< PreviousMANAR ABU DHABI 30 Dec 2023 – Jan 2024 timeoutabudhabi.com Translation Island by Rafael Lozano-HemmerMANAR ABU DHABI timeoutabudhabi.com Dec 2023 – Jan 2024 31 TRANSLATION ISLAND (2023) BY RAFAEL LOZANO-HEMMER Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has taken over Lulu Island, with 10 artworks dotted along a 2.3km route. So, if you’re planning on visiting, wear comfortable shoes. You’ll no doubt have seen Collider already, as this piece can be seen from up to Àve kilometres away. For this piece, searchlights have been placed around the island facing downtown Abu Dhabi, and move in a wave- like motion. Collider uses Geiger counters and moves in response to protons and alpha particles from cosmic rays, and is meant to “make tangible our invisible connection to outer space”. For Translation Stream, poems from several languages have been projected onto a stretch of trail, with letters moving gently as you continue along the path. With no one on the path, the poems are unreadable, but the interactive piece detects your presence and brings the words together so that you can read them as you stroll. You can become a part of Manar Abu Dhabi by heading to Recorded Assembly. The three projected portraits morph the faces of visitors into one another, and can mix up to 600,000 thousand recordings. Another piece that you can become a part of, 4,000 Edison light bulbs have been arranged across Lulu Island for Pulse Island. You can add a recording of your heartbeat, and the lights will move in sync with that – until someone else records their pulse. Lozano-Hemmer has used thermal cameras to create this Thermal Drift. Stand next to the wall and the cameras pick up the heat from your body, and turn them into light. At Dune Ringers, the valley has been linked up to several microphones which echo what has been previously said as you admire the waves of light transforming the dunes. Hundreds of spotlights have been aimed at an empty lake-bed towards the north of Lulu Island for Voice Basin. The light beams react to voice recordings sent through two intercoms, and interact with previous recordings before being deleted. Three Abra boats Áoating in Lulu Island’s central lake are illuminated with white lights that are constantly translating James Joyce’s “Finnegan’s Wake” into Arabic, Urdu, Hindi and other languages for Translation Lake. At the Sandbox, there are two elevated sandboxes where a camera detects your presence when you stand on them. It then projects a tiny version of your hand as well as a huge version of your hand over the arena, so that you can see the same thing in three scales (the third being your actual hand). Last but not least, for Shadow Tuner, the world’s largest spherical aerostat has been suspended from a 14m tall mast, with a rotating image of Earth projected onto it. The sphere casts shadows of passers by, and as they cover different cities, the local radio stations will begin to play. SAADIYAT ISLAND PERSISTENCE OF FORM (2023) BY GROUPE F Over at Louvre Abu Dhabi, you can watch drone and light painting shows from the museum’s gardens. The shows pay tribute to the architecture of the museums and galleries already Ànished on Saadiyat Island, as well as those which are still under construction, and turn the night’s sky into an architect’s sketchbook, with various shapes turning into the marvels we see rising before us every time we drive along Saadiyat Island. Shows last around 25 minutes, and will take place at 6pm, 7.30pm, 9pm and 10.30pm. There are light painting shows at 6.40pm, 8.05pm, and 9.40pm. O Free. Until Tue Jan 30, 2024. For more information on Manar Abu Dhabi, and for exact Google Maps locations, head to paad.ae. COMING SOON There are more Manar Abu Dhabi pieces on the way, with a second series of artworks due to be unveiled on Wednesday December 20 on Al Samaliyah Island, Saadiyat Island and at Jubail Mangrove Park. Al Samaliyah Island International art collective teamLab will have seven artworks on Al Samaliyah Island: Universe of Fire Particles on the Island (2023), Autonomous Resonating Life and Resonating Trees (2023), Forest of Autonomous Resonating Life (2023), Giant SolidiÀed Spark (2023), Life is Continuous Light – Mangrove Forest (2023), Resonating Microcosms – SolidiÀed Light Color (2023) and Pillars that Dance with the Wind (2023). Directions, UAE (2023) by Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem will also open here, as will Terrapolis (2023) from Saudi artist Ayman Zedani. Jubail Mangrove Park Rain Wu’s One with the Soil, One with the Cloud (2023) will open in the mangroves. Saadiyat Island The under-construction Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will serve as the backdrop for video projection installation Rise (2023) by Alaa Edris in Mamsha Al