Five swish restaurants for an impressive date night this festive season

Fouquet’s

Find this place at the architectural marvel that is Louvre Abu Dhabi, and while you don’t need to visit the museum itself to go to the restaurant, a wander around the artefacts and works of art is bound to work up an appetite as well as showing off your sophisticated side. The restaurant is the UAE outpost of one of Paris’ most famous and decorated, with a menu from the esteemed chef Pierre Gagniere. You cannot go wrong by choosing this place for your next romantic night out.
Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island (02 205 4200).

Hakkasan

If there’s one thing Hakkasan guarantees it is consistency, with the standards set ridiculously high. You also get to pay the capital’s Emirates Palace a visit when you come here, as well as having the chance to hang out at the fantastic terrace bar before or after your meal. The Cantonese dishes are full of fresh ingredients and delicate flavours and are presented beautifully. With a slick, dimly lit dining room and delicious food, there are few better venues for date night.
Emirates Palace, West Corniche (02 690 7999).

La Salle

Another fine-dining French venue on Saadiyat Island, La Salle is an intimate setting for a great meal. This may be a high-end restaurant but it is certainly not stuffy, with the interiors an example of keeping things simple and classy. Food comes from Provence and its coast in particular, with the kitchen using only the finest ingredients, from the oils and vinegars to the seafood and vegetables. The setting, in the pretty Saadiyat Beach Club, is another reason to visit, as the island has one of the most incredible coastlines in the UAE.
Saadiyat Beach Club, Saadiyat Island (02 656 3535).

Sontaya

Another venue on Saadiyat Island, but this one is a little different. It’s pan-Asian and not French, which is something, but it’s also a pretty pagoda-like structure that sits over the water at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, making it quite unlike anything else in the capital. If you can get a seat outside, when it’s cool, you’ll feel immersed in your surroundings and have incredible views of the beach and Arabian Gulf. This is a special restaurant.
The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi (02 498 8088).

Zuma

No-one is going to complain if you take them to Zuma on a date. That’s just a fact. The Japanese restaurant is one of the very best places in the city, and serves flawless food every time. The setting is brilliant, once you get to the restaurant you’ll head down the stairs into a dining room and bar that has wonderful views of the water outside thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows and of the chefs at work at the sushi bar and robata grill. A truly brilliant experience.
Al Maryah Island (02 401 5900).