Gourmet products local specialties and wines Île D'Abu Dhabi

On the Corniche, 300 metres above sea level, at the top of Etihad Towers Tower 2, you can take a break and enjoy the best view of the capital, as this 360-degree indoor viewing platform also allows you to take the best pictures of the whole of Abu Dhabi Island and beyond. You can enjoy a minty lemonade or cappuccino and even a glass of wine. The small but very decent food menu makes this place a must-visit break and probably one of the most sought-after in Abu Dhabi.

Surmounted by its panoramic tower similar to a flying saucer, in which there is a cinemascopic restaurant, here is a shopping center built on an artificial island near the Corniche. Apart from a plethora of international stores and a few souvenir stores, there is also the Carrefour supermarket where you can buy local products, some abayas at unbeatable prices and a large trampoline park for children. No pork or alcohol though.

Lulu, whose name means "pearl" in Arabic, is a chain of supermarkets whose first opened in 1995 in Abu Dhabi. Founded by Yussuf Ali, an Indian from the Kerala region, it is now an empire with over 210 stores in the Arabian Peninsula. This chain, especially popular with Indian and Pakistani expatriates, is also a real Ali Baba's cave for those looking for bargains. It is the temple of electronics, clothing, and affordable food. They also offer games, clothes, cosmetics.

Built in waterfront mode on the edge of Khor Al-Maqtaa, the lagoon arm separating the continent from the island of Abu Dhabi, this huge shopping mall has an Eastern architecture and atmosphere with a little Venetian air. This is not yet another shopping mall, but rather a 6,000 square metre mall that unfolds its chic boutiques, pop-up stores and terraced restaurants. Delicatessen on site and musical entertainment at weekends.

Abela has been in Abu Dhabi since 1967 and is a real institution. However, this small supermarket is a bit outdated and is located not far from the Corniche. On the other hand, it is full of good products, including a pork section. It has a good retail section and good salads for lunch so that you can have a little picnic and enjoy it on the lawns along the Corniche. The clientele is mainly made up of long-standing expatriates who appreciate this business away from the well-known international brands.

This small café is located on the garden level of the Ritz-Carlton opposite the great mosque. You have to cross the imposing lobby of the establishment and go down to find the little café not far from the swimming pool. As its name suggests, it is a sweet paradise with a tangy decor. The French pastry chef offers homemade ice creams, cakes and sweets that would make the best establishments pale in comparison and make all the great gourmands fall in love. It's a great way to end a day of sightseeing after a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Choose your best fruits and vegetables from all the stalls. There is no need to buy large quantities, as you can choose by the retail price. Don't miss the olives and oil produced by the Syrian olive trees near Damascus. They have an incomparable taste and when you know the journey they go through and their origin, the purchase becomes almost sentimental. The products come from all over the Middle East. Coconut milk to be tasted on the spot.

How can you leave the UAE without a few dates? If you really want some local fruit and buy it from a small shopkeeper, then go to Mina Market. In the fruit and vegetable market, an entire aisle is dedicated to them. Without any worries, you can first have a small tasting on the spot before you decide on your selection. The service is welcoming and charming and you are sure to get good quality fruit at a reasonable price in this shop and the neighbouring ones.

It's in the souk side of the World Trade Center, designed by the famous architects Foster&Partners, that you'll find this little "bistro" between two purchases. In a deceptively Victorian setting, this is the local branch of the Dubai-based company. Ladurée style without style, but the products are good and reasonably priced. A good address for simple dishes. Don't miss the sweet and savoury crêpes, the poultry, the oeuf Bénédicte, the macaroons and, as rarities, the frosted orange and lemon.

Just a few steps away from the Qasr al Hosn, here is a very nice address to take a break between two visits. A 100% Emirati chocolate maker. Their varieties are directly inspired by the history of the emirates, the spice route and the sailors who used to find their way by the sky. Mirzam, whose name refers to a star, offers new flavours: saffron, star anise, Damascus rose, fennel and many others. And then there is the packaging, so successful, so beautiful, so inspiring that it is already a temptation!