Restaurant in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Michelin-starred Cantonese with a serious wine list.

Hakkasan at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental holds a Michelin star (2026) and the No. 1 Star Wine List ranking for 2024 in the region. It's the cleaner choice in Abu Dhabi for a special-occasion Cantonese dinner at the $$$$ tier. Book three to four weeks out; Saturday lunch dim sum is the hardest table to get.
Hakkasan at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is the right call for a special-occasion dinner where the setting needs to match the occasion — a milestone birthday, a business dinner with someone worth impressing, or a date where atmosphere matters as much as what's on the plate. The Michelin star (2026) and the Star Wine List No. 1 ranking for 2024 mean this is not a venue you need to take on faith. The credentials are documented, the experience is consistent with the global Hakkasan brand, and the price tier ($$$$) is what you'd expect for that combination of address and recognition.
Located inside Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental on the Corniche, Hakkasan Abu Dhabi carries the brand's signature aesthetic: low lighting, dark latticed screens, and the kind of quiet drama that makes the room feel like it was designed for conversations that matter. Regulars of the Hakkasan group will find the atmosphere immediately familiar — chic, unhurried, and deliberately theatrical without being loud about it.
The kitchen is led by Chef Toh Chye Siong, and the menu follows the Hakkasan formula that earned the brand its global reputation: Cantonese cooking built on classical technique, with enough refinement to justify fine-dining pricing. Peking duck and Chilean sea bass with honey are confirmed signature dishes. Saturday lunch adds a dim sum service , the one occasion per week Hakkasan opens at midday , and the premium dim sum selection is worth targeting specifically. For the rest of the week, dinner runs from 6 PM to 11:30 PM, seven days a week.
The wine list here carries more weight than you'd typically expect at a restaurant of this type in the region. Wine Director Gordana Josovic and Sommelier Natan Yehuda oversee a list of 325 selections across 960 inventory positions, with particular depth in France and pricing at the $$$ tier , meaning plenty of bottles above $100, with enough range to work across different budgets. The sommelier team runs weekly blind tastings paired with current menu dishes, which matters in practice: staff recommendations here are based on actual food-pairing work, not generic rotation. For a Chinese fine-dining context, that level of wine program investment is worth noting. If wine is a priority for your evening, this list will hold up. For comparable wine depth in the fine-dining category, Le Bernardin in New York City and Alain Ducasse Louis XV in Monte Carlo operate at a similar level of sommelier seriousness.
Booking difficulty is rated Hard. With a Michelin star at a hotel of this profile, weekend tables , particularly Saturday lunch dim sum , will require advance planning. Book at least three to four weeks out for a Saturday lunch reservation. Weeknight dinners may have more availability, but don't assume you can book last-minute for a Friday or Saturday evening. The restaurant operates exclusively for dinner on all days except Saturday, when lunch service (12 PM–3:30 PM) is also available.
Dress code is not confirmed in available data, but the price tier, hotel setting, and brand positioning all point clearly toward smart-casual at minimum. Arriving in resort wear would be conspicuous. For business dinners or celebrations, dress as you would for any $$$$-tier hotel restaurant in the Gulf.
General Manager Andrew Lewis heads operations. Service is documented as knowledgeable and engaged , consistent with what the Michelin evaluation process would require for a starred kitchen at this price point.
For Abu Dhabi's wider fine-dining scene, see our full Abu Dhabi restaurants guide. If you're building an itinerary around the city, our Abu Dhabi hotels guide and bars guide cover the full picture. For a different register of Cantonese cooking at the fine-dining tier, iDen & QuanJuDe Beijing Duck House in Vancouver and Chang'An in Vancouver offer useful reference points for the category globally. In the UAE region, Trèsind Studio in Dubai represents what a similarly ambitious tasting-menu format looks like in a different cuisine tradition.
Other Abu Dhabi options worth knowing: Talea by Antonio Guida for Italian at the same price tier, NIRI for Japanese contemporary, LPM Abu Dhabi for a more social French-Mediterranean format, and Erth for modern Emirati cuisine. For something lower-key, Marmellata Bakery offers a complete change of pace. For high-ambition tasting menus as a global benchmark, Atomix in New York City and Lazy Bear in San Francisco sit in the same tier of intent.
