abu Dhabi's new openings now span the whole day — pastry breakfasts at Bkry or Landers, a Dhs80 steak lunch at Rowley's, sunset Greek at Eva, and gelato or macarons to finish. Prices are mostly wallet-friendly, with average bills for two ranging from Dhs50 at Oui Oui to Dhs200 at Eva and Pierre Hermé. If you're visiting the capital, you can comfortably build a day around Al Qana alone, or split your time between Saadiyat's beach and Yas Island's marina. Free coffee at Café du Port runs only until November 18, so move fast on that one.
