< PreviousBest Restaurants 2025 50 SUMMER 2025 TIMEOUTABUDHABICOM HIGHLY COMMENDED Em Sherif Sea Café Em Sherif Sea Café in Abu Dhabi is a vibrant extension of the iconic Em Sherif brand, founded by restaurateur Mireille Hayek. You’ll find this seaside spot hidden inside the Rosewood Abu Dhabi, which overlooks the capital’s bright turquoise sea. Expect it sun-bathed during the day and dimly lit at night in its spacious dining room. This seafood concept honours Lebanon’s Mediterranean ties with fresh, flavourful seafood. You can choose from the catch of the day, a display counter or enjoy a variety of traditional and contemporary dishes, including raw red sea bream and shrimp Provençale. Finish with a warm em Ali – a baked in vanilla-infused milk that’s rich, creamy and wonderfully bready. O Licensed. Rosewood Hotel, Al Maryah Island, emsherifseacafe.com (02 626 2895). Fishmarket As you may expect from the name, Fishmarket down at InterContinental Abu Dhabi functions like a live fish market with the catch of the day laid out on ice for diners to choose from. You get to walk up, pick exactly what you want, choose how it’s cooked, and even customise your sides, sauces, and seasonings. It’s like a build-your-own seafood adventure, and honestly, it’s a lot more fun than pointing at a menu. Plus, everything looks so fresh you’ll be tempted to order half the counter. After all, having reigned supreme for over 30 years, it must be doing something right. Also famed for its unique setting by the sea, this stalwart on the city’s dining scene is a dreamy place to while away an afternoon, especially if you feel like chucking in a few freshly shucked oysters. What a great reminder that living by the water is the best. O Licensed. InterContinental Abu Dhabi, @fishmarketad (056 990 8317). Best Steakhouses WINNER Oak Room If you like your settings lavish, your meat premium and your accompaniments harmonious, then Oak Room will be right up your alley. Originally set up by British chef Tom Aikens (he is no longer attached to the hotel), this stunning space is all about sleek décor, stellar service and a quintessentially British and simple menu that comes bursting with flavour. Spend some time talking to the knowledgeable meat sommelier, who will be able to pair you with your perfect cut, or opt for the beef-tasting menu if you can’t make up your mind. O Licensed. The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Al Bateen, oakroomabudhabi.com (02 208 0000). HIGHLY COMMENDED Butcher & Still Sirloin, ribeye, rump, fillet, tomahawk, New York strip… whichever cut of beef you prefer, you’ve been exceedingly well catered for at Butcher & Still. Last year’s winner of the best steakhouse in Abu Dhabi award, you’ll find this swanky steakhouse – which is inspired by 1920s steakhouses in Chicago – at the Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, so be sure to dress up for dinner, with head chef Marshall Allen Röth, the man behind the menu. Celebrating a special occasion? Book the ‘secret’ private dining room, modelled on Al Capone’s cell, for a treat. O Licensed. Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, @butcherandstill (02 333 2444). Maté While not specifically speaking a standard steakhouse, this Argentinian-meets- Lebanese eatery is our top pick for flavoursome meats cooked on an open- fire brick grill. Taking pride of place in the middle of the restaurant, you can watch as chefs perfectly master skirt steak, tenderloin, short rib, rib-eye and tomahawk, as well as chicken, fish and veg options. Other meaty dishes include beef tartare, wagyu empanadas and a selection of cold cuts, all of which come highly recommended. O Licensed. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas, hyattrestaurants.com (02 407 1138). FishmarketICE ICEICE ICEICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE ICE BABY Keep your cool this summer with our pick of the best ice cream in the city. By Harriet ShephardE BABYE BABYYE BABY YE BABY YEBABY BABE BABY E BABY BABBest ice cream in the city house with premium quality ingredients, and they’re just as silky and creamy as any you’ll find on the streets of Rome. Offering a rotating menu, you’ll find pistachio (yes, please), coconut, vanilla, gianduja and mixed berry being served up this season, while the ultra-zesty Amalfi lemon and Sorrento orange sorbets are like summer in a bowl. Yum. O Open daily noon-11pm. Various locations, including Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, @antonia.uae (02 667 2554). Central Abu Dhabi Filled with old-school arcade machines, games and even a bowling alley, bright, loud and funky Central Abu Dhabi invites you to let loose and enjoy being a big kid for a while. Completing the throwback experience, the choice of different ice cream flavours is truly tremendous, while