If you’re searching for the best restaurants for Valentine’s Day in Abu Dhabi, you’re in for a treat. With a rich selection of romantic dining spots, each offers a unique atmosphere and unforgettable experiences. Firstly, the city’s diverse culinary scene ensures that couples can indulge in everything from Mediterranean to exotic flavors. Moreover, the ambiance of these restaurants amplifies the charm of any romantic evening. As a result, your Valentine’s Day celebration will be more than just a meal—it will become a cherished memory.
ZUMA ABU DHABI
In the heart of Al Maryah Island lies Zuma Abu Dhabi. This contemporary Japanese izakaya-style restaurant offers a chic and intimate setting, making it an ideal choice for Valentine’s Day. The ambiance is both sophisticated and inviting, with dim lighting and modern decor creating a romantic atmosphere. For Valentine’s Day, Zuma presents a special tasting menu crafted by the head chef. The experience begins with a glass of bubbly, setting the celebratory tone.
Starters include langoustine wrapped in kataifi with chili broth, offering a delightful blend of textures and flavors. Mains feature grilled Chilean seabass with green chili and ginger dressing, as well as Australian wagyu beef sirloin, both cooked to perfection. The meal concludes with a signature Valentine’s Day dessert platter, providing a sweet ending to the evening. Reservations are essential, given the restaurant’s popularity, especially on special occasions. The dress code leans towards smart casual, encouraging guests to dress elegantly yet comfortably. Prices reflect the high-quality dining experience, but many find it worth the investment for such a memorable evening.
For those seeking a blend of modern cuisine and romantic ambiance, Zuma Abu Dhabi stands out as a top choice. An evening here promises not just a meal, but a comprehensive experience that lingers in memory. It’s the perfect setting for a Valentine’s Day celebration that combines exceptional food with a romantic atmosphere.
CATCH AT ST. REGIS
Perched along the Corniche, Catch at St. Regis offers a dining experience that seamlessly blends modernity with coastal charm. The restaurant’s contemporary design, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, provides panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf, creating a serene backdrop ideal for a Valentine’s Day celebration. The ambiance is both chic and inviting, with soft lighting and elegant decor setting a romantic tone. For Valentine’s Day, Catch presents a special menu that showcases the freshest seafood, artfully prepared to highlight natural flavors.
Dishes such as salmon nigiri and other Japanese-inspired creations are meticulously crafted, offering a culinary journey that delights the senses. The dress code is smart casual, encouraging guests to dress elegantly yet comfortably. Prices reflect the premium dining experience, but many find it a worthy investment for a memorable night.
SAL SAADIYAT ISLAND
The waves don’t crash here—they whisper. The ocean stretches endlessly, blurring the line between sea and sky. Sal is a place where the air tastes of salt, where the world slows to match the rhythm of the tides.
Valentine’s Day means dining over water, bathed in the golden light of sunset. Champagne flutes shimmer as delicate seafood plates arrive, each bite carrying the freshness of the ocean. Lobster tails, gently brushed with saffron butter, feel almost too luxurious to touch. The white chocolate sphere, placed before you, shatters under warm berry compote, a fitting end to an evening built on indulgence.
Sal doesn’t simply set the mood—it becomes part of the moment, part of the memory. The kind of place where time folds in on itself, where love feels effortless.
AL RAHA BEACH RESORT & SPA
Tucked away from the city’s rush yet close enough to feel connected, Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa is a world within itself. It’s where golden sands stretch infinitely, meeting the shimmering waters of the Arabian Gulf in a perfect blend of tranquility and grandeur. This isn’t just a beachfront resort; it’s an experience that unfolds like a well-kept secret, revealing new wonders at every turn. Moreover, the resort’s secluded ambiance provides an oasis where guests can escape, yet remain effortlessly close to the vibrant pulse of the city.
Dining at Al Raha is an event in itself. Azur Restaurant offers a fine selection of Mediterranean delights, each dish plated like a masterpiece. For those craving the exotic flavors of the East, Sevilla Restaurant curates dishes infused with vibrant spices and culinary artistry. But the true magic happens at sunset—La Piscine, the beachfront lounge, where fresh seafood and handcrafted cocktails are served beneath the starlit sky. In addition, the atmosphere is effortlessly enhanced by the natural beauty surrounding the venue, creating an unparalleled dining experience.
