Villa Toscana: Tuscan Tradition, Vittorio Nania and a Michelin-Honoured Kitchen
A restaurant built on regional Italy rather than a generic version of it
Villa Toscana has always worked best when it behaves like its name suggests: a house of regional Italian cooking rather than a catalogue of internationalised Italian favourites. The St. Regis Abu Dhabi frames the room around Tuscan-villa warmth, and the current restaurant site now places chef Vittorio Nania at the centre of the story. That focus is deserved. Nania, who is from Calabria, received the Michelin Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 Young Chef Award, while Villa Toscana remains among the Guide’s Selected restaurants. The recognition has sharpened attention on a restaurant that was already one of the Corniche’s established Italian addresses.
The menu shows more ambition than the rustic setting implies
The current menu moves confidently between comfort and precision. Burrata arrives with Piennolo tomatoes and basil; ribollita uses cannellini beans and black cabbage; handmade pici is paired with Chiantigiano ragù; risotto is prepared with aged Acquerello rice; and veal Milanese sits beside Wagyu, seabass and a large Fiorentina-style T-bone for sharing. Pizza remains part of the offer, but it does not dominate. Michelin’s inspectors specifically praised classic Tuscan dishes, spaghetti alle vongole, veal Milanese and tiramisu, which neatly captures the restaurant’s strength: technique is present, but it is usually working in service of recognisable Italian flavour rather than spectacle.
A polished restaurant that still feels hospitable
Villa Toscana serves lunch and dinner daily, with a weekday business lunch and evening aperitivo adding reasons to visit beyond special occasions. The room’s elegance is softened by a sense of domestic Italian hospitality, which recent 2026 diners continue to mention alongside pasta quality and attentive service. For Simply Abu Dhabi, the Michelin award should not become the whole story. The more convincing reason to go is that Villa Toscana has managed to evolve without abandoning the regional character that made it distinctive in the first place.
Practical details
Location: The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Nation Towers, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cuisine: Regional Italian / Tuscan
Telephone: +971 2 694 4553
Hours: Daily lunch 12:00pm-4:00pm; dinner 5:00pm-11:00pm
Recognition: MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 Selected; Young Chef Award – Vittorio Nania
Editorial status: Open – current first-party site and Michelin recognition verified