Quick reference: Michelin 1 Star (2026) · Star Wine List No. 1 (2024) · Dinner nightly 6 PM–11:30 PM · Saturday lunch 12 PM–3:30 PM · $$$$ cuisine · $$$ wine list · 325 selections · Book 3–4 weeks ahead minimum.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hakkasan | Cantonese food that blends traditional flavours with contemporary flair has always been close to my heart for many reasons, but, stepping into the world of Hakkasan Abu Dhabi, one can feel a solid syn...; Michelin 1 Star (2026); {"wbwl_source": {"slug": "hakkasan", "page_type": "category_summary", "category_slug": "award-category-winners", "award_result": "Regional Winner", "is_global_winner": "False", "region": "Middle East & Africa", "award_line": "Hakkasan, Abu Dhabi, UAE—Middle East & Africa", "location_source": "summary_line"}, "scraped_details": {"page_url": "", "location_text": "Abu Dhabi, UAE"}, "source_row_snapshot": {"raw_name": "Hakkasan", "raw_city": "Abu Dhabi", "raw_country": "United Arab Emirates", "raw_address": "Abu Dhabi, UAE"}}; WINE: Wine Strengths: France Pricing: $$$ i Wine pricing: Based on the list\'s general markup and high and low price points:$ has many bottles < $50;$$ has a range of pricing;$$$ has many $100+ bottles Selections: 325 Inventory: 960 CUISINE: Cuisine Types: Cantonese, Chinese Pricing: $$$ i Cuisine pricing: The cost of a typical two-course meal, not including tip or beverages.$ is < $40;$$ is $40–$65;$$$ is $66+. Meals: Dinner STAFF: People Wine Director: Gordana Josovic Sommelier: Natan Yehuda Chef: Toh Chye Siong General Manager: Andrew Lewis Owner: Atlantis Dubai; Regulars of this exclusive international brand will instantly recognise the sultry and chic oriental décor within this branch, located within the Emirates Palace hotel. All the time-honoured classics are on the menu, like Peking duck, Chilean sea bass with honey and, on Saturday lunchtimes, their celebrated dim sum, all prepared with enormous skill. Opt for the premium dim sum and any of Hakkasan’s 'signatures', which are highlighted on the menu. A well-chosen wine list delivers an interesting global selection with plenty of top producers. Service is knowledgeable and engaging and the atmosphere vibrant and buzzing.; Hakkasan wine philosophy: We aim to elevate our guests journey and personal enjoyment by ensuring our wines pair exceptionally well with Hakkasan’s Cantonese cuisine. Every week our sommeliers gather to conduct a thorough and diverse wine tasting to be able to showcase a large array of options for our lists. The tastings are a ritual for the team who consider an extensive range of varieties, regions, countries, as well as new vintages. The tastings are accompanied by dishes from our current menu; Star Wine List #1 (2024); {"wbwl_source": {"slug": "hakkasan-abu-dhabi", "page_type": "star_accreditation", "category_slug": "star-accreditation", "award_result": "Accredited", "is_global_winner": "False"}, "scraped_details": {"hero_image": "", "page_title": "3-Star Accreditation", "page_url": ""}, "source_row_snapshot": {"raw_name": "Hakkasan Abu Dhabi"}} | — | |
| Talea by Antonio Guida | Michelin 1 Star | $$$$ | — |
| Al Mrzab | $ | — | |
| Almayass | $$ | — | |
| Bord Eau by Nicolas Isnard | $$$$ | — | |
| Mika | $$ | — |
What to weigh when choosing between Hakkasan and alternatives.
The kitchen at Hakkasan Abu Dhabi is experienced with dietary requests — the breadth of Cantonese technique means there are naturally vegetable-forward and seafood-led options across the menu. For specific dietary requirements, check the venue's official channels when booking rather than noting it on arrival. Given the $$$$ price point and Michelin star status, the team is expected to accommodate requests with advance notice.
Dress well. Hakkasan's setting inside Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, combined with its Michelin star and $$$$ pricing, sets a clear tone: this is not a casual dinner. Men should avoid shorts and trainers; a collared shirt or jacket fits the room. Women in resort-formal or evening wear are the norm. It is not a black-tie venue, but it rewards the effort.
Book at least two to three weeks ahead for weekday dinner; Saturday lunch dim sum requires more lead time and should be treated as a priority reservation. This is a Michelin-starred room inside one of Abu Dhabi's most prominent hotels, so availability tightens quickly on weekends and around public holidays. Walk-in options may exist at the bar, but do not rely on them for a full dinner.
For French fine dining at a comparable price tier, Bord Eau by Nicolas Isnard is the main counterpart. Al Mrzab and Almayass offer Lebanese and Armenian-Lebanese cooking at lower price points if you want a special meal without the $$$$ spend. Mika covers Japanese. None of them match Hakkasan's specific Cantonese format or its Michelin credential in the Abu Dhabi market.
Saturday lunch is the specific case to book: it is the only service where dim sum is offered, and Hakkasan's dim sum is a programme highlight. If Saturday lunch is not available, dinner is the default and delivers the full à la carte experience including signature dishes like Peking duck and Chilean sea bass. Sunday through Friday, dinner is the only option, running 6 PM to 11:30 PM.
Yes, this is a reliable choice for a milestone dinner. The Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental address, the Michelin star awarded in 2026, the low-lit Oriental aesthetic, and a wine list rated number one by Star Wine List in 2024 all combine to signal occasion without requiring you to explain the choice. The $$$$ price point means it is calibrated for exactly this purpose.
Hakkasan's signature venues typically include a bar area, and based on the format of the brand it is likely possible to order food and drink at the bar. However, the venue database does not confirm a dedicated bar dining policy for this location. If bar seating is important to your plan, confirm directly when booking.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.