the classic soft serve vanilla and chocolate F orget lunch and coffee dates – we want our summer catch-ups to be conducted exclusively over ice cream only. After all, there’s no better antidote to temps of 40°C and up than a scoop or two of the cold stuff. Thankfully, the capital spoils us with its choice of ice cream parlours. From authentic gelato Italiano to Emirati-inspired soft serve, these are the best places in the city to satisfy your ice cream cravings. Antonia While it’s all too easy to feast on Antonia’s unreal beef carpaccio, cacio e pepe and sourdough pizza squares until you’re full to bursting, believe us when we say that you need to save room for dessert, or more specifically the gelato Italiano. Like everything else on the menu, all the exceptional flavours are made fresh in- Central Abu Dhabi keeps many (including yours truly) coming back for more. Or, if you’re really in the mood for a sugar hit, the outrageous (and aptly named) monster shakes are just the treat-day blowout you’ve been looking for. O Open Mon-Thu 4pm-midnight, Fri-Sat noon-2am, Sun noon-midnight. Yas Bay, Yas Island, central-uae. com (04 423 8311). Episodes Gelateria Few hotels in the UAE (or even the world), are as opulent as the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. Covered with glittering gold, crystals and mother of pearl, it’s the very definition of palatial decadence. Whether you’ve got visitors in town or you’re just looking for something different to do on the weekend, popping in to admire its jaw-dropping, 72m-tall domed lobby is the perfect summer day out, while stopping for ice cream at Episodes is an essential part of the experience, too. Made with ingredients from the palace’s gardens and bee hives, the summer menu stars tempting variations like hazelnut, mango, raspberry, fig ricotta and peach sorbet, while the decorations include whipped cream, fresh fruits, cool branded wafers and – wait for it – 23-karat gold leaf. This is Emirates Palace after all, so we didn’t expect anything less. O Open daily 10am-11pm. Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Corniche Road, @mo_emiratespalace (02 690 7999). Gelateria La Romana Born in Northern Italy in 1947, Gelateria La Romana is one of the most authentic Italian gelato brands in the UAE and one of the most vegan-friendly. Offering caramel macchiato, cinnamon roll, iced milk pistachio and countless other quirky options, the menu changes with the seasons, while the dedicated Ve’ range ensures that those on a plant-based diet don’t miss out on the fun either. Spanning ‘stuffed’ ice creams with tasty hidden fillings, thick ice cream shakes and warm waffles and crepes with yes – you guessed it – more ice cream, we won’t judge you if you happen to trip and fall in there when you need to just ‘pop into The Galleria’ for something else. O Open Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am- midnight. The Galleria Mall Al Maryah Island, @gelaterialaromana_uae (02 442 0080). Ice Cream & Juice Station Made from all-natural ingredients and free from added sugar, you never have to feel guilty about indulging in a trip to the Station. Presenting Emirati dessert-inspired soft serves flavoured with kunafa, talbena and qatayef, alongside gelato infused with saffron, salted caramel, mastika rose and other enticing ingredients, there’s always something new and interesting to try. The signature ‘coffee in a cone’ is just as fun as it sounds, while the pecan pie ice cream is so good we could eat it daily and not get bored. If you’re still yet to explore the thriving and up-and-coming area of Souq Al Mina, the Station’s epic ice cream is the ideal excuse to get there ASAP. O Open Mon-Fri 10.30am-midnight, Sat-Sun 10.30am-2am. Souq Al Mina, Zayed Port, @ice.juice.station (052 111 0528). J.Lato Following successful pop-ups at BRED Abu Dhabi and Al Hosn Festival, the whole city seems to be obsessed with J.Lato’s incredible homemade ice creams, and there are many good reasons why. While the amazing pistachio, tiramisu and gianduia Episodes Gelateria Gelateria La Romana TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM SUMMER 2025 55 Best ice cream in the cityBest ice cream in the city are the best sellers, it’s the Snickers-like mix of chocolate, caramel and peanuts in the peanut butter flavour that really gets our heart racing. The dolce and banana is another winning combination, and we’re sure we don’t need to explain how wonderfully the raspberry basil and exotic mango passionfruit sorbets go down on a hot summer’s day. Offering new options daily, the cute and cosy cafe is a masterclass in classy and minimalist style. O Open Mon 2pm-11pm, Tue-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sun 11am-midnight. Souq Al Mina, Zayed Port, @jlato.ae (02 550 4446). Mina Creamery Mina Creamery’s