Sure, progress is a good thing. There are plenty of new additions to the capital that make it an exceedingly excellent place to live, but we can’t help but wonder whatever happened to some old favourites?
1. West Zone: Once tucked away in the tight streets behind Corniche Towers, this unique grocery store used to be the place to go for those specialised Western foods you couldn’t find anywhere else. The good news is that the other grocery stores in town have, for the most part, picked up where West Zone left off.
2. The Old Souq: Exceedingly inconvenient road closures have left the heart of Abu Dhabi difficult to negotiate for many months, with no end in sight for the promise of a sleek, Madinat Jumeirah-style souq, which will be enclosed and air conditioned. So what? If we want enclosed and air conditioned, we can go to the mall. We miss the grubby old-style souq.
3. Traffic free summers: Once upon a time, summer in Abu Dhabi meant men enjoying a few months of being a bachelor; wife away with the children and takeaway food on speed dial. The mass exodus in June would leave the capital a ghost town; light traffic and easy parking the reward for anyone tough enough to brave the heat. These days, it’s all about the staycation, so summer is just as busy as the rest of the year. Only hotter.
4. The go kart track: If you thought Yas Marina Circuit was the first race track to ever come to Abu Dhabi, think again. Back in the day, there was an excellent go-karting track in the Tourist Club area. It was so popular, it’s still sometimes listed by guidebook writers, but anyone who’s actually been to the capital knows that it’s been gone for years.
5. The original Cafe Ceramique: The disappearance of one of Abu Dhabi’s best breakfast places and art studios was nothing short of mysterious. One day it was open for business, the next they closed their doors, leaving cakes in the display case and pottery ready for pick up in the window. The good news is that we know where this old Abu Dhabi gem has gone; Cafe Ceramique recently returned exclusively to the One to One Hotel.
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