Hands up: who loves pancakes? Who doesn’t? If you’re after the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi, there are plenty of options. After all, pancakes are a versatile dish that seems to work at all hours of the day. And here in Abu Dhabi, there are absolutely loads of restaurants serving up tasty pancakes, topped with an assortment of awesome additions like wonderful whipped cream, seriously good syrup and moreish chocolate sauce.
So, give yourself a break from showing off your pancake flipping skills, it’s time to head to the capital’s restaurants to find the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi.
Blueberry mini pancakes at Circle Cafe
Presentation is key when it comes to pancakes. Circle Café’s Blueberry Mini Pancakes are pretty as a picture thanks to their size. Five teeny pancakes are dotted around the plate and sprinkled with sugar.
Not enough for you? You can then add two toppings from more blueberries, strawberries, bananas and mixed nuts as well as one sauce. A shot worthy of the ‘gram but be quick before these little guys are gobbled up. A smaller option on our rundown but definitely some of the tastiest pancakes in Abu Dhabi.
Dhs38. Open Sun-Thu 8am-10pm, Fri-Sat 8am-11pm. Al Raha Gardens, www.circle-cafe.com (02 556 1550). Open Sat-Wed 8am-10pm, Thurs-Fri 8am-11pm. Saadiyat Island (02 448 4255). Sat-Fri 8am-11pm. Mangrove Village, (02 666 0828).
Brownie pancake at Brunch & Cake
This Al Bateen Marina restaurant regularly has crowds queuing the corners to get a slice of one of its sweet treats. Arguably one of the prettiest restaurants in the capital, Brunch & Cake whips up a mean brownie pancake that some have dubbed one of the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi.
Homemade Nutella pancakes are accompanied by a chocolate chip cookie and grilled banana, before lashings of cocoa sauce (sugar-free you will be glad to hear) is plopped on top. One of the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi if you can’t get enough chocolate.
Dhs68. Open Sun-Wed 10am-1am, Thu-Sat 10am-2am. Al Bateen (800 4726362).
Buttermilk Pancakes at Café 302
Sometimes less is more and with Café 302’s buttermilk pancake, diners get a pancake that goes back to basics. No frills or thrills. Just simple but delicious pancakes in Abu Dhabi with wild berries and maple syrup. Go on then.
Dhs45. Open daily 8am-11pm. Hamdan Bin Mohammed St, rotana.com (02 610 6666).
Chocolate chip pancakes at Pancake House
Words don’t really do this pancake justice but that won’t stop us giving it a good go. Pancake House’s chocolate chips pancakes are superb. Three of Abu Dhabi’s tastiest pancakes are topped with chunks of chocolate and served with hot peanut butter. What a combination.
Dhs32. Opens daily 9am-1.30am. Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street, World Trade Centre Mall, pancakehouse.ae (02 622 0036).
Cinnamon roll pancakes at The Cheesecake Factory
This popular eatery in Abu Dhabi is heaving all times of day and night. But don’t be fooled, it’s not just about the cheesecake here (although obvs you should get a slice anyway). The cinnamon roll pancakes should seriously be investigated. Buttermilk pancakes swirled with cinnamon brown sugar, can your day get any tastier?
Dhs46.20. Open Sun and Tue-Wed 10am-10pm, Mon and Thu-Sat 10am-11pm. Al Maryah Island (02 492 6822).
Coco-nut for pancakes at Jones the Grocer
This little special treat comes from popular Aussie chain Jones the Grocer. The pancakes are made with home-made coconut before blueberry compôte, pecan crumble and whipped Greek yoghurt joins the party. And while Jones the Grocer highlights these pancakes as one of its top vegetarian dishes, the flavours should have everyone saying they’re the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi.
Dhs54. Open Sun-Thu 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat 9am-11pm. Various locations including Etihad Airways Centre, Al Muneera, Raha Beach and more, jonesthegrocer.com (02 558 9808).
Japanese pancakes at Keki Japanese Bakery
After something a bit different? Fluffy Japanese pancakes are essentially steamed then served with mixed berries and a choice of homemade chocolate sauce or maple syrup. What we do know is that these are some of the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi.
Dhs50. Open Sun 8am-11pm, Mon-Sat 8am-9pm. Al Banteen Park, (02 309 3999).
Loaded Halloumi Pancakes at 90 Centigrade
Now when it comes to the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi, most of us are thinking about chocolate, cream, and strawberries, right? Or at least lashings of maple syrup. Or lemon and sugar… you get the gist. But if you don’t have a sweet tooth, head to 90 Centigrade in the Millennium Hotel where the homemade pancakes are packed with halloumi cheese before a sunny side-up egg, black olive tapenade and saffron hollandaise sauce is added for a flavourful bite.
Dhs40. Open daily 6.30am-1am. Grand Millennium Al Wahda Hotel, Hazza Bin Zayed the First St, millenniumhotels.com (02 495 3968).
Matcha pancakes at Yamanote Atelier
One of the capital’s go-to places when it comes to sweet and savoury baked goodies, Japanese bakery Yamanote Atelier makes some of the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi. Our advice is to try the matcha pancakes, which are thick but ever-so-soft and smothered in matcha creamy sauce and joined by dark chocolate mousse.
Dhs44. Various locations including Abu Dhabi Mall and Khalifa Park, yamanoteatelier.com.
Pancakes with Nutella and mixed berries at The Coffee Club
A haven for people in need of a caffeine kick, The Coffee Club’s kitchen team are also dab hands at rustling up some of the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi. Pancakes are slathered with Nutella and decorated with mixed berries before a final sprinkling of pistachio gives this dish a look fit for the ‘gram.
Dhs59. Various locations Abu Dhabi Mall and Al Forsan Village, thecoffeeclubme.com.
Peanut butter cup pancake breakfast at Denny’s
Everything about Denny’s is big. From its burgers to its pies, and the pancakes are no different. The all-American diner’s pancake brekkie sees two fluffy pancakes stuffed with chocolate and white chocolate chips, drenched with hot fudge and trickled with peanut butter. And if you somehow have space after that, there are also eggs, bacon, hash browns and sausage links to well and truly fill you up.
Dhs46. Open daily 8am-3am. Tourist Club Area, Al Zahiyah (02 445 3128).
Power Breakfast at Shakespeare & Co
On the lookout for some ace vegan pancakes in Abu Dhabi? Shakespeare & Co’s gluten-free pancakes are mixed in almond milk before strawberries, bananas, blueberries, maple syrup, roasted almond are added for a brekkie that will set you right up for the upcoming day.
Dhs65. Various locations including Dalma Mall and Yas Mall, shakespeare-and-co.com.
Ricotta Pancakes at No. FiftySeven Boutique Café
Fancy something a tad different? The ricotta pancakes at this cute spot, are drizzled in lip-smackingly good honeycomb butter before being topped with slices of banana. Delicious says you. Some of the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi, says fans.
Dhs45. Open daily 9am-10.45pm. Al Bateen Marina, (02 441 6100).
Tawa crêpes at Tawa Bakery
While some may debate whether a crêpe should be considered a pancake, Tawa Bakery’s crêpes are marvellous whatever you call them. A favourite is the Nutella and strawberry version with whipped cream and strawberry coulis that is wrapped in this thin pancake. They’re so good that even the naysayers would make an exception. Everyone should agree, they are some of the best pancakes in Abu Dhabi.
Dhs37. Open daily 8am-11pm. Al Muneera Island, tawa.ae (02 556 6900).