On Valentine’s Day, Al Raha unveils something extraordinary. Imagine a candlelit dinner by the shore, waves gently lapping at your feet, live musicians setting the mood, and a curated menu designed for indulgence. The chef’s special aphrodisiac-infused dishes—oysters, truffle risotto, and decadent chocolate fondant—add a layer of romance that makes the evening simply unforgettable. As a result, the evening not only delights the senses but also creates cherished memories, ensuring that it remains etched in your heart forever.
ACRES GRILL HOUSE
Some places speak softly, letting their presence be felt rather than announced. Acres Grill House is one of them. Tucked away within the lush greens of Yas Acres Golf & Country Club, it’s a place where sophistication meets soul, where every bite tells a story, and where an evening out transforms into an experience worth savoring.
The menu is a love letter to the art of grilling. Premium cuts of Wagyu, dry-aged Angus ribeye, and flame-kissed tomahawk steaks are the stars of the show, each cooked to perfection. Seafood lovers are equally spoiled—lobster tails drenched in herb butter, grilled octopus that melts under the fork, and seared scallops that capture the essence of the ocean in a single bite.
But on Valentine’s Day, Acres transforms. The ambiance shifts into something even more intimate. Tables are draped in candlelight, the soft hum of jazz fills the air, and the specially curated menu takes center stage. It begins with an amuse-bouche designed to awaken the senses—a delicate oyster shooter, infused with citrus and champagne. Starters bring a balance of flavors—perhaps truffle-infused burrata with heirloom tomatoes or a smoked beef tartare served with warm brioche.
The main event is indulgent yet refined—a perfectly aged cut of steak, paired with a side of creamy potato gratin, or a grilled Chilean seabass served over saffron risotto. And just when you think the experience is complete, dessert arrives—dark chocolate mousse with passionfruit coulis, a sweet crescendo to a night of indulgence.
BROOKLYN CHOP HOUSE
Brooklyn meets Abu Dhabi, and the result is electric. This venue isn’t just another steakhouse—it’s a revolution of flavors, a b Step inside, and you feel the energy. The lighting is warm but dramatic, the music is just loud enough to give the place a heartbeat, and the aroma of sizzling steaks mixed with the sweet, savory scents of dumplings fills the air.
Forget what you know about traditional steakhouses. Here, prime dry-aged beef sits next to Peking duck dumplings, crispy bao buns, and tender lamb satay skewers. Wagyu meets wasabi. Lobster dumplings sit beside thick, juicy tomahawks. The balance between the robust smokiness of the grill and the delicate precision of the dim sum selection creates a menu unlike any other.
The open kitchen lets you in on the magic. Flames dance, knives move with expert precision, and plates emerge like works of art. Every bite surprises, every course outdoes the last. The cocktails? Sharp, refreshing, and made to complement the rich flavors of the menu. The whiskey selection? Extensive, aged to perfection, ready to elevate the night.
MATÉ ABU DHABI
Maté is not just a restaurant. It’s fire, passion, rhythm. It’s Argentina colliding with Lebanon, creating a bold and unexpected fusion of flavors that leave a lasting imprint on your senses. Tucked inside Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, this place thrives on contrast. Dark woods meet glowing embers, the earthy scent of charcoal drifts through the air, and deep red tones echo the heat of the open-fire grill at the center of it all.
The parrilla-style cooking defines the menu, where prime cuts of Argentinian beef meet the rustic elegance of Lebanese herbs and spices. In addition, every steak is grilled to perfection, kissed by flames, charred just right. Smoky grilled prawns glisten under a drizzle of zesty chimichurri. Lamb skewers arrive infused with sumac, a nod to Levantine flavors. Moreover, even the simplest ingredients shine—fire-roasted eggplant melts on your tongue, while wood-fired bread comes with bold dips bursting with spice and citrus.
As the evening progresses, the plates arrive, and so does the soundtrack of the night. The beats are hypnotic, a perfect blend of tango rhythms and Arabic melodies, creating an atmosphere that’s intimate yet electric. The cocktails mirror this duality—spicy mezcal infusions meet floral, delicate arak-based creations. Consequently, every sip tells a story, every pour feels intentional.
Maté is where lovers linger over candlelit tables, where friends toast to the night ahead, where the fire never stops. Meanwhile, the service moves with rhythm, effortless yet personal. The setting seduces, every glance met with flickering candlelight and the glow of the embers. Some restaurants serve dinner—Mate Abu Dhabi serves an experience. One you’ll crave again and again.
