This time next month it’s going to be scorching hot again, so why not take advantage of the last stretch of weather when you can escape from the mall food court and enjoy your lunch in the great outdoors?
It’s sunny, there’s a cool breeze in the air, and there are plenty of downtown cafes with outdoor spaces where you can people watch, soak up the city’s atmosphere and get stuck into cheap and delicious Arabic food. So tell your boss you’re taking a long lunch and bring your sunglasses and your appetite.
Automatic
The patio: This branch of the UAE chain is quite an institution in Abu Dhabi, and has recently had something of a facelift, so the interiors are quite smart. We’d still opt to sit on the patio out front any day, though. Set in a backstreet behind Hamdan Street and next to Al Mariah Mall, the outdoors seating area is enclosed by a metal fence decorated with shrubs and fairy lights.
Make sure you order: Don’t miss the falafel, which is the best we’ve had in the city – deep fried and perfectly crunchy on the outside, giving way to a soft and crumbly centre.
Coffee and shisha? No shisha here, but the Turkish coffee is thick, black and powerful.
People-watching potential: Excellent. You can sit undisturbed for hours and check out all the goings on in the downtown backstreets.
Automatic, Hamdan Street (02 676 9677).
Riviera
The patio: The outdoors area is styled like a conservatory, completely covered over with foliage. It’s a perfect place to go if you want to feel like you’re eating alfresco, while still keeping out of the sun’s glare. Fans keep the place cool, and it’s usually fairly busy from lunchtime right through to the evenings.
Make sure you order: Moutabel. Most of the mezze here is of top quality, and we also love their shawarma-esque fish wrap, but the moutabel takes the prize for being smoky and creamy all at once.
Coffee and shisha? Both. You can get conventional or Arabic coffees here – both are served strong. As for the shisha, it seems as though this is the place of choice for locals who want to start chugging at midday.
People-watching potential: You can’t see right out on to the street so not so good, unless you want to spend your time creepily observing fellow diners.
Riviera, Al Salam Street (02 665 0144).
Corner Al Ameer Restaurant and Café
The patio: We’d be hard-pressed to call this café’s location scenic – it’s right out on the road on 9th street, so you’re close enough to watch the traffic jams while the drivers stare back at you. But, on the plus side, the service and bright red and yellow outdoor furnishings are as cheerful as each other, and it’s spacious and comfortable, if not luxurious.
Make sure you order: The fatoush and tabbouleh are very tasty here. Intrigued by a dish called ‘authority views’ we ordered that too, but it turned out to be a simple mayonnaise salad, sadly unavailable.
Coffee and shisha? Yes and yes. The coffee will have your heart pumping all afternoon. The shisha is smooth and reasonably priced.
People-watching potential: Corner Al Ameer is great for soaking up sunshine in the afternoon. It may not be the busiest area for pedestrians, but there’s enough activity to make you feel like you’re slap bang in the middle of the metropolis.
Corner Al Ameer Restaurant and Café, 9th Street (02 645 9220).
