That’s a wrap on the What’s On Abu Dhabi Awards 2026…

The votes are in, and the What’s On Abu Dhabi Awards 2026 has crowned the very best of the capital’s restaurants, bars, staycations, spas, attractions and entertainment. Decided entirely by public vote, the Abu Dhabi Awards 2026 winners are a genuine snapshot of what residents and visitors rate most highly about life in the UAE capital right now, from Corniche institutions to Yas Bay newcomers and Saadiyat Island staycation favourites.

Across 37 categories spanning entertainment and leisure, food concepts, casual dining and fine dining, here is the full breakdown of every winner and highly commended from the What’s On Abu Dhabi Awards 2026

Editor’s Choice

WHAT’S ON HOMEGROWN RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR: GOLDFISH SUSHI & YAKITORI ABU DHABI

There’s a reliable test for a great homegrown restaurant: take it out of its original city, and see if it holds. Goldfish passes with distinction. Chef Akmal Anuar’s Japanese dining concept – which holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for the third consecutive year and features in MENA’s 50 Best Discovery, arrived at Marina Mall Abu Dhabi and immediately demonstrated why it has earned a cult following. Where lesser exports coast on reputation, Goldfish does the opposite. The Abu Dhabi menu introduces exclusive creations alongside beloved signatures like the Wagyu Sliders, Tuna & Guac Dip, flame-kissed yakitori and the ramen that has had diners hooked since day one. The open kitchen, the precision, the ingredient ethics – all intact. What seals this win for us isn’t just the food; it’s the proof that a homegrown concept born in the UAE can expand on its own terms, hold its standards, and give a new city exactly the restaurant it deserves.

WHAT’S ON CHEF OF THE YEAR: SUPOJ JEENMAHUN – SONTAYA ABU DHABI, THE ST. REGIS SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT

The best chefs don’t just cook, they shape the soul of a place. That is precisely what Chef Supoj Jeenmahun has done at Sontaya, the Southeast Asian restaurant perched over floating pavilions at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, where the name itself means “sunset” in Thai and the entire experience is designed to unfold like one. Under his stewardship, Sontaya has evolved from a beloved resort restaurant into a destination in its own right – a place where wok-fried ginger lotus sea bass, aromatic green curries, and handcrafted Asian botanical cocktails are served against the most cinematic backdrop in Abu Dhabi’s dining scene. The reimagined menu bears his hallmarks: precision, authenticity, and an intuitive understanding of Southeast Asian flavour architecture that never trades soul for spectacle. We awarded Chef Supoj this year’s chef honour because great cooking at this level makes the setting irrelevant – though when the setting is this extraordinary, it simply becomes unforgettable.

WHAT’S ON NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: NOVIKOV ABU DHABI

Novikov is not a brand that arrives quietly, and its Abu Dhabi opening at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island was no exception. What impressed us wasn’t the fanfare, but the follow-through. Eighteen months on from its debut, this outpost of the globally revered London institution has done what so many high-profile international arrivals fail to do: it has earned its place on merit. The Mediterranean menu – guided by acclaimed Italian chefs Marco Lubian and Alberto Dorigo – delivers daily handmade pasta, charcoal-grilled octopus with padrón peppers, and a lemon Amalfi dessert that lingers long after the bill has been settled. A pianist plays through service; selected Asian signatures from Novikov London – including the Wagyu Tacos and the theatrically presented Wasabi King Crab Leg, make appearances that remind you this is a restaurant with global heritage and genuine confidence. The Michelin Guide took notice; so did Abu Dhabi’s discerning dining crowd. For us, this is what a newcomer of the year looks like: a restaurant that earns its standing the old-fashioned way.

WHAT’S ON RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR: SAND & KOAL, EMIRATES PALACE MANDARIN ORIENTAL

Some restaurants are great. Others are irreplaceable. Sand & Koal belongs to the second category and it isn’t a close call. Set on the sands of Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental with Qasr Al Watan glowing across the water and the Arabian Gulf murmuring beneath the boardwalk, this is a restaurant that understands, fundamentally, that a great dining experience is also a great night. Fire dancers perform on the beach. A DJ sets the mood as the sun disappears. Open-fire cooking – live-grilled steaks, smoked and charred seafood, crudos arriving with cocktails at the bar – commands the evening with confidence and craft. The Michelin Guide calls it correctly: catch the sunset, order a drink, let the evening unfold slowly. We’d go further: the karak tea ice cream is the taste of the UAE, and the Reef and Beef the kind of dish that sends you back to the table the following week. Sand & Koal is currently a MENA’s 50 Best partner and carries the Michelin imprimatur with ease. Restaurant of the Year is ours to give, and this is the only answer.

