WE’RE HERE, HBU? Ooh! Al Ain’s coolest eateries to check out now TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM | OCTOBER 2023 | VOL 22 | ISSUE 05 | DHS12 | PRICE INCLUDES VAT | AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION Sunset spots worth bragging about – now’s the time to show them offtimeoutabudhabi.com October 2023 3 FEATURES AND REGULARS 6 City life 8 Things to do 34 Al Ain eats 42 Independent stores 48 Qasr Al Watan quick guide 52 Food 56 Nightlife 62 Family & Kids 64 Sport & Wellbeing 66 Hype dish Brick Rooftop Kitchen & Bar PAGE 24 Live and loud Turn your nights out up a notch this October with our guide to live music in Abu Dhabi PAGE 60 Escape from reality Put on your thinking caps and test your brains at these brilliant escape rooms PAGE 12 Super sundowners Sunset in Abu Dhabi just hits different – particularly when you’re enjoying a tipple outside. This month, we’ve rounded up the best bars for admiring the golden skies Abu Dhabi Discover the best of the city this month4 Summer 2023 timeoutabudhabi.com JOIN THE CONVERSATION There are a lot of things to love about living in Abu Dhabi, from the glorious weather to the abundance of cultural activities, and I’m not afraid to shout about it. In fact, it’s one of my favourite things to do – because there’s no greater feeling than snapping a sunset, a pool day, or a world- class meal, and posting it on Instagram with an insufferable caption like “How’s your Wednesday going?” or “Abu Dhabi’s not so bad”. Because honestly, what’s the point of living here if not to show off to your friends? And if you’re looking to brag about that #abudhabilife, the sundowner spots in our cover feature are a good place to start. Elsewhere in the magazine, there’s a guide to the picture-perfect Qasr Al Watan, plus the coolest eateries in Al Ain. Social media fodder galore awaits you this issue – go forth and brag about it. Hello, Abu Dhabi Dianne Apen-Sadler Group Editor facebook.com/ timeoutabudhabi timeoutabudhabi @timeoutabudhabiyoutube.com/ timeoutgcc Published by ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC © 2023 Time Out Group Ltd, London, UK. Time Out Abu Dhabi PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel +971 4 444 3000 www.itp.com Offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Martin Chambers Editorial Director Holly Sands Time Out Abu Dhabi Editorial Head of Content, Time Out GCC McKenna Grant mckenna.grant@itp.com +971 4 444 3486 Group Editor, Time Out Abu Dhabi & Time Out Doha Dianne Apen-Sadler Tel: +971 2 245 0087 email: dianne.apensadler@itp.com Social Media Editor, Time Out Abu Dhabi Tana van Heerden Tel: +971 2 245 0086 email: tana.vanheerden@itp.com Group Arabic Editor Aline Alkhoury Tel: +971 4 444 3695 email: aline.alkhoury@itp.com Group Video Editor Bharat Tahiliani Tel: +971 4 444 3559 email: bharat.tahiliani@itp.com Digital Content Lead Jeffrey Casiño Tel: +971 4 444 3591 email: jeffrey.casino@itp.com Content Executive Rodelito Mamuad Tel: +971 4 444 3657 email: rodelito.mamuad@itp.com Contributor Hiral Kapadia Events & Marketing Events & Marketing Manager Eleanor Ashton eleanor.ashton@itp.com Events & Marketing Executive Kate Galaktionova kate.galaktionova@itp.com Art Head of Design Rita Ghantous Contributing Designer Hiral Kapadia Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles Image Editor Jemima Joy Group Video Editor Bharat Tahiliani Video Editor Hana Morsy Videographer Ajith Narendra Production Production Manager Denny Kollannoor Production Coordinator Balasubramanian P Tel: +971 4 444 3871 email: balasubramanian.p@itp.com Distribution & Circulation Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira Tel: +971 4 444 3669 email: avinash.pereira@itp.com Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Tel: +971 4 444 3236 email: rajesh.pillai@itp.com Advertising Group Commercial Director Sally Whittam Tel: +971 4 444 3348 mobile: +971 56 104 0567 email: sally.whittam@itp.com Commercial Manager Stuart Singleton Tel: +971 4 444 3000 Mobile: +971 52 352 3645 email: stuart.singleton@itp.com ITP Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. 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Time Out Abu Dhabi regular news-stand retail price is £3.50/Dhs12.00.Show starts at 8:30pmthelaughterfactory.com The ‘Menace to Society’ tour featuring: Dana Alexander, Jimmy Mcghie, Miqdaad Dohadwala & BRONWYN BYRNES october 13-21 LF_OCTOBER_Timeout_R1.indd 118/09/2023 7:45 pm TO DUBAI ADS copy.indd 119/09/2023 10:076 October 2023 timeoutabudhabi.com FOODIES OF THE capital, we have excellent news – Taste of Abu Dhabi is back, and it’s even bigger (and tastier) than before. The newly reimagined festival will bring 15 of the city’s best restaurants together at Gateway Park South on Yas Island, with a special menu of taster-size dishes at each, giving you the chance to experience them all over three days in November. So far, ten restaurants have been announced: BB Social Dining, Dai Pai Dong, José by Pizarro, La Carnita, Marco’s Italian, Namak, Oak Room, Oii, Otoro and Penelope’s. Every restaurant will feature at least one vegetarian plate, and one kid-friendly dish, and you’ll be able to pair them with beverages from one of Àve licensed lounges on site. Taste of Abu Dhabi, but bigger One of the best parts of Taste of Abu Dhabi are the free-to-attend celebrity workshops, and this year you’ll gain culinary skills from chefs including John Torode, José Pizarro, Marco Pierre White, Jenny Morris, Shelina Permalloo and Ritu Dalmia. This year’s Taste of Abu Dhabi is ramping up the festival atmosphere, too, with multiple stages throughout the space featuring everything from acoustic tunes to live DJs. You’ll also be able to keep the little ones busy at the kids zone, with bouncy castles, cooking workshops and more, plus browse local brands at the Taste of Abu Dhabi market. The event will run from Friday November 10 until