Hakkasan Abu Dhabi: A MICHELIN Star Behind the Palace Doors

Cantonese precision inside an Abu Dhabi landmark

Hakkasan’s setting could easily overpower almost any restaurant: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is one of the capital’s defining hotels. Yet Hakkasan has enough identity of its own to feel like a destination within the Palace rather than merely another dining outlet. The dark, lattice-screened interior, long bar and private entrance create a deliberate change of mood from the monumental public spaces outside. More importantly, the food has the consistency to justify the theatre. Hakkasan retained its One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Guide, one of only three restaurants in the emirate to do so. That recognition places the emphasis where it belongs – technique and repeatable quality rather than the spectacle of the address.

Signatures that have become part of the city’s dining vocabulary

Mandarin Oriental currently highlights Peking duck with caviar and crispy duck salad, while MICHELIN points diners towards the Peking duck, Chilean sea bass with honey and Hakkasan’s premium dim sum and signature dishes. These are not new inventions created for Abu Dhabi, and that is precisely the attraction. Hakkasan’s international language is refinement through repetition: lacquered duck, precise steaming, glossy sauces, controlled sweetness and a wine list built to handle rich Cantonese flavours. Saturday lunch changes the rhythm with a dedicated dim sum service from noon to 3:30pm, giving the restaurant a lighter daytime personality before the room returns to its darker evening energy.

The palace experience, without losing the restaurant

Dinner currently runs from 6pm to 11:30pm, with the bar open until 12:30am; reservations are on +971 2 690 7739. Hakkasan also offers a private entrance through the East Wing, useful if you want to arrive directly rather than crossing the Palace lobby. For Simply Abu Dhabi, this remains one of the city’s essential fine-dining addresses because the luxury is not doing all the work. The best meal is built around a few recognised signatures, balanced by dim sum and vegetable dishes rather than ordering every rich plate at once. The Palace supplies grandeur; Hakkasan earns its reputation by making the cooking precise enough to stand apart from it.

Practical details

Location: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cuisine: Contemporary Cantonese Chinese
Telephone: +971 2 690 7739
Hours: Dinner Sun-Fri 6pm-11:30pm; Sat dim sum lunch 12pm-3:30pm and dinner 6pm-11:30pm; bar to 12:30am
Recognition: One MICHELIN Star – MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2026
Editorial status: Open