Where to eat near Etihad Arena: Yas Bay Waterfront restaurants before a show
Quick bites, sit-down dinners and late-night spots a short walk from Etihad Arena, with opening hours to plan around.
Etihad Arena sits on the Yas Bay Waterfront, so dinner before a show is usually a short walk away. What's On lists more than a dozen restaurants around the arena, and booking ahead makes sense on big nights such as UFC 333 on Saturday 24 October.
For something quick, Daikan Izakaya serves ramen, bao buns, sushi and small plates from noon, and Bua Thai Café keeps things casual with curries and fresh salads. EL&N London is open from 8am to midnight every day for coffee, cakes and light bites, according to What's On.
For a longer dinner, Hunter & Barrel at The Pier serves steaks and burgers from 11am daily and suits groups. NURI Grill & Bar is a Korean steakhouse, and Paradiso, a partnership between chef Pierre Gagnaire and restaurateur Nicole Rubi, does pizza, pasta and seafood. Bushra by Buddha-Bar offers Levantine grills and sharing plates daily from 1pm.
Several places stay open long after the last encore. Barbossa, a Mexican and Latin American spot, runs until 3am from Thursday to Saturday, and Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar stays open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. McCafferty's, the Irish pub inside Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, shows live sport and serves comfort food from 9am.
Watch the opening times: Asia Asia opens at 5pm from Monday to Thursday and Hanar at 5pm on weekdays, so an early dinner there may not fit an early show. FACT Magazine's Yas Bay list adds L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, the Iberian grill Marcella and the modern Indian restaurant Zeera. Hours can change, so check with each restaurant before you go.
UFC 333: Volkanovski vs EvloevSat 24 Oct · Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi See ticketsSource: What's On, FACT Magazine