ever-changing menu is the gift that keeps on giving. Offering regionally inspired variations like olive oil with zataar and halwa salted saffron, plus unique and creative varieties such as the ‘Cheeseboard’ with cream cheese, cheddar, and apricot, almond croissant (featuring actual croissant chunks, just FYI), scones with jam and clotted cream, and American- style s’mores, it’s possibly the most exciting ice cream shop that Abu Dhabi has ever seen. Previously only available for delivery and at various pop-ups, it’s opening its first shop at Mina Port very soon. We’ll be first in the queue come opening day. O Coming soon. M_39, Al Rutam Street, Zayed Port, @minacreamery (050 191 4698). NAC Abu Dhabi Scroll through NAC’s tagged Instagram stories and you’ll quickly notice a common theme... The chic French bistro has gone viral for its crushed milk chocolate cookies with Frosties soft serve, and the hype is very, very real. Brimming with the nostalgic malty taste of Horlick’s (the ultimate childhood bedtime treat), the sweet cereal flakes add the most satisfying crunch. As the beloved Tony the Tiger would say, it’s absolutely ‘grreat!’. O Open Sun-Thu 10am-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 9am- 11.30pm. Marina Mall, Al Kasir, @nacdubai (02 681 1708). Ripple Experts at silky, swirly and ever-so-dreamy soft serve, Ripple’s exotic choice of ice creams is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Constantly revamping its menu to keep things fresh and interesting, it offers everything from pink lemonade, cotton candy and blueberry, to special Emirati- inspired blends and exclusive fruity summer additions, too. If you simply can’t decide, you can have two swirled together, or pair Ripple J.Lato 56 SUMMER 2025 TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM“NAC’s Frosties soft serve has gone viral” NAC Abu DhabiBest ice cream in the city Vasa Vasait with one of the icy fresh-fruit slushies for an extra boost of vitamins and refreshment. Their shop in MBZ City has been popular for a while, but they have also just opened a new location in Mina Zayed. O Open daily 11am-11pm. Mohamed Bin Zayed City and MiZa, Unit 2, Zayed Port, @ripple_icecream (050 266 0509). SOLE Ristorante Ranging from fresh passionfruit to rich chocolate and much more, SOLE Ristorante serves up a truly magnificent selection of Italian gelatos. Overlooking the pool and private beach of the iconic Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, every visit feels like a holiday and it’s a gorgeous setting for a summer-afternoon pick-me-up. Oh, and don’t leave without trying one of the equally excellent Italian coffees if you need extra caffeine. They’re absolutely delizioso. O Open Sat noon-11.30pm, Sun-Friday noon- 3.30pm & 7pm-11pm. Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Corniche Road, @sole.conradetihadtowers (02 811 5666). Taparelle Tucked away inside Manarat Al Saadiyat, Taparelle is one of Abu Dhabi’s best-kept secrets. Along with offering some of the finest stone-baked pizzas and homemade pasta in the city (don’t even get us started on the oxtail ragu), it also takes the art of gelato making to a whole new level of fabulous. Offering Mediterranean-inspired creations like sweet fig, fruity peach and apricot, uplifting lemon and thyme and classic tiramisu, every batch is low in sugar and freshly made daily. O Open Mon-Sun 7.30am-11pm. Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, taparelle.com (02 657 5832) . Ting Irie Abu Dhabi Home to the best beach views and coolest vibes in Abu Dhabi, nothing finishes off a day at Mamsha Beach like a serving of ‘Wash Off Yuh Hart’ at Ting Irie. Light and refreshing, it features an exotic fusion of tropical coconut mousse, rich dark chocolate shell and vanilla ice cream, all served with a scattering of caramelised coconut crisps. O Open Mon-Thu 11am-11.30pm, Fri 11am-midnight, Sat-Sun 10am-midnight. Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, @tingirieauh (02 886 7786). Vasa Vasa Shortlisted for the Best Dessert gong at the Time Out Abu Dhabi Restaurant Awards 2025, it’s impossible to walk past Vasa Vasa without popping in for a couple of cheeky scoops. Located on the pretty waterfront boardwalk of Al Muneera, it’s one of the few places in the city where you can sample authentic Sicilian-style gelato, and there are so many options it’s almost overwhelming. However, whether you go for a coffee, fruity strawberry or classic vanilla, believe us when we say that you can’t make a wrong decision. Away from the waffle cones, there are also cakes, crêpes, frappés and Sicilian cannoli, plus takeaway mix-and- match ice cream tubs. O Open daily 8am-10pm. Al Muneera, Al Raha Beach, @vasavasaabudhabi (02 555 6484 ). Ting Irie Abu Dhabi TIMEOUTABUDHABI.COM SUMMER 2025 59 Best ice cream in the cityNext >