We’ve been big fans of The Abu Dhabi EDITION ever since it opened its doors. Elegant, stylish, understated and incredibly cool, there are great places to eat, to enjoy a nightcap and it’s pretty special for an overnight stay too. Plus, there’s the small matter of ANNEX outside, one of the very best nightspots in the city.
We’ve been to Alba Terrace for brunch, lunch and dinner but never for breakfast, until now. Previous experiences lead us to have high expectations and first impressions are good. One of the things we like best about the venue is the outdoor terrace. You can soak up the sun, relax and enjoy the cooler weather, with loads of greenery around that makes it feel like a back garden and not a fancy restaurant. It’s a very Mediterranean setting, which is befitting of the menu.
On weekends there’s an unlimited breakfast deal at the venue for Dhs95 per person, which offers you the chance to enjoy as many plates of breakfast dishes as you want, including fruit salad, avocado and egg toast, chilli scrambled eggs, an all-green omelette, baked shakshuka and more.
This time, however, we take our seats on the terrace and order à la carte, choosing the smoked salmon bagel and the market French toast with an americano and latte.
The americano is smooth and strong and the latte is equally good, we’re happy sipping away among the plants and bushes.
Top marks must go to the chefs for making a simple bagel look so attractive. In it, the salmon is plentiful and is joined by soft avocado, pickled beetroot and greens, which add some contrasting textures and tastes and make it altogether more filling than we expected. A solid seven out of ten dish.
The French toast, on the other hand, is pretty epic. A huge slice of buttery brioche is cooked golden brown, crisp on the outside and pillowy soft in the middle all topped with vibrant purple blueberry labneh and oozing cardamom caramel. It’s indulgent, filling and the sort of the thing we imagine gives dentists nightmares. Never mind, it’s a weekend treat.
We leave full and satisfied but not completely blown away by what we eat. Maybe the best way to go is with the unlimited dishes. We’ll happily return to find out.
