99 Sushi Bar

The Verdict

If you have been to 99 Sushi Bar before, the question on a return visit is not whether the food holds up; the kitchen's commitment to Spanish-sourced seafood and technically precise Japanese cooking has remained consistent enough to earn continued recognition. The question is whether the tasting menu for two still justifies the $$$$ price point when Abu Dhabi's fine dining roster has expanded considerably. The short answer: yes, but specifically for diners who want a structured tasting experience rather than à la carte Japanese in a hotel setting. If that is not your format, Hakkasan ($$$$ · Chinese) on the same island offers a comparably priced experience with a different flavour profile and more flexible ordering.

About 99 Sushi Bar

Located on Level 1 of The Galleria at the Four Seasons Hotel on Al Maryah Island, 99 Sushi Bar is a Spanish-owned operation with a specific and deliberate sourcing model: most of the seafood comes from Spain, which is less common than it sounds in a city where Japanese restaurants typically source from Japan or source generically. That provenance decision shapes the menu in ways that make the cooking genuinely distinct from most Japanese Contemporary restaurants in Abu Dhabi. Dishes like flamed red mullet with kumquat tiger milk; balancing spice, fruit, acidity, demonstrate how the kitchen applies Japanese technique to non-Japanese ingredients without the result feeling like a gimmick.

The tasting menu is the format the kitchen is built around, first-timers should approach it as such. The progression moves through well-constructed dishes where presentation and ingredient quality are both high, with a wine selection described as classically minded rather than adventurous. For the food-and-wine enthusiast who wants context alongside the meal, that pairing approach delivers consistency over surprise. If you are looking for boundary-pushing pairings, Trèsind Studio in Dubai is worth the drive for a more experimental tasting arc, but 99 Sushi Bar is the cleaner, more refined choice for a genuinely intimate dinner on the island.

The room operates with the kind of service precision you expect from a Four Seasons address, it runs smoothly, the intimacy of the space is a deliberate feature rather than a limitation. This is not a venue suited to large groups or casual drop-ins. It functions leading for two to four diners who want the meal to be the event. For context on what tasting-menu architecture at this level looks like elsewhere, compare the experience philosophically to Atomix in New York City or Lazy Bear in San Francisco, venues where the progression of the meal carries the same weight as any individual dish.

Eco-friendly sourcing angle is not just branding. Importing Spanish seafood to the Gulf involves deliberate logistics, the kitchen uses that supply chain as a quality filter rather than a cost-cutting exercise. The result is ingredient quality that the presentation then honours rather than obscures. For a comparable commitment to sourcing transparency at the fine dining level in Abu Dhabi, Talea by Antonio Guida ($$$$ · Italian) takes a similarly rigorous approach to its Italian product base, making it the most direct peer comparison in the city for diners weighing one $$$$ tasting experience against another.

Practical Details

Reservations: Booking is rated Easy, walk-ins may be possible, but this is a Four Seasons property at the $$$$ tier, the intimate room means availability can close quickly around weekends and Thursday evenings. Book at least a week out for weeknights; two weeks minimum for a Thursday or Friday dinner. Hours: Open daily, lunch 12 PM–3:30 PM and dinner 7 PM–midnight. Budget: $$$$, the tasting menu for two is the recommended format; factor in wine pairing if you plan to use the full menu. Dress: Smart casual at minimum; the Four Seasons context and price point make this a jacket-or-equivalent room. Getting there: Level 1 of The Galleria, Four Seasons Hotel, Al Maryah Island, valet is available through the hotel, the location is accessible by taxi or ride-share from central Abu Dhabi.

How It Compares

See the comparison section below for how 99 Sushi Bar sits against Abu Dhabi's wider fine dining options.

Further Reading

For more options across Abu Dhabi, browse our guides: our full Abu Dhabi restaurants guide, our full Abu Dhabi hotels guide, our full Abu Dhabi bars guide, our full Abu Dhabi wineries guide, and our full Abu Dhabi experiences guide. For other tasting-menu benchmarks internationally, see Le Bernardin in New York City, Alain Ducasse- Louis XV in Monte Carlo, Alinea in Chicago, and Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen in Paris. Other Abu Dhabi options worth comparing: Erth (Modern Cuisine), LPM Abu Dhabi, and Marmellata Bakery. For Chicago-style tasting menu architecture, Emeril's in New Orleans offers a useful counterpoint at a lower price tier.