Antonia Restaurant

Named after the chef and owner’s nonna or grandmother, Antonia Restaurant has a retro vibe and serves traditional Italian dishes. 

Expect generously portioned handmade pasta in olive oil-based sauces, like cacio e pepe and ricotta gnocchi; quintessential Roman street food, suppli (deep-fried riceballs with risotto, stringy cheese and tomato sauce); and pizzas crafted with 80% water, rustic Italian flour, a touch of olive oil, sea salt and a prized sourdough starter that’s been nurtured and passed down through generations for over 50 years. This unique tradition sets Antonia apart from all Italian restaurants in Abu Dhabi.

Antonia Restaurant in Abu Dhabi also offers the beloved Italian concept of ‘pizza al taglio’, which is rectangular pizzas with customised toppings.

Location: Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Soul Beach, Saadiyat Island

Si Ristorante Italiano & Bar

Another authentic Italian restaurant in Abu Dhabi, Si Ristorante Italiano & Bar, uses fresh seasonal ingredients and cooks Italian delicacies in its open kitchens, which feature a grand and modern pizza oven.

Every dish is served in high style in a contemporary setting and relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Although it is family-friendly, grown-ups can also enjoy the restaurant’s hip bar, which serves pre-dinner drinks or aperitivi—a staple for Italian restaurants.

Thursdays are reserved for Si Ristorante’s beloved Italian table tradition, where diners share sumptuous, authentic favourite dishes. Diners can choose from a selection of carving and live stations, and irresistible desserts to share.

Location: Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas, Saadiyat Island

Mare Mare

How about some home cooking with a fabulous view of the Arabian Gulf? Located on the picturesque Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Resort, Mare Mare offers a laid-back seaside dining experience. 

With a name like Mare Mare (‘mare’ is Italian for ‘sea’), you know you’ll be feasting on comforting coastal Italian dishes. Its seafood-forward menu features seabass carpaccio, a selection of oysters, fritto misto and the Mare Mare signature, spaghetti vongole, among many other stupendous dishes. This Italian restaurant also offers vegan and vegetarian options.

When you’re craving the best seafood pasta in Abu Dhabi, reserve a table at Mare Mare. It’s one of the best Saadiyat Island restaurants.

Location: Jumeirah Saadiyat Island

Café Milano

For a bit of power dining with waterfront views, head to the Four Seasons Hotel for Café Milano. The celebrated outpost of the revered Washington DC restaurant offers beautifully made Italian delicacies, authentic handmade pasta, fresh seafood and delicious pizza, among others.

The pasta dishes are named after celebrated designers, such as Pappardelle Cavalli, Tonnarelli Versace and Spaghetti Gucci, making Café Milano quite the exciting spot for tucking into ‘glammed-up’ pasta in Abu Dhabi.

The restaurant features regional Italian fare daily and mezze-style Italian dining from its classic tasting menu on weekends.

Location: Four Seasons Hotel, The Galleria Level 1, Al Maryah Island

L’Olivo – Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island

Warm, inviting and sophisticated, L’Olivo Ristorante serves classic Italian food in Abu Dhabi. Choose from its list of antipasti, such as arancini and melanzane, and its Pasta E Risotto selection, like rich rigatoni with osso bucco and mushroom risotto with earthy forest mushrooms. If you prefer pizza, L’Olivo serves the classics, like Margherita as well as calzone.

Since the Italian restaurant is located on a luxurious family-friendly resort, Rixos Premium, L’Olivo also welcomes young diners with its Kid’s Menu.

Location: Level 1, Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island, Saadiyat Island

Talea by Antonio Guida

With its well-earned Michelin star, Talea by Antonio Guida is one of the exceptional Italian restaurants in Abu Dhabi. The restaurant honours family-style cooking and serves vibrant dishes. 

Talea focuses on traditional techniques of Milanese classics with an innovative edge, with every dish a tribute to the land. Some of its more outstanding dishes are the chilled veal in tuna-caper sauce, handmade slow-cooked beef ravioli with Jerusalem artichokes and purple cabbage, turbot with Mediterranean guazzetto and  maccheroncelli alla Genovese.

Location: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Hotel, West Corniche Road, Al Ras Al Akhdar

Taverna Del Moro

Located at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Taverna Del Moro features an extensive menu with authentic Italian dishes perfect for long, leisurely meals or quick, satisfying bites. 

The ristorante Italiano in Abu Dhabi features a number of pizza selections for every discerning diner, such as a spicy pizza dell’etna, a unique pizza burrata, a bold and creamy pizza truffle, the gourmet pizza baronessa (with a mozzarella base, crispy breaded zucchini and rich turkey toppings) and a gooey calzone farcito.

Location: St Regis. At Residence Collection Saadiyat Island

Totó

One of the top Italian restaurants in Abu Dhabi is also one of the Saadiyat Island dining destinations that practices sustainable gastronomy. Totó uses only the freshest, highest quality Italian products and sources local seasonal ingredients. 

The restaurant creates a unique Italian dining experience by combining the charm of Italian cinema’s golden age with a 50s-inspired dining room and the warmth and creativity of Italian cuisine.

Tuck into pappardelle Wagyu ribeye bolognese, traditional carbonara with beef bacon and egg yolk or fresh homemade raviolo with mixed seafood filling and tomato mussels sauce. Totó restaurant in Abu Dhabi also features a large selection of wines, so enjoy pairing your favourite comfort food with bottles of red or white from Italy’s wine-producing regions.

Location: Jacques Chirac Street, Cultural District, Saadiyat Island

Eataly

One of the more unique ways to experience an Abu Dhabi Italian restaurant is through Eataly. The global chain of food halls combines restaurants, food counters, retail items, a bakery and even cooking classes, under one roof. 

Eataly’s menu features classics, such as minestrone, pasta alla norma, burrata with caponata, mushroom risotto, and classic lasagna, with vegan and vegetarian options.

Location: Ground Level, Reem Mall, Al Reem Island

Pizza Di Rocco

Crisp, authentic and artisanal pizzas are all handmade to order, this is what makes Pizza Di Rocco a must-visit dining destination. Its pizzas are baked in a Neapolitan pizza, hand-crafted cupola-style oven.

Choose the classics: Margherita, Quattro Formaggi, Frutti Di Mare or the Bresaola, or go with the restaurant’s special pizza creations: Buffalo Fried Chicken, Paneer Tikka or Fattoria (flor di latte mozzarella). The restaurant also serves vegan pizzas.

Pizza Di Roco is also a pasta restaurant in Abu Dhabi. It serves classic options plus a create-your-own pasta alternative.

Location: Near the Corner of Salam and Al Falah Street (9th Street), Al Dhafrah

Find Your Favourite Italian Restaurant in Abu Dhabi

Whether you’re a die-hard pasta fan, a pizza purist, or someone who simply loves the comforting flavours of Italian cooking, Abu Dhabi serves up an incredible range of dining experiences to satisfy every craving. 

For Italian restaurants with a view in Abu Dhabi, check out some of the best restaurants in Mamsha Al Saadiyat. The promenade in this exclusive beachfront community offers a great selection of dining places for a variety of appetites.