Prego’s: Wood-Fired Italian Comfort at Beach Rotana

An Abu Dhabi Italian with staying power

Prego’s is the kind of hotel restaurant that has outlived several dining trends because its appeal is easy to understand. At Beach Rotana in Al Zahiyah, the restaurant centres on recognisable Italian pleasures: wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta and seasonal dishes served in a relaxed room with an outdoor terrace. The current Rotana page places Sicilian chef Antonino at the heart of the kitchen, linking the menu to family recipes and the uncomplicated generosity of Italian cooking. That detail matters because Prego’s can otherwise be mistaken for a generic hotel Italian. In reality, the open-kitchen energy, traditional pizza oven and terrace overlooking the hotel gardens and sea give it a distinct identity within Beach Rotana’s unusually large restaurant collection.

Pizza, pasta and the value of familiarity

There is no need to over-engineer an order here. Prego’s is at its best when the table leans into the classics: a pizza from the wood-fired oven, a pasta that shows off the kitchen’s fresh preparation and one seasonal main or salad to share. Recent 2026 guest reviews repeatedly mention the authenticity of the Italian flavours, generous portions and the role of the service team in making repeat visits feel personal. That does not mean every diner will have the same experience, but it reinforces the restaurant’s core strength: this is comfort-led Italian dining rather than a conceptual tasting menu. The terrace is particularly valuable in cooler months, when the garden, beach and skyline views turn an otherwise familiar lunch or dinner into something more distinctly Abu Dhabi.

Correcting the location and keeping the story current

The old intelligence record incorrectly placed Prego’s on Saadiyat Island. The current first-party evidence is clear: the restaurant is at Beach Rotana on 10th Street in Al Zahiyah. Rotana lists it as open for lunch and dinner, with direct restaurant contact on +971 2 697 9186, while the hotel main number remains +971 2 697 9000. For Simply Abu Dhabi, the feature should therefore focus on what is actually current: a long-running Italian favourite with a Sicilian chef, handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza and one of the more pleasant terraces in this central part of the city. It is not trying to reinvent Italian food; its advantage is doing the familiar things with enough care that guests keep returning.

Practical details

Location: Beach Rotana, 10th Street, Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Cuisine: Italian

Telephone: +971 2 697 9186

Setting: Indoor dining and sea-view garden terrace

Editorial status: Open – location corrected from stale Saadiyat record