The weekend is almost here (there’s a few hours to go, you can make it) which means it’s time to decide how you’re going to spend your days off.
Looking for incredible things to do? We’ve got you covered this weekend.
For more fun things to do in Abu Dhabi this weekend, click here.
Looking to dine out? Head here for all the best restaurants in Abu Dhabi.
For top bars to check out, click here.
If keeping active is more up your street, have a gander here for everything sport and wellbeing-related across the capital.
And it wouldn’t be the weekend without a banging brunch, would it? For your essential guide to brunching in Abu Dhabi, head here.
That’s your weekend sorted. Let’s go.
Thursday
Check out this recently reopened Vietnamese spot
Love Vietnamese food? You’ve got to check out the recently reopened Hoi An Vietnamese restaurant at Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri. There is a new Super Sapa daily changing menu available from Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 9pm. Featuring unlimited starters, a rolling roster of mains and desserts, this deal has all of your Vietnamese faves. The soft drinks package will set you back Dhs168 per person, while the house package costs Dhs248 with selected grape, hops, and mixed drinks. If you’re a Golden Circle menu you’ll also get 25 percent off. Sounds like a deal to us.
Dhs168 (soft) Dhs248 (house). Tues-Sat 6pm-9pm. Shangri-La Hotel and Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi (02 509 8555).
Try the new drive-in dining experience at Sola Café and Restaurant
This foodie haven, located in the trendy Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Park area and surrounded by many of the city’s up-and-coming restaurants and cafés, is an absolute standout. If you’re looking for a different way to dine, Sola has launched an in-car dining service. Sola’s unique dishes are one honk away and staff will attend to you with a wooden table, cutlery, and a golden lamp to bring the restaurant’s glam atmosphere to your car. You’ll also get a coffee pouch afterwards to freshen up the car’s smell afterwards. Once again, Sola is wowing us with inventive ideas. We’re pulling up.
Read the fill Time Out Abu Dhabi review of Sola Restaurant and Café here.
Open daily 7am-1am. Unlicensed. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Park, Al Khalidiya, solacafe.com (02 546 3558).
Wriggle over to Al Ain Book Fair like a real bookworm
Love big books? Us too. If you’re a bookworm you’re going to love this event in Al Ain with over 100 exhibitors and publishers from around the country. The event goes from Tuesday September 21 to Thursday September 30, and is being held at Zayed Central Library. Expect endless exhibitiors and publishers participating at the fair, showcasing the latest literary across all age groups. Join seminars, musical performances, over 50 speakers and writers. Visitors are required to install and activate Al Hosn app on their smartphones. You will also need to pre-register here to obtain an electronic entry card. We can’t wait to get into the new chapter.
Sept 21-Sept 30. Zayed Central Library, Al Ain City, adbookfair.com/en/aabf.
Friday
Check out the pop-up shop at MOTION
This weekend, explore diverse crafts at MOTION, on the beautiful Reem Island. For three days, local brands are bringing the goods in an ephemeral pop up located in the well-known cycling studio. You will be able to enjoy free coffee from MOTION while discovering local brands from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The pop up will go from Friday September 24 to Sunday September 26 and will be open from 8am to 8pm. You can expect to find brands such as Beldi Bazaar, The Sisters Dubai, Carmela, Arie Art Studio, Yadawyyy, Prickly Pear, Gypsy Rose Holistic, Kulture House, Doobs. We’re ready to shop.
Sep 24-Sep26 8am-8pm. Wafra Square building, Reem Island (058 551 3460).
Redecorate with the home festival at Deerfields Mall
There is a month-long home festival happening at Deerfields mall, with a huge range of deals and promotions and savings between 25 and 70 percent across different homeware retailers. Home Box at Deerfields Mall is offering a total of Dhs25,000 worth of home makeovers. Spend Dhs300 and you can enter the draw for a chance to win Dhs5000 in redecoration vouchers. If you spend at Home Box you’ll be entered twice for every Dhs300 spent. Happy shopping.
deerfieldsmall.com
Score a screamer at indoor football
It’s the beautiful game, but there’s nothing cute about wringing out sweat-soaked jerseys. Thankfully, at The Dome players can take their headers and volleys inside, swerving the sweltering sunshine in the process. After all, top corner screamers always feel that much better when you actually have breathe left in the lungs to scream about them afterwards. The only thing you need to worry about is how you’re celebrating.
Open 8am-1am. Zone 1, Rowdhat, thedome.ae (02 447 0754). For more indoor sports click here.
Try a monster burger at the brand-new (licensed) Black Tap
We’re welcoming a brand new branch of Black Tap to one of the hottest beachfront communities: Mamsha Al Saadiyat. Crazy shakes, craft hops, stacked burgers, and even a vegan dairy-free “Black n White Cake Shake” (how’s that for poetry?) there are so many reasons to love this spot.
Open noon-midnight. Mamsha Al Saadiyat (02 446 5128). Read more about Black Tap opening here.
Saturday
Brick Rooftop Kitchen & Bar is reopening
Two brick ovens, one rooftop, and tonnes of great food and drink. That’s right, Brick is open again and is serving us rustic outdoor and garden-themed vibes with breathtaking views of the city. This is a chill spot to grab a bite or a drink, and every dish is made from the brick ovens. Choose from a range of grapes, craft hops, and signature mixed drinks. Wood-fired sourdough, slow-cooked ribeye, four cheese pizza, salmon on a cedar plank, and oven-baked s’mores are all on the menu. There’s also a variety of vegan options. Simple, fun, affordable – try to make it there for sunset this weekend.
Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 24 hours. Brick Rooftop Kitchen, Aloft Abu Dhabi (052 837 0047).
Catch live music at Heroes Abu Dhabi
Without a doubt, this is one of Abu Dhabi’s most popular haunts. With a busy, buzzing atmosphere, convenient location downtown, and reasonable prices, it seems like the whole city goes here to unwind after work. Need another reason to visit? There’s live music every Monday to Friday with DJ Charlieboy, and live singing on Thursday and Friday evenings by Nicola. A casual pub, old-fashioned comfort food, bar snacks, sports, and live music most nights? We’re in.
Mon-Fri (DJ Charlieboy), Thu-Fri (Nicola). Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street (02 616 6132).
Looking for a bit of Italy in Abu Dhabi?
Antonia is a brand-new Italian restaurant, and another newcomer to Mamsha Al Saadiyat. It serves generous portions of pasta, a selection of pizza al taglio with traditional toppings, Italian grape, hops, and more. Chef Simone Federici was inspired by his grandmother to start his career in the kitchen at the age of 15. Antonia promises to deliver the streets of Rome to the Arabian Gulf with “a touch of Nonna’s love.” We’re so there.
Open daily, noon-11pm. Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island (02 667 2554). Read more about Antonia opening here.
For more Abu Dhabi happenings click here.
