There’s nothing better than sinking your teeth into a delicious, cheesy slice of pizza. So we’ve scouted out Abu Dhabi’s very best – from luxury truffle-topped pies to more calorific creations…

Luxury pizza

Fruits du mer pizza at Mezzaluna

Emirates Palace is a regal location to eat any kind of meal, so it’ll come as no surprise that the city’s most expensive pie can be found here, at Italian outlet Mezzaluna. Their seafood pizza costs a whopping Dhs145 and is made with pesto, jumbo prawns, scallops and Tropea red onions – a famous veg grown on clay cliffs on Mount Poro, in the southern Italian town of Tropea. It’s claimed the onion has healing properties and can help reduce the symptoms of 30 ailments, including colds and flu.

Emirates Palace, Al Ras Al Akhdar, daily 12.30pm to 3pm, 7pm to 11pm, Dhs145. Tel: (02) 6907999. emiratespalace.ae

Pizza Roberto’s at Roberto’s

Another pizza with truffles, this high-end Italian at The Galleria imports its ingredients from Italy, and its signature dish features truffle carpaccio and sliced beef carpaccio, along with Parmesan cheese.

The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, daily noon to 3am, Dhs137. Tel: (02) 6279009. robertos.ae

Black truffle pizza at Market Kitchen

Have you ever eaten Fontina cheese? It’s Italian and while you can eat it at any time of year, it’s recommended you buy it during summer – this is because the cows that produce it are moved to an altitude of 700m (up from 550m), and this high and mighty position, along with a diet of rich grass, is what gives the cheese its buttery, nutty flavour. It’s combined with black truffle, one of the most expensive edible mushrooms in the world, for a truly decadent dish.

Le Royal Méridien, Al Markaziyah, Thur and Fri noon to midnight, Sat to Wed noon to 11.30pm, Dhs90. Tel: (02) 6950300. leroyalmeridien-abudhabi.com

Wagyu 65 at District By Amalfi

A new pizza at a new restaurant – District By Amalfi opened last month in the capital (an Italian inspired by the urban landscape of New York City) and its menu highlight is the Wagyu 65. It’s made with marinated Wagyu brisket, caramelised onions and béarnaise sauce and the beef is brined and then slow cooked in a sous vide for 14 hours to make it extra soft.

Le Royal Méridien, Al Markaziyah, 6.30am to 11pm, Dhs65. Tel: (02) 6950300. amalfiabudhabi.com

Unusual ingredients

Black pizza at Waterlemon

Waterlemon is a neat café situated in Al Bateen’s Marina area and their menu features black bread rolls and a black-base pizza, which is made from ground roasted root vegetables and comes with rocket and pepperoni slices.

Al Bateen, daily 8am to 11.30pm, Dhs65. Tel: (02) 6355050. facebook.com/WaterlemonUAE

Pizza Fiorentina at Villa Toscana

Ingredients such as walnuts, chestnuts, honey and pear make this sound like a bowl of muesli, not a pizza, but all the ingredients are combined with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese for a slightly sweet dish.

St Regis Abu Dhabi, Nation Towers, Sun to Thur noon to 3pm, 7pm to 11pm, Fri and Sat 12.30pm to 4pm, 7pm to 11pm, Dhs95. Tel: (02) 6944444. stregisabudhabi.com

Contadina pizza at Pappagallo

We’ve had lamb in stews and grilled, but in a pizza? You can try it minced in the Contadina, along with onions, olives, bell peppers and mozzarella.

Le Méridien, Al Zahiyah, Sun to Thur 12.30pm to 3pm, 7pm to 11pm, Fri and Sat 12.30pm to 11pm, Dhs94. Tel: (02) 6446666. thevillageatlemeridienabudhabi.com

Golfo Del Messiico at Camacho

If you’ve ever fancied Mexican but then had a last-minute change of mind and opted for pizza, the Golfo could be your perfect dining partner. It’s covered with salsa, beef strips, jalapenos, olives, guacamole and sour cream for real Tex appeal.

Al Seef Village Mall, Khalifa Park, daily 11.30am to 11.30pm, Dhs52 to Dhs60. Tel: (02) 4449660. camachorestaurant.com

Pizza Americana at Dino’s

One of the capital’s newest Italians is Dino’s and the restaurant features a couple of unique pizzas on its menu, including this carb heavy Pizza Americana that is served with spaghetti plus beef meatballs and Parmesan cheese.

