Dates are absolutely scrumptious.
On their own, with a cup of tea or packed into a dessert, we cannot get enough of these jewels of the region’s palms.
And there are bucket loads of date desserts for Abu Dhabians to try during Sweetest Things: Layali Ramadan.
The campaign sees more than 70 restaurants, cafés and lounges across the capital are offering delicious deals on desserts and pastries until the end of Ramadan.
You can also find out how you can take part and win two cool prizes at the end of this feature. To find the full list, visit timeoutabudhabi.com/sweetest-things.
So are you ready for a date with a, erhm, date dessert?
Al Rimal Restaurant
Diners can get a free coffee with every order of a date cake with caramel sauce at this plush café in Al Maqta.
Dhs50. Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel, Khor Al Maqta, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Road (02 497 5100).
Grills@Chill’O
Get stuck into a sticky date and toffee pudding at this poolside bar. The restaurant’s signature dessert is made from sponge cake drenched in salted caramel sauce and sprinkled with caramelised walnuts and dates, accompanied by homemade vanilla ice cream.
Dhs38. Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche (02 813 7777).
Hickory’s Restaurant
Watch the trials and tribulations of golfers on the Yas Links Abu Dhabi while digging into a date cake filled with camel milk jelly, coupled with vanilla ice cream and a traditional or Arabic coffee for Dhs45.
Dhs45. Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, Yas West (02 404 3077).
La Brioche
With a name like La Brioche, you’ve got to expect good things when comes to all things sweet. For Sweetest Things, the popular chain is serving up a Ramadan-inspired date cake dolloped with saffron cream for Dhs23. There’s also the option to add a cup of coffee for an extra Dhs7 throughout the month.
Dhs23, Dhs30 (combo). All outlets in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, including Abu Dhabi Mall and Yas Mall (600 53 53 59).
Li Beirut
Enjoy some tea in the elegant dining room of Li Beirut. For Dhs220, guests can tuck into various sweet bites including pistachio mushabak mahalabia, saffron brûlée, tahini crumble, baklava cheesecake, ashta kunafa dome, classic date cake, rosewater falooda, umm Ali, Arabic coffee madeleine and ivory chocolate saffron scones with clotted cream, lemon curd and strawberry jam.
Dhs220. Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, West Corniche (02 811 5666).
Morjana Lounge Cafe
A chic venue located in the impressive Bab Al Qasr Hotel, Morjana Tea Lounge is running a combo deal which will see visitors get their choice of a smokey signature dessert, as well as a tea, coffee or soft drinks during Sweetest Things. The choice is between a flavoured crème brûlée, umm Ali cheesecake, chocolate fondant or sticky date pudding, all for Dhs35.
Dhs35. Bab Al Qasr, Corniche Road West (02 203 026).
ParKafe Lobby Lounge
The bustling café in the lobby area of Park Rotana Abu Dhabi is providing a drinks combo for Sweetest Things. Anyone visiting during Ramadan can get a Ramadan shake (that’s caramel, rosewater, milk and dates) and a hot beverage for Dhs39.
Dhs39. Park Rotana Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Park area (02 657 3319).
Sama Lobby Lounge
The pretty lounge in Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas is giving diners a chance to sample its homemade date cheesecake, made from Liwa dates, cream cheese, a chocolate puffed rice disk, mocha cream and 22 karat gold. It comes with a speciality coffee for Dhs49.
Dhs49. Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island (02 697 0000).
The Coffee Club
This café is one of Abu Dhabi’s most popular chains and the Aussie joint is serving up a platter of 14 Ramadan mini sweet treats at all of its branches for Sweetest Things. It includes two coffee macarons, two mouhalabieh, two stuffed dates, two kunafa baskets, two sticky date pudding, two pistachio domes and two carrot cakes throughout for Dhs65.
Dhs65. All location in Abu Dhabi, including Yas Mall, Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and Al Bateen Wharf, thecoffeeclub.com.
Vasa Vasa
For Dhs45, visitors can savour a date tiramisu with an Italian twist as well as any choice of coffee while taking in the beautiful seaside views of Al Raha Beach. This gelato spot has long been a Time Out favourite, which shows no sign of changing any time soon.
Dhs45. Al Muneera, Al Raha Beach (02 555 6484).
West to West Kitchen
A top place for those who love the cuisine of the Caribbean and West Africa, West to West Kitchen is offering a sticky toffee pudding slathered with toffee date syrup for Dhs20.
Dhs20. Al Bzaymi Street, Al Danah (02 671 9119).
Yamanote Atelier
The Japanese bakery is offering two deals for Sweetest Things. For Dhs50, foodies can get two pieces of soufflé cheesecake and choice of drinks (either the Beat Treat, Yamanote Special or Ramadan-themed date and coconut options). Also available is Yamanote Croissant plus one of the drinks for Dhs42.
From Dhs42. All locations in Abu Dhabi, including Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi Mall, Al Seef Village and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, yamanoteatelier.com.
SHARE YOUR SWEETEST MOMENTS
We want you to share your snaps of the delicious desserts you try as part of Sweetest Things: Layali Ramadan edition. Abu Dhabi Culinary has teamed up with Brooklyn Creamery to offer one lucky winner a year’s supply of ice cream. And that’s not all. The Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche is offering a staycation for two people to stay at the classy five-star hotel. You’ll get a half board deal too. The stay will be valid from May 12 until July 31 2021.
All you need to do is take a picture of the Sweetest Things dessert, post it on your Instagram feed and use the hashtag #mysweetestmoments.
We will take the best pictures and use them in a gallery on Time Out Abu Dhabi. At the end of Ramadan, we’ll pick one winner to win the prize.
Follow @AbuDhabiCulinary to keep up with what’s on the table this Ramadan.
