Are you always after an insider spot during your travels to Italy? Well, Napo Ristorante feels like one of those local-approved places, except it’s in Abu Dhabi.
Tucked away in a leafy residential corner of Al Bateen, you could almost miss this charming restaurant if you didn’t wonder what all the people on the plant-filled patio were up to.
The mood inside is equally upbeat, with lively Italian music playing. Mark our words, even if you don’t know a word of Italian, you’ll end up singing along at some point in the night, not least because this is a spot where you can easily linger.
Inside, Napo feels like an Italian market, with an open kitchen, fresh pasta hanging to dry, potted herbs, braided onions and garlic, and produce galore.
It’s a feast for the eyes before you’ve even looked at the menu.
In the centre of it all, a pizza oven, serving up piping-hot dining inspiration (and the occasional bout of food envy). But it’s the pecorino Romano wheel in front of it that’s the real star of the show, where steaming pasta is spooned in and turned through, coating each strand in sharp, salty cheese.
Despite the name and the fiery central attraction, Napo’s menu extends from Naples to Rome, and there’s even a Florentine speciality: a massive wagyu T-bone steak. In all, it’s a typical, broad-Italian offering of pastas, seafood mains and generous sides (mountains of truffle fries are commonplace at most tables). Some of these come in at similar prices as mains, so pick what sounds good and order to share. Want truffles on everything? It’s in the bag.
Crucially, Napo is unlicensed, so in the place of Italian grape beverages you’ll find a handful of mocktail options featuring traditional Italian ingredients (basil, mint) and some less traditional ones (rose, lychee).
Service is fast (thank you, scorching pizza oven), and the open kitchen highlights how speedily the chefs work.
If you want to stay a while, Napo is open until 11pm every night. If you’re in a rush you can have a quick bite and be in and out without any hassle. The best way to spend a night in Napo? Grab a few sharing plates and enjoy the cheese show and singing. Let that music play on.
What is it
A quaint Al Bateen restaurant and pizzeria whipping up the cuisine of Naples and beyond
Why go
For a bit of Napoli in the capital, giant pecorino wheel included
