Abu Dhabi has struck a chord with those looking for evening entertainment over dinner
Abu Dhabi has some incredible dining options, but to keep you going back for more some restaurants have the added bonus of live entertainment.
So sit back, relax and take note of the city’s best shows to watch over dinner.
De La Costa
If you like your dinner and a show paired with a stunning backdrop, we recommend heading over to Saadiyat Beach Club for its Puesta Del Sol night in De La Costa.
The evening includes traditional Flamenco performances from professional dancer Raquel, supported by Spanish guitarist Vicente with the stunning ocean
in the background.
If that isn’t enough, you can feast on paella – rice cooked with meaty prawns, chicken and bell peppers – from a live cooking station.
AED 99 for a plate of paella or AED 120 including a glass of traditional Spanish drink. Every Saturday 6pm-8pm.
Contact: 02 656 3500 [email protected]
Bravo
Tapas, paella and classical guitar screams ‘Spanish experience’ and this show’s not to be missed.
Bravo is home to Richar Gimenez, a singer and classical guitarist who trained at Instituto Municipal de Arte in Paraguay. He has since performed in South America, Europe and the Middle East. His repertoire infuses varied musical genres from Latin and pop to boleros and bossa nova – a fusion of samba and jazz.
Partner that with the restaurant’s cuisine and you’ll feel like you’re on an Andalucían adventure. While Richar entertains your ears, the cuisine will entertain your palate.
There’s a lot of tapas to choose from, but we recommend the gambas al ajillo, or shrimps with olive oil and garlic guindilla chilli pepper; patatas bravas, or potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce; and the salteado de setas, sautéed wild mushrooms, Manchego cheese and thyme.
Richar performs from 7pm to midnight Sunday to Friday.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Corniche East. Contact: 02 677 3333 www.sheratonabudhabihotel.com
Byblos Sur Mer
This newish Lebanese restaurant is tucked away at one end of the marina behind InterContinental Abu Dhabi.
It’s worth seeking out, because the two-storey venue has a spacious terrace and balcony with waterside views.
Expect a fine dining experience with food that is well cooked and presented, in a restaurant decked with gold. But don’t expect piddly portions that are synonymous with fine dining restaurants; instead, you can feast on bowls of mezze and platters of grilled meat and kebabs. We particularly recommend the chicken wings with spicy lemon sauce, although there is plenty for vegetarians too.
There are a host of performances from solo singers, bands and oud players from 8.30pm to midnight Sunday to Friday.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Bainouna Street, Al Bateen. Contact: 02 666 6888 www.dining-intercontinental-ad.ae
The Jazz Bar and Dining
This night out is sure to get your toes tapping. The Jazz Bar and Dining is famed for its vibrant bands and delicious food. We recommend the 200g US black Angus beef tenderloin with baked potato, green beans and mushroom sauce, but vegetarians will be just as satisfied with the homemade spinach and ricotta ravioli served with a zesty tomato and basil sauce.
Singer Julianne Costa leads the bar’s seven-piece band, Wave. “A live performance creates a fun atmosphere and when you listen to familiar songs over a delicious dinner, that’s even better,” she says. “We play anything from 40s classics to 2015 hits and we make sure diners are still able to hear themselves talk and enjoy the company they come with.”
Wave plays 8.45pm to 1.30am Sunday to Friday.
Hilton Abu Dhabi, Corniche West. Contact: 02 681 1900 www.hilton.com
Acropolis
Three-piece band Acropolis hail from the Greek island of Rhodes. Listen to them perform traditional Greek music on a keyboard and a pear-shaped bouzouki and luth and they’ll have you dancing and clapping in no time. You can even call ahead to have some plates ready to smash!
The menu here is just as traditional as the music – try the soutzoukakia meatballs and courgette patties, although the whole calamari stuffed with feta cheese is the restaurant’s standout dish.
The band performs 7.30pm to 10.30pm Tuesday to Thursday, 8pm to 11pm on Friday and 2pm to 5pm on Saturday during a Greek barbeque.
Le Méridien Abu Dhabi, Al Zahia. Contact: 02 644 6666 www.lemeridien.com/abudhabi
Sho Cho
No wonder this restaurant and bar is popular – it has an outdoor terrace overlooking Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and delicious Japanese cuisine. Our favourite dish is the sesame salmon – thinly sliced salmon sprinkled with olive oil and yuzu soy sauce and rounded off with fresh coriander.
Darren Constable adds extra zing to the place 8pm till midnight every Tuesday. The singer and guitarist is a one-man show, playing popular songs and creating a chilled vibe.
Souk Qaryat Al Beri, between the bridges. Contact: 02 558 1117 www.sho-cho.com
Heroes
Get your air guitars ready and make your way to the basement dive bar that is Heroes.
Its talented resident band, The International Playboys, performs popular foot-stomping tunes Monday to Friday. Thanks to them, the atmosphere here is always electric. The food isn’t bad either. Tuck into a hearty sharing platter, burger or the spicy lamb curry.
Catch the four-piece band from 10.30pm to 1.30am on Mondays, 10pm to 2am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 11pm to 3am on Thursdays. On Fridays, they perform 4pm to 6pm at FAB – the Friday After Brunch event – then again from 11.30pm to 2.30am.
Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Hamdan Street. Contact: 02 616 6166 www.crowneplaza.com
Jack Dignum
