Saadiyat Island has no shortage of reasons to visit. There are the beaches, the museums, the five-star resorts and, increasingly, a very good argument for fantastic food.
Tucked inside some of the island’s best hotels are restaurants serving rustic Italian flavours, Southeast Asian favourites, and perfectly cooked steaks.
Fans of a long lunch by the sand or a dinner that requires elasticated trousers, here are some Saadiyat hotel restaurants worth knowing about.
Mare Mare, Jumeirah Saadiyat Island
For an Italian meal with a side order of sea views, Mare Mare is an easy place to start. The restaurant at Jumeirah Saadiyat Island leans into the traditional flavours of Italy, with the offerings moving between crudi, antipasti, pasta, seafood, and meat.
Menu highlights include the yellowfin tuna tartare, grilled octopus, and vitello tonnato, whilst the restaurant’s Mediterranean focus makes it a natural choice when you are craving something carb-heavy with a Gulf backdrop.
And because you are dining at Jumeirah, you can also spend the evening convincing yourself that booking the hotel room afterwards would be a perfectly sensible decision.
For more information and reservations, visit Mare Mare | Jumeirah Saadiyat Island.
Location: Jumeirah Saadiyat Island, Al Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Maté, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
Meat lovers, look this way. Maté brings Argentine and Lebanese influences to Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, with the menu focused on open-fire cooking and grilled cuts.
Expect Black Angus ribeye, Australian Wagyu and short rib, alongside dishes that offer a little more variety than simply ordering a very large steak and calling it dinner.
It is the kind of restaurant where a small dinner can become a surprisingly ambitious order.
For more information and reservations, visit Maté | Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi.
Location: Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, Al Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
L’Olivo Ristorante, Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island
L’Olivo is the Italian option at Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island, serving classic crowd-pleasers for anyone who believes pasta is an appropriate order at every European restaurant.
The à la carte covers the Italian essentials, including pizza and the renowned tiramisu, with the restaurant sitting within a resort that offers plenty to keep you occupied before and after dinner.
It’s easy to just come for dinner, but it could easily turn into a full resort day. For more information and reservations, visit Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island.
Location: Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island. Al Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Sontaya, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort
The incredible view and Southeast Asian flavours take centre stage at Sontaya, with the menu providing Thai, Indonesian, and wider regional influences.
Featuring papaya salad, dim sum and fresh seafood, with the King Massaman beef curry a standout, it’s a fine venue for those who are all about flavour and good spice.
Key to note: the mango sticky rice is a particularly tempting finale, especially if you have somehow managed to leave room after all mains.
For more information and reservations, visit Sontaya.
Location: The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi
Turtle Bay Bar & Grill, Saadiyat Rotana
For a more relaxed resort dinner with a sophisticated menu, Turtle Bay Bar & Grill brings together steaks, sushi and plenty of reasons to order one more thing for the table. The poolside setting helps create that holiday feeling, even if your only journey afterwards is back across Abu Dhabi.
For more information and reservations, visit Turtle Bay Bar & Grill | Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas.
Location: Saadiyat Rotana, Al Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Beach House, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi
Beach House is another Park Hyatt favourite, combining a beachfront setting with Italian-inspired dishes and plenty of Mediterranean influence.
It is particularly suited to those evenings when the food is only half the reason for going and sitting by the sea while the sun goes down is the other half.
With a sensible and tasty kids’ menu, it’s a strong choice for those who want to bring the little ones.
With so many brilliant spots dotted around Saadiyat, deciding where to eat might be the hardest part. For visitors and residents craving pasta by the sea, a sizzling steak, or something with a little more spice, these restaurants are more than worth the trip across the island.
Follow Secret Abu Dhabi for more news, events, and updates in the capital and beyond.