Saadiyat.FRESH EATS 32 Dec 2023 – Jan 2024 timeoutabudhabi.com BB Social DiningFRESH EATS timeoutabudhabi.com Dec 2023 – Jan 2024 33 2023 has been a big year for Abu Dhabi’s food and nightlife scene, with new options popping up left, right and centre. From second branches of well- loved restaurants and bars to unique concepts, and a fair few Irish pubs, there’s a lot of newness making the rounds. Struggled to keep up with everything that opened its doors over the past 12 months? Not to worry, because we’ve rounded up a few of our favourites. Happy eating. We’re certainly looking forward to what 2024 brings us. ADRIFT BURGER BAR After a successful pop-up at Expo 2020 Dubai last year, award-winning chef David Myers decided to open his Àrst-ever permanent burger restaurant at Yas Mall in May. Given Myers’ iconic burger recipe was once named “The Perfect Burger” by The New York Times, you can expect some seriously tasty patties. Alongside his signature burger, you can tuck into the ADRIFT burger with ajwain jam, pickled jalapeños and Gruyere cheese, as well as the Impossible Earth burger, which is completely vegan. O Open daily 10am-midnight. Sports Boulevard, Yas Mall, adriftburgerbar.com (02 666 6650). ANTONIA TRATTORIA Good news, pizza lovers – there are now two Antonia’s. The Highly Commended OG branch at Mamsha Al Saadiyat, and the new Antonia Trattoria in Al Zeina, which opened in November. More locations means more pizza made with the 50-year-old sourdough starter, which gives Antonia’s pies an edge over everyone else. Alongside pizza by the ICYMI All the biggest new restaurant and bar openings of the past 12 months slice, you can dig into classic plates like the oh-so-simple, but oh-so-delicious cacio e pepe, buffalo mozzarella with tomatoes, or the eggplant parmigiana. O Open Mon-Thu noon-10.30pm; Fri-Sun noon-11pm. Al Zeina, Al Raha Beach, antoniarestaurant.com (02 622 0480). AVOBAR The humble avocado has found its way onto most menus across the capital, no matter the cuisine, and now it’s taken over an entire restaurant with the opening of Avobar. The superfood eatery at Yas Mall, which Àrst welcomed customers in September, serves up classics, like the avocado on sourdough, classics with a twist, like the avocado on sweet potato, and alternative plates like the rigatoni pasta which is totally vegan (and totally full of avocado). O Open Mon-Thu 9am-10pm; Fri-Sun 9am-11.30pm. Town Square, Yas Mall, avobar.co.uk (02 442 0127). BA:TE While Ba:TE by Wawa Dining only opened in February, the eatery has already made a splash in the capital, making it onto our shortlist for Best Japanese Restaurant. It’s a must for contemporary Japanese cuisine with Korean and Peruvian twists, all served up in a super-cool setting, with a giant glowing moon on the outdoor terrace, and a hidden bar, Jumak, which patrons can enter through an antique green wardrobe. O Open Mon-Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri-Sat 1pm-1am; Sun 1pm-midnight. Eastern Mangroves, bate.ae (02 632 5272). BB SOCIAL DINING The place to BB, BB Social Dining at the A PUBLIC LIGHT ART EXHIBITION RUNNING UNTIL 30.01.2024 35 ART INSTALLATIONS 22 PARTICIPATING ARTISTS 7 LOCATIONS 1 CITYFRESH EATS 36 Dec 2023 – Jan 2024 timeoutabudhabi.com Éla ÉlaFRESH EATS timeoutabudhabi.com Dec 2023 – Jan 2024 37 Erth Rosewood Àrst opened in May. The award- winning Dubai-born brand is known for its bao buns, bites, bowls and barbecue, and you can expect plenty of that on any visit to the eatery on Al Maryah Island, along with some Abu Dhabi-exclusive dishes you don’t want to pass up on, including wasabi lobster, prawn and lobster har gow, plus blueÀn tuna, salmon and yellowtail nigiri. O Open Sun-Thu noon-midnight; Fri-Sat noon-1am. Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island (02 236 2600). BROADWAY Named for the famed district in New York, Broadway is brand spanking new, having only opened in October. There’s no business like show business, and there’s no bar like this anywhere else in the capital. Here you’ll Ànd 1920s Art Deco-inspired features including exposed steel and brick, red leather booths and vaulted ceilings. Broadway describes itself as a modern French brasserie serving “British comfort food with an American inÁuence”. For those confused by the mash-up of cuisines, that means everything from escargot and tater tots to smashed burgers and beef Wellington, plus desserts including sticky toffee pudding and chocolate peanut butter tarts. Also part of the bar is DMC Theatre in Broadway, where you can catch magic shows from Drummond Money-Coutts every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. O Open Mon-Fri 3pm-1am; Sat-Sun 12.30pm-1am. Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Corniche Road West, mandarinoriental.com (02 690 7999). BUA THAI CAFÉ Just across the water from Desert Lotus in Al Bandar is sister restaurant Bua Thai Café on Yas Bay Waterfront. The small eatery, which opened in October, serves up Thai classics, from tom yum soup and massaman curry to pad see ew and mango sticky rice. O Open Sun-Thu noon-11pm; Fri-Sat noon-midnight. Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island (02 575 3158). CASUAL Looking for Italian food in a laidback – or, dare we say it, casual – atmosphere? Look no further than Casual at Marsa Al Bateen. The most popular plates on offer include the tomato and burrata salad (drool), the wagyu lasagne (double drool) and the tiramisu (drool times a million). O Open daily noon-midnight. Marsa Al Bateen (02 626 1811). CHUCK & FRIDA A second food hall (after huna, which debuted late last year) opened at Yas Mall over the summer. With Àve outlets in one, you can grab burgers, poke bowls, traditional Vietnamese baguettes, and street food from around the globe, all in one space. There’s also a coffee shop, for those who need to fuel up in between window shopping stints. O Open Sun-Thu 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-midnight. Yas Mall, Yas Island, chuckandfrida.ae (058 211 8470). CRAFTY FOX Dubai-export Crafty Fox, which has proven incredibly popular at its original home in the Jumeirah Golf Estates Golf & Country Club, opened its doors right here in the capital in October. Found at Yas Links Golf & Country Club, the gorgeous new gastropub and sports bar boasts spectacular views of the course and of the mangroves. The menu here is tapas style, with options like calamari, sliders, lobster rolls and more. Plus, there are 11 different hops and apple-based beverages on the menu, including pints of the black stuff, so hops fans will Ànd a lot to love here. O Open daily 11am-2am. 1st Floor, Yas Links Golf Club, Yas Island, viyagolf.com/craftyfox (02 404 3081). EL&N LONDON Opened just in time for Barbie mania back in July, EL&N London is the newest, pinkest, sparkliest café in town. Found at Yas Bay Waterfront, this spot serves up picture-perfect (and, of course, very pink) dishes like mini cereal pancakes, chicken and pink wafÁes, and rose macaron paired with rose Spanish or red velvet matcha lattes. The menu handily tells you which dishes are most popular for the ‘gram, too. O Open Sun-Thu 10am-midnight; Fri-Sat 10am-2am. Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island, ae.elnlondon.com (02 883 9395). ÉLA ÉLA Named for a Greek expression meaning ‘come now’, Éla Éla is meant to transport diners to the island of Crete, with plenty of classic plates to share among family and friends. Highlights on the food menu include spanakopita, grilled octopus and chicken souvla. The restaurant forms part of a trio of eateries under one roof, including Penelope’s and Mr Moto (more on that in a moment). O Open daily 5pm-midnight. Yas Marina, Yas Island, elaela.ae (056 603 7500). ERTH With architecture and interiors inspired by traditional majlis, and a spectacular outdoor area, Erth restaurant is one of the top new restaurants in town. In fact, we named it the Best Middle Eastern Restaurant in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, a testament to how brilliant the innovative menu is. You’ll be able to try Emirati dishes with a twist, like the margooga ravioli casuella hot pot or the deconstructed dates cake. O Open Mon-Fri noon-11pm; Sat-Sun 8am-11pm. Qasr Al Hosn, Al Hisn, erthrestaurant.ae (058 600 6922). FLAMINGO ROOM BY TASHAS The Galleria Al Maryah Island has three new openings in one: Flamingo Room by tashas, African Lounge, and Collective Africa. At Flamingo Room by tashas, you’ll be able to dig into plates you may recall from its sister venue in Dubai such as calamari mozambique, lobster pasta and prawn arancini. The venue is all African glamour, with hand-blown glass installations from South African artist Mike Hyam. Next door at African Lounge you can try mocktails and shareable plates, while FRESH EATS 38 Dec 2023 – Jan 2024 timeoutabudhabi.com Collective Africa is a luxury concept store. O Open Mon-Thu noon-4pm, 7pm-midnight; Fri-Sun noon-4pm, 7pm-1am. The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Áamingoroombytashas.com (02 675 9301). HEROES NEVER DIE Not quite a new opening, but legendary pub Heroes reopened with new management, a new menu, and a slightly different name in June. Now being operated by Stars N Bars, the venue is meant to be a cross between a rock ‘n’ roll joint and a sports bar, you’ll be able to listen to live music throughout the week. O Open Sun-Thu 3pm-3am; Fri-Sat 3pm-4am. Millennium Downtown Abu Dhabi, Al Danah, @heroesneverdie_abudhabi (050 525 6364). HOME BAKERY KITCHEN Homegrown brand Home Bakery Kitchen started life in Dubai, but expanded to Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall in July. For those looking for a full meal, you can try dishes like beef and mushroom rice, sumac salmon and baked eggplant, but if you’re just looking to indulge your sweet tooth, you should be ordering cookies, brownies or the cheesecake. O Open daily 10am-10pm. Marina Mall, Al Kasir, homebakery.ae. JAWAHER Persian-Lebanese restaurant Jawaher opened at the start of October and promises a fusion of Áavours from Tehran to Beirut, with the signature dish, Jawaher, being a must-order. The rice dish, featuring wild barberries, pistachios, almonds and caramelised onions, can be paired with grills like lamb chops, shish tawouk and lamb shoulder. For those after a taste of Iran, you can also try gheimeh, a classic Persian stew with diced lamb. You’ll Ànd Jawaher among the strip of restaurants in The Walk at Al Seef, which also includes Sanderson’s and The Chippy. O Open daily noon-11pm. The Walk at Al Seef, jawaherrestaurant.com (056 406 0545). JOE & THE JUICE Danish-born brand Joe & The Juice opened in Yas Mall in April. Perhaps the most popular new opening in Yas Mall (seriously, this spot is always rammed with people), the casual eatery offers up signature shakes, breakfast bowls and sandwiches. O Open Sun-Thu 8am-11pm; Fri-Sat 8am-midnight. Near valet entrance, Yas Mall, Yas Island (02 675 6771). JOSÉ BY PIZARRO Spanish tapas bar José by Pizarro opened its doors in March this year and has already made a name for itself – earning a spot on our shortlist for Best European Restaurant in Abu Dhabi. The restaurant serves up authentic Spanish fare such as spicy chicken croquetas, prawn fritters, and potato tortilla. If you’re a fan of live music, make sure to visit between 7pm and 11pm to catch German Cova, an accomplished Áamenco-slash-classical guitarist perform. O Open Tue-Sat 5pm-11.30pm, Sun 3pm-10.30pm. Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, West Corniche, josepizarro.com (02 811 5666). KARAZ Another new opening at Yas Mall, Karaz serves up foods from the Levant region. The extensive menu includes dishes like wild zaatar fatayer, fattoush, burrata jabaliyeh salad and baklava cheesecake. The name translates to cherries, and you can expect to see cherry tree motifs throughout. Shisha is also available here. O Open daily 9am-1am. The Fountains at Yas Mall, Yas Island, karazrestaurant.com (02 584 5984). LES DANGEREUX Fine dining fans absolutely must check out Les Dangereux at Mamsha Al Saadiyat, which opened in June 2023. One of the fanciest – if not the fanciest – new restaurants in the capital, the restaurant by Soo Yong Kim, Llorenc Sagarra, and Dani Lasa is set to redeÀne the concept of Àne dining completely, starting with the traditional menu. Here, instead of being centered around starter, main, and dessert offerings, each dining experience is carefully tailored to the “desired duration of each guest’s visit, each with a captivating narrative that shares insight into the culinary creation,” according to the team. Intrigued? Book a table now. O Open daily noon-11pm. Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, @dangereux.ae (050 977 2774). LOVE VIBE Those who want to pretend they live in a Barbie World have really been spoiled with new openings this year. Insta-friendly spot Love Vibe opened in Khalifa City back in April, bringing with it pink interiors and a mix of Emirati dishes and European cuisine. Highlights include the I Love You Shawarm’ch! with sliced beef, shawarma sauce and purple rice, Balaleet Eggs, and Baby Don’t Herd Me, with slow-cooked lamb shoulder, pepper and feta hummus, and poached eggs. O Open Sun-Wed 8am-11pm; Thu-Sat 8am-midnight. Khalifa City Community Market, lovevibecafe.com (02 622 0393). MA BUCKLEY’S Irish pub Ma Buckley’s is another brand new opening, Àrst launching at The Souk Qaryat Al Beri in November. Proudly Irish-owned and Irish-managed, the bar has 21 HD screens across two Áoors so you never have to miss a moment of the action. If you’re fans of pints of the black stuff, you’ll be able to get your Àx for Dhs33 during the daily happy hour between noon and 8pm. O Open Sun-Thu noon-3am; Fri-Sat noon-4am. The Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Khor Al Maqta, mabuckleys.com (02 642 8600). MARMELLATA Okay, so this is another not-quite-new opening, as pizzeria Marmellata Àrst opened way back in 2019 and quickly became an Abu Dhabi institution, despite only opening one night a week. But Marmellata is back in a bigger space after a break, so we’ll allow it. Head here to try the legendary pies, which are now available Àve nights a week. O Open Wed-Sun 5pm-8pm. Souq Al Mina, Mina Zayed, marmellatalove.com. Flamingo Room by tashasFRESH EATS timeoutabudhabi.com Dec 2023 – Jan 2024 39 José by PizarroNext >