Pearl Rotana, Adnec, daily noon to 3.30pm, 6pm to 1pm, Dhs68. Tel: (02) 3075555. rotana.com

Healthy Pizzas

Meat Lovers Pizza at Tawa Bakery

An Emirati-owned outlet, Tawa is also a former What’s On Awards winner that does a great line in gluten-free bread. And it’s put to good use on their range of pizzas – there are four available, including the Meat Lovers, which comes with chicken, minced Wagyu, pepperoni and smoked turkey.

Al Muneera Beach Plaza, daily 8am to 11pm, Dhs48 to Dhs68. Tel: (02) 5566900. tawa.ae

Ortolana at Pizza Di Rocco

You’ll find not one, but five vegan pizzas on the menu at Di Rocco, including the Ortolana, which comes with aubergine, courgette, onion and pesto. You can get four vegan starters here as well, including baked vegan mozzarella halves.

Salam Street, Al Dhafrah, Thur and Fri 11am to 2am, Sat to Wed 11am to midnight, Dhs52. Tel: (02) 6418300. pizzadirocco.com

Vegan Giardiniera at Pizza Express

Vegan cheese makes another appearance at Pizza Express, which recently introduced an animal-free dish to its menu. The Giardiniera comes overloaded with veggies including broccoli, mushrooms, red peppers, onions and olives, plus a vegan mozzarella.

Various locations including World Trade Center Mall, Al Markaziyah, 11.30am to 11.30pm, Sat, Sun Wed, Mon 11.30am to midnight, Thur and Fri 11.30am to 12.30am, Dhs64. Tel: (02) 4447752. pizzaexpressuae.com

Kale and mushroom at Sacci

The aforementioned Fontina cheese makes another appearance at Sacci, along with the most hipster of ingredients, kale (it’s not just for salads and blending in protein shakes). Kale is packed full of vitamins, magnesium, fibre and has zero fat – in fact, a cup of kale only has 36 calories. Sacci also serves a leek and potato pizza, for those of you in the market for some extra carbs.

The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, Khalifa City, daily 6pm to 11pm, Dhs86. Tel: (02) 6169999. marriott.com

Free-gan pizza at Freedom Pizza

UAE chain Freedom Pizza are just one of several to now offer vegan pizzas – the dairy is replaced with a vegan cheese. The Free-gan is otherwise a straightforward affair, with cherry tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and peppers. Freedom also offer gluten-free bases, although these aren’t vegan.

Various locations including Al Khalidiyah, daily 11am to midnight, Dhs33 to Dhs53. Tel: (02) 6410029. freedompizza.ae

Local flavours

Tawook Chicken (Arabica) at Itzza Pizza

The classic Middle Eastern snack can also be found on a pizza base in the capital – it naturally comes with garlic sauce for extra authenticity.

Various locations including Al Mushrif, daily noon to midnight, Dhs28 to Dhs48. Tel: (02) 6418182. @itzzapizzauae

Pizza Del Beduino at Circo

The What’s On Award-winning outlet embraces the spirit of the UAE with the Beduino, a pizza that comes with zaatar, halloumi and chicken.

InterContinental, Al Bateen, daily noon to 3.30pm, 7pm to 11.30pm, Dhs70. Tel: (800) 423463. dining-intercontinental-ad.ae

Something for dessert

Cinnamon apple calzone at Calzone Cucina

This stand-alone restaurant also has a Nutella pizza with banana, but we recommend you check out their cinnamon offering for a sort of palate cleanser. It’s served with a portion of fresh cream.

Al Reef Downtown, Al Reef, Sat to Wed 10am to midnight Thur and Fri 10am to 1am, Dhs25. Tel: (02) 3048152. facebook.com/calzonecucinauae

Nutella pizza at La Mamma

The UAE is obsessed with Nutella, so it’s not surprising to find it in a pizza dish – this one comes with vanilla ice cream and serves two people.

Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Al Markaziyah, daily noon to 3.30pm, 6pm to 11pm, Dhs44. Tel: (02) 6773333. sheratonabudhabihotel.com

ONE TO TRY: The metre-long at Spaccanapoli

The Italian outlet was the first in the city to sell the metre-long pizza – it’s so long it takes up most of the back seat of a saloon car. It can feed up to four people and the price is dependent on your choice of toppings.

Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Al Markaziyah, daily noon to 11pm, from Dhs150. Tel: (02) 6166261. ichotelsgroup.com

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