Walk across the white sands of Soul Beach and you might find yourself at Alkalime: a healthy restaurant that serves up thoughtful, tasty dishes and a hearty dose of tranquillity. In fact, don’t leave it to chance – head here with purpose.
Get here at golden hour, as the sun charts its last stretch over the peaceful white sands and blue waters of Saadiyat.
Alkalime manages to nail that natural progression from the beach to restaurant, with wicker chairs, hanging plants, and a hammock bringing the shore indoors and creating a casual, zen environment.
Once seated, you’ll be presented with a warm lemon water with sea salt, which is surprisingly tasty, and apparently designed to reduce toxicity in the body, as well as boosting hydration. It’s a welcoming touch, and puts us in the mood for feel-good food.
The front of the restaurant is dominated by a coffee bar, with baby herbs growing on shelves. It’s cute, but if you find yourself tucked behind it, you’ll miss out on those Arabian Gulf views.
If you’re looking for an intimate setting, the open atmosphere at Alkalime isn’t the place for a quiet conversation – the whole space is bright and lively, possibly high on the energy of all the good-for-you dishes being assembled in the kitchen.
And the food does not disappoint. Alkalime’s summerlicious salad is an assortment of avocado, spinach, peach and chia seeds, further enlivened by alight and tangy dressing. Creamy “holy guacamole” meanwhile is served with a soft brown bread that you can fully expect to be wiping down the bowl with.
For mains, give the plant-based cauli-pizza a crack. Loaded with marinara sauce and cashew cheese, it’s unusual but impressive – crispy crusted and marvellously tasty. Elsewhere, the bean-there burger comes highly recommended, loaded with a bean patty, avocado, mushrooms and lettuce on a toasted bun. A side of sweet potato fries is a bonus, particularly when dunked in the accompanying sweet and spicy sauce.
While the portions are generous, don’t expect to find yourself waddling away from your table. Alkalime delivers on its biggest promise: food that makes you feel good. You can taste the quality and the attention to detail in the dishes, and the no-nonsense, no rubbish ingredients speak for themselves.
With Soul Beach right outside, Alkalime hits all the right notes for both body and mind.
Open Sun-Thu 8am-10pm, Fri-Sat 9am-10pm. Unlicensed. Soul Beach, Saadiyat Island (054 449 1547).
