If there’s one thing the capital knows how to do exceptionally well, it’s cafés — and there are loads of great new cafés in Abu Dhabi to choose from.
Part of the Abu Dhabi lifestyle is all about café hopping and enjoying the buzz while you people-watch or catch up with friends.
It’s such a popular activity that finding new cafés in Abu Dhabi is something of a sport for the city’s hipsters. In fact, long-term residents often build up such a caffeine tolerance that they can drink a late-night cappuccino and still sleep soundly afterwards.
Want to be the first of your friends to discover the best new café? This list has everything from coffee-focused spots to foodie destinations.
And if you’re still looking for the perfect café, we’ve got you covered with the best remote working cafés in Abu Dhabi, the prettiest cafés in Abu Dhabi and the best places to get breakfast outdoors.
Welcome to the capital’s café scene. Just be sure to avoid drinking Arabic coffee at night — it hits a little different.
Ava Café
Looking for new cafés in Abu Dhabi that you can’t wait to share on Instagram? Head over to Ava Café in Al Bateen for the most prettiest breakfast and brunch plates to die for. Over on the menu you’ll find dishes such as Turkish eggs, egg waffles and Mexican breakfasts, as well as a variety of yummy salads like halloumi quinoa salad, Caesar salad and chicken taquitos salad, and plenty of other dishes like grilled salmon, chicken parma, pizzas, sandwiches and burgers, and dessert, of course.
Open daily, 7am-midnight. Al Bateen, instagram.com/avacafe.ae (50 886 4963).
Café James
Looking for new cafés in Abu Dhabi with fine dining options? Café James is a new specialty café and bistro that serves more than just your standard coffee and croissant. We’re talking a menu with half a dozen fine de claire oysters, Spanish octopus, steak tartare, black truffle ravioli, wagyu baos… and that’s just for starters. You’ll find the new café on Reem Island. Lovely.
For the full Time Out Abu Dhabi guide to Reem Island, click here.
Open daily, 7am-midnight. Shams Boutik, (02 886 9949).
Cartel Coffee Roasters
Al Qana is absolutely bursting with new café options to try. Head to this undiscovered, brand new part of Abu Dhabi for coffee and you’ll find loads of new cafés in Abu Dhabi. Cartel has branches in Al Bateen and Khalifa City, but the latest branch can be found in Al Qana.
For the best places to dine alone in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Mon-Fri, 6.30am-11pm; Sat-Sun 8am-midnight. Al Qana, (050 300 9955).
Drop Coffee
If you’re looking to get caffeinated at Yas Bay Waterfront, Drop Coffee is one of the popular new cafés in Abu Dhabi. Hailing from Dubai, the new café has also launched its first-ever food menu designed by Chef Reif Othman: the man behind Reif Kushiyaki, Tero by Reif and Reif at Time Out Market Dubai.
Click here for all the best places to eat at Yas Bay Waterfront.
Mon-Fri 8am-11pm; Sat-Sun 8am-midnight. Yas Bay Waterfront instagram.com/wearedropcoffee (02 550 4683).
Em Sherif Café
Looking for new cafés in Abu Dhabi with a food focus? Em Sherif Café opened in May to much excitement. The new eatery on the Abu Dhabi Corniche is bringing Levant flavours to a sunny, picturesque setting. On the menu you’ll find an extensive selection of salads, hot and cold mezze plus daily dishes. The new café is elegant and airy inside with Mediterranean vibes. You can also go for coffee, shisha, or late-night bites.
For top new restaurants coming to Abu Dhabi soon, click here.
Daily, noon-2am. West Bay, Corniche Road Abu Dhabi. emsherif-cafe.com (02 691 9999).
Ethr
Ready to feel quite cool while you sip your latte? Ethr is a design studio and coffee house that just exudes hip vibes. It doubles as a new café and showroom for the studio’s latest collections. Feeling hungry? The focus here is on coffee, but there are desserts and pastries on the menu too.
For the most Instagrammable cafés in Abu Dhabi click here.
Open Sun-Wed 10am-11pm; Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island (050 580 1892).
Fil Florist & Café
If you’re looking for cute new cafés in Abu Dhabi, look no further. Fil is open now with coffee and flowers (two of our favourite gifts). It doubles as a café and florist with warm, sunny vibes in Al Bateen. Head there for your caffeine fix and leave with a bundle of beautiful flowers.
For the best cheap eats in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Mon-Wed, 8am-11pm; Thu-Sat 8am-midnight. Al Bateen, instagram.com/fil.uae (02 666 5266).
Let’s Café
If you’re looking for pretty new cafés in Abu Dhabi, you need to check out Let’s Café. The artisan bakery, café and restaurant is the brainchild of two friends Emirati chef Faisal Alharmoodi and Syrian pastry chef Fadi Kurdi. Situated in Khalifa City, Let’s Café has everything from breakfast and mains to desserts and pastries featuring a combination of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. The menu is to die for and includes dishes like homemade lasagna, burrata zaatar, Turkish eggs, Wagyu ribeye steak and coconut-passionfruit cake. Yummy.
Open Mon-Sun, 8am-midday. Al Saray St, Khalifa City, @lets.uae.
Saddle Café
Saddle Café has opened at Marsa Al Bateen with its first ever dine-in location and if you’re after new cafés in Abu Dhabi, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more picture-perfect one. It has a stand-alone glass house building that has views of the ocean and marina with indoor and outdoor seating to take it all in. The café serves Mediterranean and international dishes.
For the best places to eat and drink downtown Abu Dhabi, click here.
Open daily, 8am-midnight. Marsa Al Bateen, @saddle (050 394 4802).
Secret Garden
Competition for new cafés in Abu Dhabi is tough, with so many great spots to choose from. Secret Garden is a new café at The Galleria Al Maryah Island that claims to be the “most Instagrammable” spot in the city. It serves beautiful cakes and pastries plus specially crafted drinks.
Click here to learn more about Secret Garden opening.
Sun-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri-Sat 10am-midnight. The Galleria Al Maryah Island (02 493 7400).
Society Café
One of Dubai’s popular cafés has taken up residence at Mamsha and fans of the beach will likely love the location. Society Café serves up specialty coffee, plus loads of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Go to nibble on hot and cold tapas and sourdough pizza before a stroll and swim at Soul Beach at one of the top new cafés in Abu Dhabi.
Click here for all the best places to eat at Mamsha Al Saadiyat.
instagram.com/societyuae (02 886 7735).
Space Café
Breakfast, brunch, mains and homemade desserts, sound good? Space Café is one of the new cafés in Abu Dhabi that’s all about high-quality beans and the perfect cup. It’s another one of the new openings at Al Qana serving everything from beetroot falafel Benedict (we’re intrigued) to prawn risotto.
For the best fried chicken in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Sun-Thu 8am-midnight; Fri-Sat 8am-1am. Al Qana, (02 626 2287).
Tjaarz Coffee Work
If you’re looking for new cafés in Abu Dhabi that can double as a co-working space, Tjaarz Coffee Work is an innovative space that’s designed to inspire entrepreneurs. There are special drinks, brewed drinks, espressos and acai bowls. Get caffeinated and start building that idea.
For the best tacos in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Sun-Wed 8am-11pm; Thu-Sat 8am-midnight. Al Qana, (02 626 4670).
