EXTREME EATS

F o r get subtlety ,theseareAbu Dhabi’s most extravagantdiningexper ienc e s

Edible art at Brunch & Cake

There’s lots of competition for the most ‘Instagrammable café in Abu Dhabi’, but bohochic Brunch and Cake might just about win. However, it’s the whimsical hotspot’s love for elaborate edible art that has really got people talking. Intricately carved avocado roses are served with poached eggs, sandwiches are adorned with decorative palm trees, lobster tails poke jauntily out of pizzas and you’re unlucky if your beverage comes totally petal-free. It’s all very good fun and, despite the fact that style is arguably prioritised over substance, the food is really delicious, too. a Marsa Al Bateen. 9am to 11.30pm. Tel: (0)2 575 4880. @brunchandcakeuae

GOLD CAPPUCCINOS AT LE CAFÉ

Expensive caviar at 99 Sushi

Casually sipping a cappuccino sprinkled with real 23-carat gold flakes is one of the most ridiculous and quintessentially ‘Abu Dhabi’ experiences, and everyone has to try it at least once. Sit back and relax in the palatial grounds or ornate lobby of Emirates Palace, take dozens of photos and try to stretch out your Dhs75 coffee for as long as possible. If you’re all about this vibe, you may as well go all out and tick off the 23-carat gold camel burger while you’re at it. a Emirates Palace. 8am to 11pm. Tel: (0)2 690 7999. @emiratespalace

Oozing glamour and sophistication, 99 Sushi specialises in lavish Japanese bites such as sea urchin tempura, wild boar gyoza and Atlantic blue lobster maki. But the flashiest dish of all is the 99 Jewel rolls. Topped with gold leaf (obvs) and Iranian beluga caviar, eight dainty pieces will set you back dhs699. To save yourself the shock when the bill comes, we recommend sticking to the rather affordable (and utterly excellent) Omakase business lunch for dhs149. a Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi. Midday to 11.30pm. Tel: (0)2 672 3333. @99sushibaruae

Pitch Black Dining at Fresh Basil

How do you stand out from the crowd in a city so obsessed with luxury restaurants? You switch off the lights and give them nothing to admire at all. The first dining-in-the-dark concept in Abu Dhabi is certainly an experience to remember, and while the menu can be adjusted to suit all tastes, you won’t actually find out what you’ve eaten until the very end. Even the staff have to wear nightvision goggles to ensure that they don’t mistake your lap for the table. a Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residences. Mon to Fri 7.30pm to 10pm. Tel: (0)56 992 2078. @babalqasrhotel

Swanky pastries at L’Éclair de Génie

Inspired by a vintage circus tent, the first UAE branch of the Parisian pastry wonderland serves up creative sweet treats that almost looks too perfect and posh to eat. This includes Abu Dhabi exclusives such as gold date eclairs (of course) and the mesmerising hot chocolate ball, a sensational creation that sees a 60 per cent chocolate sphere melt into a rich and creamy winter warmer, right in front of your eyes. a Yas Mall. Sat to Wed 10am to 10pm, Thu to Fri 10am to midnight. Tel: (0)2 886 5699. @leclairdegenie_uae

FLOWER WALLS GALORE AT SECRET GARDEN

Most venues have realised that a wall of beautiful blooms always goes down a treat, but Secret Garden has taken it a step further and covered almost every inch of its café in content-worthy plant life. With trailing vines, statement light fixtures and an irresistible counter packed with pastries, cakes and cheesecakes, it’s a totally surreal escape from reality. Created by L’eto, the original master of fashionable café culture, it encourages you to turn your meal out into your own personal photoshoot. So, make sure you come appropriately overdressed. a The Galleria Al Maryah Island. Sun to Thu 10am to 10pm, Fri to Sat 10am to midnight. Tel: (0)2 493 7400). @lovesecretgarden.ae

Helipad dining at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi

After living here for a while, some people find that the excitement of visiting decadent restaurants starts to wear off. However, dining on a 255-metre helipad will definitely impress even the most hard-to-please foodies. The capital’s most luxurious hotel hosts suitably fancy sky-high monthly events up on its infamous lofty platform, including sophisticated bubbly and canapé evenings and grand afternoon teas. Providing 360-degree views of the city skyline and the Arabian Gulf, footballer Rio Ferdinand was even inspired to propose to his girlfriend up here. a Corniche Road. Tel: (0)2 694 4444. @stregisabudhabi

Rotating vistas at Stratos

Lots of restaurants in Abu

Dhabi can boast about their incredible views.

But only Stratos has one that subtly changes every second. Dining at the only rotating restaurant in the

UAE capital is a brilliant and amusing experience that’s predictably about far more than just the food (although the herb-crusted cod, juicy steaks and creamy mash potato are the stuff of dreams). Absentmindedly leaving your bag on the side and having to scurry off to retrieve it from across the room 10 minutes later is all part of the fun, as is stumbling around trying to work out why the bathroom isn’t in the same place it was an hour ago. a Le Royal Méridien

Abu Dhabi. 2pm to 2am.

Tel: (0)2 695 0490. @stratosabudhabi

PRIVATE BUTLERS AT THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL QARYAT AL BERI, ABU DHABI

Looking for an incredibly glamorous Middle Eastern experience? Well, the Shangri-La, one of the city’s most iconic hotels, is inviting you to live the ultimate high life for the night and savour a lavish Arabic feast within your own private Bedouin beach tent. With your every whim attended to by a personal butler, a customised cake and bouquet completes the wonderfully opulent affair perfectly. Complemented by romantic views of the Grand Mosque and the starry night sky, it’s got ‘dream beach proposal setting’, written all over it. a Dhs2,500 (per couple, including Arabic or international menu). Khor Al Maqta, Available all winter. Tel: (0)2 509 8555. @shangrilaabudhabi

EAT + DRINK + SHOP

RATING

FOOD A+ to C-

VIBE Family Friendly Party Casual Romantic Fancy

PRICE (FOR TWO) Up to Dhs249 Dhs250 to Dhs749 Dhs750+

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