Cafe Milano Abu Dhabi: Italian Elegance with Al Maryah Waterfront Views
Washington pedigree, Abu Dhabi setting
Cafe Milano arrived in Abu Dhabi with an established Washington, DC identity, but the Four Seasons setting gives the concept a different character. The restaurant sits on the lower promenade level of Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, where the terrace opens directly towards the waterfront. Four Seasons describes handmade pastas, fresh seafood and carefully composed Italian specialities as the core of the menu, and that combination suits the room: polished enough for business dining, but relaxed enough for a long lunch outside.
The menu travels across Italy rather than staying in one region
Current menus move comfortably between crudo, antipasti, grilled seafood, pasta and meat. Hokkaido scallop carpaccio, tuna crudo, sea-bass ceviche and grilled Mediterranean calamari sit alongside richer Italian signatures and house-made pasta, while the weekend Degustazione format is explicitly designed around dishes from different Italian regions. During the week, the business lunch offers a more concise route through the kitchen. Chef Delfino Chiarello and his team are named by Four Seasons in the current programme, and recent 2026 diners continue to praise both the food and the restaurant’s warm, detail-led service.
Michelin selection reinforces what the room already tells you
Cafe Milano is listed as Selected in the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026. That recognition fits the restaurant’s particular strength: it delivers luxury without turning every plate into an experiment. Ingredients are premium, technique is controlled and the room is elegant, but the menu remains recognisably Italian and hospitable. Four Seasons currently lists lunch from noon to 6pm and dinner from 6pm to midnight, with +971 2 333 2444 for reservations; Cafe Milano’s own local site also publishes a direct restaurant line. For Simply Abu Dhabi, this is one of Al Maryah Island’s safest recommendations for an important lunch or refined dinner – especially when the weather makes the terrace part of the experience. The balance matters: it feels special enough for a celebration, yet the menu remains legible and generous enough that returning guests do not need a special occasion to justify another visit.
Practical details
Location: Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cuisine: Italian
Reservations: +971 2 333 2444
Hours: Lunch 12:00pm-6:00pm; dinner 6:00pm-midnight
Recognition: MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026 – Selected
Editorial status: Open