--- title: "Where to eat in Abu Dhabi" description: "Abu Dhabi eats from Zayed National Museum-area Emirati heritage to Li Beirut's Lebanese splurge and Al Fanar's regional canon. Zuma and Hakkasan handle international fine dining; Nusr-Et covers steakhouse theatre. Book Li Beirut and hotel fine dining 1–2 weeks ahead; shawarma and machboos counters are walk-in." url: "https://travelshifu.com/eats/abu-dhabi" country: "United Arab Emirates" type: "dining guide" source: "TravelShifu" --- # Where to eat in Abu Dhabi _Emirati heritage, Corniche seafood and Louvre-adjacent fine dining_ Abu Dhabi eats from Zayed National Museum-area Emirati heritage to Li Beirut's Lebanese splurge and Al Fanar's regional canon. Zuma and Hakkasan handle international fine dining; Nusr-Et covers steakhouse theatre. Book Li Beirut and hotel fine dining 1–2 weeks ahead; shawarma and machboos counters are walk-in. ## Restaurants ### Li Beirut **Area**: Saadiyat Island (Jumeirah at Saadiyat) · **Cuisine**: Lebanese fine dining · **Price**: $$$$ · dinner AED 400–700 per person · **Signature**: Lebanese mezze and grill with Saadiyat waterfront views Li Beirut is Abu Dhabi's Lebanese splurge: mezze, grills and waterfront views on Saadiyat in a room that suits celebration dinners when hotel buffet fatigue sets in. Book terrace seats ahead — the reliable splurge between Al Fanar's heritage canon and Zuma's international polish. ### Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe **Area**: Multiple (Yas Island and Corniche branches) · **Cuisine**: Emirati heritage · **Price**: $$ · dinner AED 80–150 per person · **Signature**: Machboos, harees and traditional Emirati breakfast Al Fanar is Emirati heritage dining done accessibly: machboos, harees and regional plates in a setting styled like a 1960s Dubai creek house — tourist-facing but the recipes stay honest. Book weekend dinner; walk in for breakfast. Essential Abu Dhabi eating beyond international hotel chains. ### Zuma **Area**: Al Maryah Island (Galleria) · **Cuisine**: Japanese izakaya · **Price**: $$$$ · dinner AED 350–550 per person · **Signature**: Robata-grilled dishes and izakaya sharing plates Zuma brings global izakaya polish to Al Maryah: robata grills, sushi and sharing plates in a room that Abu Dhabi's business crowd treats as default celebration. Book ahead — not uniquely Emirati, but consistently executed when machboos and mezze need a rest night. ### Hakkasan **Area**: Emirates Palace · **Cuisine**: Modern Cantonese · **Price**: $$$$ · dinner AED 400–650 per person · **Signature**: Peking duck and dim sum in palace setting Hakkasan at Emirates Palace is Cantonese fine dining with palace theatre: Peking duck, dim sum and cocktails in a setting that justifies the premium over mall food courts. Book ahead — the special-occasion room when Li Beirut and Emirati heritage need a contrast night. ### COYA Abu Dhabi **Area**: Al Maryah Island · **Cuisine**: Peruvian · **Price**: $$$ · dinner AED 250–400 per person · **Signature**: Ceviche, anticuchos and pisco cocktails COYA brings Lima energy to Al Maryah: ceviche, anticuchos and pisco sours in a room that buzzes on Thursday and Friday nights. Book ahead — the fun counterweight to heritage Emirati lunches and palace-formal Cantonese on separate evenings. ### Nusr-Et Steakhouse **Area**: Four Seasons Hotel Al Maryah Island · **Cuisine**: Steakhouse · **Price**: $$$$ · steaks AED 350–600+ · **Signature**: Salt-bae theatrics and premium grilled cuts Nusr-Et is steakhouse theatre with global fame: premium cuts, tableside salt performance and a Four Seasons room that suits groups who want spectacle with their splurge. Book ahead — not subtle, not local, but reliably executed when your group demands a known quantity. ### Al Maqam **Area**: Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort (Liwa) · **Cuisine**: Arabian fine dining · **Price**: $$$$ · dinner splurge tier · **Signature**: Arabian grill and desert-setting dining Al Maqam at Qasr Al Sarab is desert dining theatre: Arabian grills in a Liwa resort setting reached by long drive — book it as an experience meal rather than a casual dinner. Plan transport; dress smart; treat it as the splurge that pairs with dune stays, not city-centre convenience. ### Byblos Sur Mer **Area**: InterContinental Abu Dhabi (Corniche) · **Cuisine**: Lebanese · **Price**: $$$ · dinner AED 200–350 per person · **Signature**: Lebanese mezze with Corniche sea views Byblos Sur Mer pairs Corniche views with Lebanese mezze: grilled meats, hummus and terrace seating in an InterContinental setting that suits sunset dinners when Saadiyat feels too far. Book terrace ahead — moderate splurge between Al Fanar heritage and Li Beirut luxury. ## What Emirati dishes should you try in Abu Dhabi? Essential dishes are machboos (spiced rice with meat or fish), harees, luqaimat (sweet dumplings), balaleet and Arabic coffee with dates. Al Fanar is the accessible heritage entry — book ahead on weekends. ## How far ahead should you book Abu Dhabi restaurants? Li Beirut, Zuma and Hakkasan need 1–2 weeks. COYA and Byblos need about 1 week. Al Fanar needs 3–5 days on weekends. Desert resort dining needs advance planning for transport. Mix one waterfront splurge with heritage Emirati meals. ## Is Abu Dhabi expensive for food? Emirati heritage meals run AED 80–150, mid-range international AED 200–400, and hotel fine dining AED 350–700+. Abu Dhabi is pricey at the splurge tier — one Li Beirut dinner plus Al Fanar lunches keeps daily food costs manageable. ## What food experiences are worth booking in Abu Dhabi? Desert safari dinners, Emirati cooking classes and heritage food tours are the highest-yield bookings. Expect AED 250–500 per person. They solve transport to desert venues and deliver cultural context hotel restaurants cannot. --- Canonical HTML: https://travelshifu.com/eats/abu-dhabi