18 Best Restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Tell us about your first impressions when you arrived. Meylas lures patrons with its modern Middle Eastern fusion. Siren-red chairs and benches lined with embroidered pillows surround knotted wood tables that feel designed for a group of friends. Inside, an open kitchen is Instagram-ready, with colorful pantry items lining the shelves and Edison bulbs dangling from the ceiling.

What was the crowd like? Young Emiratis and foodie travelers favor this place for its modern food and design.

What should we be drinking? Chai haleeb (steeped tea with milk and sugar) and haleeb boosh (warm camel milk with honey) are the stars of the show, but you’ll also find sodas and laban maleh (salted yogurt blended with spices) poured here.

Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss. Shaikha Al Kaabi, a young Emirati, opened Meylas with the mission to make Emirati food accessible to everyone. Dishes follow recipes passed down through the generations and are prepared with local ingredients. Standouts range from balaleet, simple noodles with saffron and cardamom, to salonat badu, a bedouin stew with lamb and rice.

How did the front-of-house folks treat you? The staff here treats the space as if it were their home. As such, expect to be greeted with warm hospitality.

What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here? It's located near the airport, the restaurant a bit far from downtown, but it's the perfect pitstop on your way in our out of Abu Dhabi.