The capital has multiple options for those who want to experience a traditional iftar in terms of food, ambience and music, as well as a host of others that will serve up classic dishes with a modern twist, and some truly decadent desserts. Here's our pick of iftars to try:
Sofra Bld
What: Iftar buffet with Arabian stuffed whole lamb, ouzi, dolma, mousakhan, and desserts such as lugaimat and kunafa.
When: Sunset until 8pm
How much: Dh205 per person not including tax, plus a 20 per cent discount for the first 10 days if you book before Ramadan begins.
Where: Shangri-La Hotel Abu Dhabi
Contact: Call 02 509 8555 or email restaurantreservations.slad@shangri-la.com
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Layali Al Baraka
What: A traditional iftar buffet with juices, dates, ouzi, mixed grills, fresh saj bread and Arabic coffee, plus an oud performance every day, excluding Sundays, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
When: 7pm to 9pm
How much: Dh175 per person
Where: Jumeirah at Etihad Towers
Contact: Call 02 811 5666 or email JADRestaurants@jumeirah.com
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Ramadan at the Palace
What: Custom-built Ramadan pavilion with an extensive buffet, featuring live cooking and carving stations, plus continental dishes. Don't miss the ouzi reggag, a 12-hour marinated baby lamb with homemade spices and khanen (local ghee), covered with reggae bread and served on a bed or rice. Desserts include assida bouber (sweet pumpkin cooked with roasted flour and topped with khanen), date pudding cake, khabessa (Emirati dessert of roasted flour, cashews, sultanas and saffron), hallwa and Umm Ali.
When: Sunset to 9pm
How much: Dh320 per person
Where: Emirates Palace
Contact: Call 02 690 7999 or email restaurants@emiratespalace.ae
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Urban Kitchen
What: A traditional Arabian ambience and an iftar buffet that includes hot and cold mezze, kibbeh, lamb ouzi, live shawarma and falafel stations, mixed grills and Arabic breads. Signature dishes by chef Kunal Kapur will be served at the iftar ti introduce guests to his upcoming restaurant Namak.
When: 7pm to 10pm
How much: Dh145 per adult and Dh73 per child, plus tax
Where: Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi
Contact: Call 02 698 8137 or email reservation.table@dusit.com
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Butcher & Still
What: Set three-course menu at the 1920s-inspired Chicago steakhouse by chef Marshall Roth. Choose from garden greens, truffle poutine and Caesar salad for starters; Kansas City Strip steak, grilled prawns and mushroom Wellington for mains; and key lime pie, New York cheesecake and chocolate cake for dessert.
When: 7pm to 9pm
How much: Dh250 per person
Where: Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island
Contact: Call 02 333 2444 or email dining.abudhabi@fourseasons.com
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Hala Ramadan tent
What: One of the capital's most popular Ramadan tents, which seats 150 people, includes a buffet featuring traditional Arabic delicacies, such as lamb ouzi, kofta, shorba soup and shawarma, as well as chicken moghrabieh, fish moussaka, lamb makloubeh and Dawood basha. Desserts include kunafa, Umm Ali and mahalabiya.
When: 7pm followed by suhoor
How much: Dh210 for adults and Dh85 for children between 6 and 12 years; children under 5 eat free
Where: Hilton Abu Dhabi
Contact: Call 02 692 4247
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Sevilla
What: Iftar buffet with hot and cold mezze, salads, barbecue stations for lamb and beef, meat platters and a handful of Asian dishes, and pastries.
When: Sundown to 11pm
How much: Dh196 on weekdays and Dh245 on weekends, with a 50 per cent for kids between 6 and 12 years; kids below 5 eat free
Where: Al Raha Beach Hotel
Contact: Call 02 508 0431 or email fbsecretary.alraha@danathotels.com
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99 Sushi
What: A Japanese-flavoured menu that includes tuna maki; miso soup with seaweed, truffle, leeks and tofu foam; baby lamb gyozas with caramelised onion, arzu cheese and chestnut infusion; tiger prawn tempura; fried eggplant with sweet miso; butterfish nigri with truffle; and salmon flambe nigri with lime; plus mochi for dessert.
When: Sunset to 9pm
How much: Dh199 per person
Where: The Galleria, Al Maryah Island
Contact: Call 02 672 3333
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Flavours
What: Iftar buffet with Arabic, Indian, Italian and Asian dishes, such as okra with lamb, baked samke harra fish in tahini sauce, lamb ouzi, Dawood basha meatballs in tomato sauce, garlic-coriander shrimps, kung pao chicken, chicken siu mai dim sum, chicken satay, vegetable dumplings, Goan fish curry, lamb chops, chicken tawook, beef brisket, whole roasted turkey, and oven-baked salmon. Beverages include jallab, a rose-flavoured date syrup; kamarudin, dried apricot orange blossomed water; tamar hindi tamarind syrup; and laban; while for desserts there's Umm Ali, baklava, kunafa nabulsiya, muhalabia, tiramisu, crème caramel, cheesecake, and mango sago.
When: Sunset to 9pm
How much: Dh174 for adults and Dh87 for children between 6 and 12 years; kids below 5 eat free. Book for 10 adults or more to get 15 per cent off.
Where: Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort
Contact: Call 02 677 3333 or email Irene.vilches@sheraton.com
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Todd English’s Olives
What: Iftar menu that includes starters such as spiced chick pea soup and olives mezze platter; plus feta cheese, smoked eggplant purée and ground lamb flatbread. Mains include chicken and pappardelle, grilled skirt steak tandoori, seafood risotto with seasonal vegetables; and for dessert a vanilla gelato with fresh berries and raspberry sauce. The Iftar menu is just 120++ AED with the restaurant opening for business lunch from 12.30 PM until 12 AM.
When: 7pm onwards
How much: Dh120 plus taxes
Where: Venetian Village, Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi
Contact: Call 050 315 0770
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