Sunday November 12, and early bird tickets are on sale now at abu-dhabi. platinumlist.net. General admission tickets, which include one-day entry, workshops and access to all music stages, are currently Dhs55, while the taster package, which includes all of the above plus two food vouchers, two drinks vouchers, and exclusive workshops, are currently Dhs165. O Fri Nov 10-Sun Nov 12. Gateway Park South, Yas Island, tasteofabudhabifestival.com. “Bigger and tastier than ever” City Lifetimeoutabudhabi.com October 2023 7 TO REDUCE THE environmental footprint of the inÁux of visitors due to COP28 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi has just announced that it will be planting 10 mangrove trees for each visitor. The Ghars Al Emarat initiative, which is part of the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy, will see an additional 700,000 trees planted. Mangroves will be planted in areas such as Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, Al Mirfa City and Jubail Island during Q4 2023. The UAE is already planning to plant more than one million mangroves by 2030, as every 5,000 mangrove trees can absorb one tonne of carbon. Thanks to protection laws and restoration efforts, Abu Dhabi’s mangrove areas have increased by 64 sq km, and now stand at 176 sq km. Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, said, “Building a resilient, net-zero future depends on halting nature loss and restoring our natural ecosystems. “Nature-based solutions, including those involving mangroves, have the potential to supply over a third of our climate mitigation needs and build resilience to the effects of climate change.” IF YOU’RE ANYTHING like us, you’ll be eagerly awaiting the opening of the new terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Well, good news, because the newly renamed AUH Terminal A will open for operations in November. The new building, which was previously known as the MidÀeld Terminal, will accommodate 45 million passengers per year, process 11,000 travellers per hour and operate 79 aircraft at a time. What’s more, there will be a whopping 163 retail, food and beverage outlets catering to a wide variety of tastes and preferences. Hollywood legend Tom Cruise was one of the Àrst to jet into the new terminal, with Abu Dhabi (and the terminal itself) serving as the setting for several scenes in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. Terminal A will boast a range of interconnected biometric systems, inviting passengers to enjoy the speed and comfort of a seamless, digitised journey from pre-travel to boarding gate. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, said of the news, “As Abu Dhabi’s new gateway to the world, Terminal A is an embodiment of Abu Dhabi Airports’ commitment to support the emirate’s sustainable economic development. “The opening of the facility, which is on par with the largest and grandest on our planet, turns over a new page in Abu Dhabi’s 55-year aviation history. A beacon of modernity and sophistication, it will be a pivotal driver for our emirate’s growth by spurring tourism.” O Opening early Nov 2023. Terminal A to open in November New COP28 mangroves pledge 8 October 2023 timeoutabudhabi.com Things to do Disney days Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Wonder is headed to the capital this month, and we can’t wait. Mickey and Minnie will be taking to the stage alongside Disney princesses from Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and more. O From Dhs84 (bronze seats). Wed Oct 11-Thu Oct 12 7.30pm; Fri Oct 13 3.30pm, 7.30pm; Sat Oct 14-Sun Oct 15 11.30am, 3.30pm, 7.30pm. Etihad Arena, Yas Island, etihadarena.ae.timeoutabudhabi.com October 2023 9 Laugh out loud STAND-OUT STAND-UP Netflix star Jo Koy headed for Yas Island After starting out at a Las Vegas coffee house, Jo Koy will Ànd himself a long way from home when he hits Abu Dhabi on October 28. The outspoken American – known for his Comedy Central and NetÁix specials – lists Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams among his inÁuences. He’ll no doubt be hoping to bring that sort of gravitas to Etihad Arena. O From Dhs180 (silver). Sat Oct 28 7.30pm onwards. Etihad Arena, Yas Island, etihadarena.ae. UAE DEBUT Andrew Shulz brings The Life Tour to Abu Dhabi The New York comedian, who racks up more than 12 million views on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok every single week, will be taking to the stage on Sunday October 22. Expect an unÀltered exploration of life in its all messy glory (and to laugh your head off). O From Dhs275 (lower tier bronze). Sun Oct 22 6.30pm onwards. Etihad Arena, Yas Island, etihadarena.ae. SHOP LOCAL Umm Al Emarat Park Market returns The popular outdoor market will be making a comeback on Saturday October 20. Held every weekend until March 2024, you can browse food and artisanal goods from more than 40 vendors between 4pm and 10pm. O Dhs10. Fri Oct 20-Sat Mar 30, 2024. Every Fri-Sat 4pm-10pm. Umm Al Emarat Park, Mushrif, ummalemaratpark.ae / @ummalemaratpark. Time to relax Work near Al Maryah Island? Then you’re deÀnitely going to want to take advantage of this new offer at Rosewood Abu Dhabi. From Monday to Thursday you can get a 40 percent discount on 90-minute massages. Available all day, you can release stress on your lunch break, or head here after work. Choose between a deep tissue massage, a classic Thai massage or even aromatherapy. No matter how you choose to relax, you’ll be able to do so for less this October. O Mon-Thu 11am-9pm. Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island (02 813 5537). Mid-autumn festival Chinese mid-autumn celebrations will be taking place at Dai Pai Dong until October 6. Book in now for a themed eight-course menu featuring dishes traditionally enjoyed during the festival. O Dhs355. Open Sun-Thu noon-11pm; Fri-Sat noon-midnight. Rosewood Hotel (02 813 5588).Next >