Abu Dhabi's best bars are in its hotels and on its islands. Al Maryah Island has the biggest cluster of cocktail bars, with two speakeasies and the city's first bar honoured at The World's 50 Best Bars. The Corniche has the sky bars, grand hotel bars and the city's oldest pubs, while Saadiyat has beach lounges. This guide covers 18 bars, cocktail bars first, with our top picks and a map.
Last checked 14 November 2026. No bar paid to be included.
If you only have one night, start here.
Abu Dhabi's first World's 50 Best Bars honour.
Al Maryah IslandMore than 300 gins in a speakeasy.
Al Maryah Island1920s Shanghai behind a restaurant.
Al Maryah Island62 floors up at Etihad Towers.
The Corniche and the cityLiterary cocktails at The EDITION.
The Corniche and the citySabrage at sunset.
The Corniche and the cityHome of the Tomatini.
Al Maryah IslandA bar that revolves.
The Corniche and the citySundowners on Saadiyat.
Saadiyat IslandTap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
The financial district's island, with The Galleria, Rosewood and the Four Seasons, where most of the city's best cocktail bars are a short walk apart.
Swipe to see all 6 bars →
Speakeasy
A speakeasy inspired by 1920s Shanghai jazz, hidden behind the Chinese restaurant Dai Pai Dong, with dark booths, low light, dim sum and pan-Asian bites.
📍 The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
Poolside lounge
A day-to-night poolside lounge on a third-floor terrace at Rosewood, with city views, palm tree sculptures in metal and a busy evening crowd.
📍 Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
Japanese hi-fi bar
Best Bar Design Award, The World's 50 Best Bars 2026
A Japanese-inspired hi-fi bar and lounge at the Four Seasons on Al Maryah Island, for music lovers, cocktails and izakaya food. In 2026 it became the first Abu Dhabi bar recognised at The World's 50 Best Bars, with the Best Bar Design award. It was also named Best Overall Bar at the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards.
📍 Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
Restaurant and bar
The Abu Dhabi branch of La Petite Maison, with a relaxed French Riviera feel and a well-regarded cocktail list. Order the Tomatini.
📍 The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi
Wine and whisky cellar
A lavishly decorated wine cellar at Rosewood with a wealth of wines and whiskies, expert sommeliers and a food, spirits and cigar menu.
📍 Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island
Grand hotel bars and sky bars along the waterfront, from Emirates Palace to Al Bateen.
Swipe to see all 9 bars →
Sky bar
On the 62nd floor of Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, with the most spectacular views of the city skyline. Dress the part.
📍 Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Corniche, Abu Dhabi
Hotel cocktail bar
An intimate, literary-themed bar at The Abu Dhabi EDITION, with dim light, velvet seats and creative and classic cocktails. Look out for its Negroni sessions.
📍 The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Al Bateen Marina, Abu Dhabi
Tiki bar and restaurant
A tropical tiki bar and restaurant at Beach Rotana.
📍 Beach Rotana, Tourist Club Area
🕒 Daily 6pm to 1.30am (OpenStreetMap; check before you go)
Hotel bar
Gilded Age New York glamour with local touches such as camel-racing paintings and heritage tiles, classic cocktails and the St Regis sabrage ritual at sunset.
📍 The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Corniche, Abu Dhabi
Revolving bar
A revolving bar with floor-to-ceiling windows and city views, a large oval bar and tea-inspired cocktails and mocktails using tamarind, blackberry and thyme.
📍 Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi
Brasserie and bar
A modern American brasserie with 1920s art nouveau design inside Emirates Palace, pouring cocktails, regional craft beers and wines by the glass.
📍 Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi
British pub
One of Abu Dhabi's oldest pubs, with long happy hours, live music and traditional British food.
📍 Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Corniche Road
British pub
A British pub at Le Méridien Village with a classic rock soundtrack.
📍 Le Méridien Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area
Irish pub
A long-running Irish pub at Le Royal Méridien, named Time Out Abu Dhabi's best pub in 2019, with live music, Guinness and a full Irish breakfast.
📍 Le Royal Méridien, Sheikh Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi
🕒 Sat to Wed noon to 2am; Thu and Fri noon to 3am (OpenStreetMap; check before you go)
Beach lounges on Saadiyat, about 20 to 30 minutes from the city.
Swipe to see all 3 bars →
Beach lounge
A bohemian beach lounge at the Park Hyatt on Saadiyat, with Gulf views, a fire pit and sundowners to an Ibiza-style soundtrack.
📍 Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Beach bar
An oceanfront Pan-Asian venue at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island with a terrace over the Gulf, Buddha-Bar cocktails, DJs and live music.
📍 The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
🕒 Sun to Thu noon to midnight; Fri and Sat noon to 1am (OpenStreetMap; check before you go)
Beach club
A laid-back luxury beach club on Saadiyat Island.
📍 Saadiyat Island
Abu Dhabi is spread out, so this short route covers Al Maryah Island, where the bars are a few minutes apart on foot. Take a taxi between areas. See them all on a map.
5 bars · about 9 minutes on foot in total
Start with Saikindō and Hidden Bar, then Dragon's Tooth. Our top 9 above covers the rest.
Al Maryah Island, where Saikindō, Hidden Bar, Dragon's Tooth and LPM are close together.
Yes. Hidden Bar at Rosewood and Dragon's Tooth behind Dai Pai Dong in The Galleria.
21. Alcohol is served in licensed venues such as hotels and bars, so bring photo ID.
Ray's Bar on the 62nd floor of Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers.
This guide is written by the team at M.AD Agency. We run Cocktail Week, the ten-day cocktail festival held town by town across the UK and Ireland. Since 2022 we have taken it to more than 20 towns and cities and worked with hundreds of bars. We put this guide together from our own research, award results and trusted local guides.
No bar paid to be included and nobody can buy a place. We check the guide regularly as bars open, change and close.
Run a bar in Abu Dhabi that should be here? Get in touch at hello@cocktail-week.com and tell us about it.
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