The Night’s Standout Winners

FAVOURITE LUXURY STAYCATION: AL WATHBA, A LUXURY COLLECTION DESERT RESORT & SPA

Just 50km from the city, this Bedouin-inspired desert sanctuary takes the capital’s Favourite Luxury Staycation title with 99 rooms, private pool villas, stargazing-ready night skies and a flamingo-filled wetland reserve on its doorstep. Highly commended: Bab Al Nojoum Hudayriyat and Rosewood Abu Dhabi.

FAVOURITE BEACH HOTEL: INTERCONTINENTAL ABU DHABI

A marina landmark since 1981 and the city’s first hotel with a private white sand beach, InterContinental Abu Dhabi wins Favourite Beach Hotel thanks to six dining venues, an 18th-floor Club Lounge with panoramic Gulf views and the exclusive Bayshore Beach Club. Highly commended: erth abu dhabi and Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi.

FAVOURITE POOL AND BEACH: CAFÉ DEL MAR BEACH CLUB ABU DHABI

Born in Ibiza and reimagined at Yas Bay, Café del Mar takes the Favourite Pool and Beach crown with one of the UAE’s largest infinity pools at 1,100sqm, resident DJ sessions and a day-to-night energy that has made it an Abu Dhabi institution in record time. Highly commended: The Bayshore Beach Club at InterContinental Abu Dhabi and The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi.

FAVOURITE CONCERT, FESTIVAL OR FAMILY SHOW: YASALAM AFTER-RACE CONCERTS & AFTER-PARTIES 2025

The most ambitious line-up in the event’s history, with Post Malone, Metallica and Katy Perry headlining four after-race nights and Calvin Harris and Keinemusik leading the official after-parties into the early hours, takes this year’s entertainment crown. Highly commended: OFFLIMITS Music Festival and Saadiyat Nights, DCT Abu Dhabi and Ethara.

FAVOURITE SPORTING EVENT: FORMULA 1® ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2025

A twilight-to-night season finale at Yas Marina Circuit — neon lights reflecting off superyachts, covered grandstands, fan zones and the anti-clockwise 1.2km straight that makes it pure F1 spectacle — wins Favourite Sporting Event. Highly commended: NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 and UFC 321 (Abu Dhabi Showdown Week), both DCT Abu Dhabi and Ethara productions.

FAVOURITE BURGER: HUNTER & BARREL

Yas Bay’s smoke-and-fire steakhouse takes Favourite Burger, with open flames, dry-aged cuts and a buzzing waterfront terrace combining for the bold, unfussy cooking that has made it one of the island’s most in-demand grills. Highly commended: WHITE SMOKE and Maxzi The Good Food Shop.

What’s On Abu Dhabi Awards 2026: The Full Winners List

Every category, listed by section. Winners are followed by their highly commended runners-up.

Leisure

FAVOURITE SPA

WINNER: AWAY SPA, W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island

HC: Conrad Spa, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers

HC: Sense Spa, Rosewood Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE LUXURY STAYCATION

WINNER: Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa

HC: Bab Al Nojoum Hudayriyat

HC: Rosewood Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE BEACH HOTEL

WINNER: InterContinental Abu Dhabi

HC: erth abu dhabi

HC: Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE POOL AND BEACH

WINNER: Café del Mar Beach Club Abu Dhabi

HC: The Bayshore Beach Club, InterContinental Abu Dhabi

HC: The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi

Nightlife

FAVOURITE BAR

WINNER: Jazz Bar, Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche

HC: Novikov Abu Dhabi

HC: Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar

FAVOURITE SUNDOWNER SPOT

WINNER: The Overlook, The WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton

HC: Tiki Pacifico Dining & Lounge

HC: Lexx, Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl

FAVOURITE LADIES’ NIGHT

WINNER: Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar

HC: The Overlook, The WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton

HC: W Lounge, W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island

FAVOURITE SPORTS BAR

WINNER: Crafty Fox, Yas Links

HC: Appaloosa, Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi

HC: Stock Burger Co., Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi

Entertainment

FAVOURITE CONCERT, FESTIVAL OR FAMILY SHOW

WINNER: Yasalam After-Race Concerts & After-Parties 2025

HC: OFFLIMITS Music Festival

HC: Saadiyat Nights, DCT Abu Dhabi and Ethara

FAVOURITE SPORTING EVENT

WINNER: Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025

HC: NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025, DCT Abu Dhabi and Ethara

HC: UFC 321 (Abu Dhabi Showdown Week), DCT Abu Dhabi and Ethara

FAVOURITE ATTRACTION

WINNER: Adrenark Adventure

HC: Etihad Arena

HC: Leo & Loona Kids Park

Food Concepts

FAVOURITE AFTERNOON TEA

WINNER: Infinity Lounge, Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi

HC: Lobby Lounge, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi

HC: Lobby Lounge, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers

FAVOURITE CAFÉ

WINNER: Beverly Café

HC: Society

HC: Ritual Cafe & Studio

FAVOURITE BUSINESS LUNCH

WINNER: Mosaic Restaurant – Al Najda

HC: Novikov Abu Dhabi

HC: Valgerand Nordic Grill

FAVOURITE PUB GRUB

WINNER: The Club Bar, The Club Abu Dhabi

HC: Belgian Café Yas Island, Yas Plaza Mangroves

HC: Cooper’s Gastrobar, Park Rotana Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE BURGER

WINNER: Hunter & Barrel

HC: White Smoke

HC: Maxzi The Good Food Shop

FAVOURITE BREAKFAST

WINNER: Oléa, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort

HC: Beverly Café

HC: Al Rimal, erth Abu Dhabi

Restaurants

FAVOURITE BRUNCH: INDEPENDENT

WINNER: Valgerand Nordic Grill

HC: Villa Sélène

HC: SUSHISAMBA Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE BRUNCH: HOTEL

WINNER: Sofra bld, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi

HC: Cooper’s Gastrobar, Park Rotana Abu Dhabi

HC: The Director’s Club, The WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton

FAVOURITE CASUAL ALL-DAY DINING RESTAURANT

WINNER: Nalu Restaurant

HC: Garage, W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island

HC: Roots Bar & Kitchen, Yas Acres Golf & Country Club

FAVOURITE CASUAL ASIAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: KAIZU

HC: Mr. Kim Korean BBQ

HC: Waves, The Club

FAVOURITE CASUAL ITALIAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: Il Forno

HC: Bella Vita

HC: Marco’s Italian, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE CASUAL MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: Ilios Restaurant & Beach Club

HC: Oii Restaurant & Cafe

HC: Pappas Taverna, W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island

FAVOURITE CASUAL MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT

WINNER: Mosaic Restaurant – Al Muroor

HC: Jawaher

HC: Kamoon, Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE CASUAL STEAKHOUSE RESTAURANT

WINNER: Teatro

HC: Brooklyn Chop House, W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island

HC: Chamas Churrascaria & Bar, InterContinental Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE FINE DINING ALL-DAY DINING RESTAURANT

WINNER: Villa Sélène, Yas Links Abu Dhabi

HC: Giornotte, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal

HC: Saddle House

FAVOURITE FINE DINING ASIAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: Shang Palace, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi

HC: 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant

HC: Silk & Spice, Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche

FAVOURITE FINE DINING INDIAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: Namak, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi

HC: Rangoli, Yas Plaza Marina

HC: Zeera by Buddha-Bar

FAVOURITE FINE DINING ITALIAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: Totó Restaurant Abu Dhabi

HC: Vero Italiano, Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi

HC: Villa Toscana, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE FINE DINING MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: West Bay Lounge, Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche

HC: Bord Eau by Nicolas Isnard, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi

HC: The Vista, The Club Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE FINE DINING MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT

WINNER: Mazaj Bab Al Bahr, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi

HC: Amara Restaurant and Café, The WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton

HC: Byblos Sur Mer, InterContinental Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE FINE DINING SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

WINNER: Catch at St. Regis, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi

HC: Fishmarket, InterContinental Abu Dhabi

HC: Khayal, Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi

FAVOURITE FINE DINING STEAKHOUSE RESTAURANT

WINNER: Entrecôte Café de Paris

HC: Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr

HC: The Grill, Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi