Antonia Chic: Abu Dhabi’s Celebrated Italian Concept Elevated at The Galleria Al Maryah Island

A More Polished Expression of a Familiar Tradition

Antonia Chic is the refined iteration of a concept that has already captured the affection of Abu Dhabi’s discerning diners. Since its arrival at The Galleria Al Maryah Island in May 2024, it has established itself as the first licensed expression of the brand, weaving an aperitivo programme and a more comprehensive drinks selection into the Roman pizza and pasta traditions that have long defined the Antonia experience.

The foundation remains immutable: pizza al taglio, crafted from a 72 hour natural sourdough rise and thoughtfully selected flour, yielding the rectangular slices that have become synonymous with Antonia’s identity. Sold in the time honoured Roman manner by the slice, this format preserves the essential informality that lies at the heart of the concept. Surrounding this signature offering sits an expanded restaurant menu of antipasti, pasta prepared with deliberate al dente precision, Italian mains of considerable refinement and a selection of dolci that honour the Italian tradition.

A Setting That Complements Rather Than Overwhelms

What distinguishes Chic is not a reimagining of the cuisine, but rather a transformation of the occasion itself. The Galleria’s location brings with it a more urbane clientele, one drawn to weekday business lunches, the refined interlude of an after work aperitivo, and the promise of a lingering evening. The room reflects this shift in atmosphere with a considerably more polished aesthetic, yet it resists the rigidity that might undermine Antonia’s essential character. This equilibrium is paramount. The brand’s enduring appeal rests upon chef owner Simone Federici’s family narrative and the cherished memory of his grandmother Antonia; excessive formality would stand in direct opposition to this legacy. Chic instead honours the familiar cuisine whilst presenting it within a more sophisticated frame.

An Invitation to Discover Pizza Al Taglio Anew

For those encountering Antonia Chic for the first time, the truest appreciation unfolds through a deliberate resistance to ordering as one might at a conventional shopping destination. Begin with the antipasti, share several varieties of pizza al taglio, progress to a pasta or Italian main, and reserve space for the tiramisu or another Italian dessert. The very diversity of the al taglio format constitutes an integral element of the pleasure.

Antonia Chic stands as an exemplary demonstration of how a homegrown Abu Dhabi brand may evolve authentically for a different neighbourhood whilst preserving the essential character that rendered it recognisable. Where Mamsha remains the beachside original and Al Zeina serves as the neighbourhood trattoria, The Galleria brings Antonia into an evening realm, aperitivo in hand, where the concept finds its most urbane expression.

Practical details

Location: Level 2, The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cuisine: Italian
Telephone: +971 2 674 9781
Email Address: hr@antoniarestaurant.com
Venue/property email: info@thegalleria.ae