Looking for a bit of Basque in Yas Island? Of course you are. And if you weren’t before, you will be now, and we suggest making Diablito your unofficial casa away from casa for your next San Sebastian-style cheesecake.
For relaxed vibes, Spanish and Mediterranean dishes, round up the amigos and head here for a chilled evening out. Not to mention the great-value deals, which include a daily happy hour featuring two-for-one drinks, and pintxos night every Saturday, with three snacks and a drink for Dhs50.
Diablito’s interiors are all plush armchairs, wooden floors and low lights tucked into bottles. This is the sort of restaurant you’d expect to know everyone, like a proper local haunt, somewhere on the Iberian peninsula. And we’re game to learn names.
Outside on a secluded patio, nestled among plants, featuring views of picturesque Yas Marina, with Spanish music in the air, you could be transported to the riverside of Bilbao.
One glance at the menu, with traditional tapas and pintxos (northern Spain’s equivalent), it’s clear the Spanish theme runs through all courses.
Here for paella? Present, natch. But then so are slightly more unexpected plates. We’re not here for the pizza, but other tables seem to be.
And while you might be disappointed not to find churros on the menu, alfajores and a crustless San Sebastián cheesecake more than make up for it.
If you’re in a hurry – not that you want to be – you may have to seek out servers because they give you plenty of space to relax (potentially even have a siesta in the big chair). The ambience is carefree, but drinks and food still come out at top speed.
With an eclectic menu and daily deals, it’s no surprise to see Diablito drawing a diverse crowd, from families with kids colouring to friends catching up for drinks.
For more casual dining on Yas Marina, you can do worse than to give Diablito a little go.
