Inside Isabel Abu Dhabi: Mayfair glamour finds a new home on Al Maryah Island
A Mayfair original, reimagined for Abu Dhabi
Some restaurants make their presence felt before a plate reaches the table. Isabel Abu Dhabi is one of them. Set within The Galleria Al Maryah Island, the capital’s outpost of the celebrated London address has matured into a destination in its own right: assured, atmospheric and unmistakably tailored to Abu Dhabi.
Isabel first opened on Albemarle Street in Mayfair in 2017, quickly becoming known for a combination of culinary polish, glamorous interiors and an animated social rhythm. Its first international address carries that heritage forward, but this is no carbon copy. The Abu Dhabi restaurant draws upon the codes of the original and gives them a more expansive, locally attuned expression.
A dining room with presence
Designed by DBM Studio under the creative direction of Mahsa Gholizadeh, the restaurant replaces Mayfair’s earthy reds with a deep, luminous palette of navy and blue. Dark oak, Calacatta Viola marble, polished brass and velvet create richness without sacrificing warmth, while floral motifs, hand-embroidered silk wall coverings and sculptural lighting bring a sense of movement to the room.
At its centre sits a dramatic bar, as much a social focal point as a piece of interior architecture. Curved banquettes and carefully spaced tables preserve intimacy around it, and the abundant flowers, gilded details and crisp white table linen lend each arrival a subtle sense of ceremony. The effect is glamorous but composed: made for long lunches, celebratory dinners and evenings that continue at an unhurried pace.
Mediterranean cooking with an Abu Dhabi accent
The kitchen is led by French chef Vincent Visinet, whose time at Isabel in London informs a Mediterranean menu developed specifically for the UAE capital. Familiar signatures have been reinterpreted rather than transplanted wholesale, accompanied by dishes created for Abu Dhabi.
The menu speaks fluently in the language of contemporary luxury. Beef croquetas offer a crisp, savoury opening; burrata and tartares favour clarity and balance; and the caviar French toast layers soft milk bread, chive cream and Kaviari Kristal caviar into an indulgent signature. Fresh pasta and seafood occupy an equally confident place, with lobster rigatoni enveloped in a concentrated bisque and langoustine presented with the kitchen’s characteristic restraint.
For the table, a Wagyu T-bone makes a suitably theatrical centrepiece, while grilled octopus with piquillo pepper brings smoke, sweetness and Mediterranean brightness. The cooking is generous, but its strongest moments are controlled: premium ingredients, precise technique and enough flourish to feel special without allowing spectacle to overwhelm flavour.
Save room for something sweet
Dessert continues the sense of occasion. The XXL pistachio madeleine is baked to order and intended for sharing, while the red berry pavlova brings crisp meringue, cream and fruit together in a lighter finale. A Valrhona chocolate pie soufflé offers the richer alternative, and the orange-blossom cream-filled tropézienne introduces a fragrant note that feels especially well suited to the region.
Hospitality as part of the experience
The defining quality of Isabel Abu Dhabi is not confined to its food or design. Service is central to the proposition: attentive, informed and polished, yet warm enough to avoid formality becoming stiffness. Recommendations feel considered, the room moves with quiet precision, and the many individual details resolve into a seamless whole.
That balance is what gives Isabel its staying power. The restaurant carries the glamour associated with Mayfair, but it succeeds in Abu Dhabi because it has learned the capital’s rhythm rather than merely importing another city’s. It feels international and distinctly at home—an elegant addition to Al Maryah Island’s formidable dining landscape, with both substance and sparkle.
Essential details
Isabel Abu Dhabi is located at The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. The restaurant is open daily from noon. Reservations and the latest service information are available through isabelabudhabi.com.