'Tis the season to be jolly. And the fact that Christmas falls over the weekend this year is another reason to celebrate.
If you’re thinking of going all out with a festive brunch or dinner, here’s a look at some of the best places to enjoy a meal in the capital.
49er's Steakhouse & Club
Festive menu
Keep it sweet and simple with a festive feast at the steakhouse. The venue will be serving up a traditional turkey main course with all the trimmings and Christmas pudding over the holiday weekend. Two main courses start from Dh99 and an a la carte menu is also available.
December 24 and 25; all day, but meal must be booked in advance; Dh99 for two courses; Le Meridien, Al Zahiyah, 02 645 8000; 49ers.ae
Catch at St Regis
Christmas Day brunch
The perfect place for seafood lovers, the restaurant will be ringing in Christmas with a special themed menu. Expect delicacies such as salmon wellington, grilled prawns and sushi alongside Christmas staples such as a whole turkey. There will also be live entertainment.
December 25; 1pm-4pm; Dh450; The St Regis Abu Dhabi; restaurants.abudhabi@stregis.com.
Coya Abu Dhabi
Festive dishes, Christmas Eve brunch and Christmas Day dinner
The Latin-American favourite is decking its halls in gold with a "Dreaming of a gold Christmas" theme. In the lead-up to the big day (from December 12 to 24), there will be two limited-time dishes available – roast chicken (Dh248) and slow-cooked beef ribs (Dh348) with all the sides.
There will also be a brunch on Christmas Eve, with a range of tasty appetisers (think ceviches, maki rolls and Chilean sea bass croquettes), and a choice of main courses and themed desserts, such as the orange and lime churros with milk chocolate and dulce de leche sauce.
Finally, on Christmas Day, guests can expect a four-course meal with a choice of starters, such as salmon tacos, mixed seafood ceviche, wild mushroom ceviche or Wagyu beef baos.
Christmas Eve brunch: 12.30-4pm; Dh199; Christmas Day brunch: 12.30-3.30pm; Dh278; The Galleria Al Maryah Island; 02 306 7000
Glo
Festive brunches and dinners
Eat, drink and be merry at this rooftop venue, which is hosting Christmas Eve and Christmas Day brunches and dinners.
The festive brunches will take place from noon to 3pm, and will include everything from a roast turkey station with all the trimmings to Christmas dessert specials. Meanwhile, a saxophonist will play for 45 minutes, and youngsters can look forward to a children's corner, complete with a doughnut stand, Christmas goodies and a visit from Santa.
In the evenings, there will be a Wood and Fire dinner experience, with a festive twist. The set menu will include mains such as roast turkey with all the trimmings, red snapper, a seafood chowder and Christmas yule log.
December 24 and 25; noon-3pm for the brunches, from 6pm for the dinners; from Dh395 for the brunches; from Dh295 for the dinners; Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island; rosewoodhotels.com
Graphos Social Kitchen
Christmas Eve Dinner and Christmas Day brunch
The restaurant will serve holiday favourites across its 16 interactive stations the night before Christmas. Meanwhile, there will be a musician serenading diners with classic songs.
Christmas Day brunchwill be packed with activities for children and adults. Guests can dress as their favourite Christmas character and participate in the "Best Dressed" competition, with the "Best Dressed Family" winning a voucher of Dh1,000.
While grown-ups unwind with live entertainment and festive tunes, children will be kept busy in the activity zone with festive cookie decorations, making punch and building a pancake tower, assisted by none other than Santa’s helper, Elf.
December 24 and 25; 6.30pm-11pm on Christmas Eve and 1.30pm-4pm on Christmas Day; packages from Dh190 for dinner and Dh429 for lunch; Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island; 02 208 6900; dineatgraphos@hilton.com
Nahaam and Sole restaurants
Christmas Day brunch
For the big day, the poolside Nahaam at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers has teamed up with chic Italian restaurant Sole to launch one big festive brunch. Expect classic Christmas dishes mingling with traditional Italian delicacies. Meanwhile, there will be a live band, DJ, and a visit from the man in red.
December 25; 12.30pm-4pm; packages from Dh525 per person, Dh200 for children 6-12, free for those under 6; Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers; hilton.com
PJ O’Reilly’s
Themed brunches
The fun Irish hangout has back-to-back brunches across the Christmas weekend. There will be three festive meals taking place, with loads of staple Christmas treats, singalongs, live entertainment and themed drinks.
December 23 and 24, 7pm-10pm; Saturday, December 25, 1pm-4pm; from Dh149; Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi; 02 695 0515
Punjab Grill
Three-course Christmas meal
For an Indian twist to a traditional Christmas meal, head over to the fine-dining restaurant, which has crafted a special three-course menu, available from Thursday December 16 to Saturday, December 25. On the menu are honey-spiced chicken wings, salmon and shrimp balchao and East Indian duck moilee, while vegetarians can enjoy dishes such as the cumin and baby potato roast. Wrap up the meal with desserts including Christmas pudding and a decadent chocolate cake.
December 16-25; Dh350; Venetian Village, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal; 050 668 3054
Remal Hotel
Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch
Those heading to the hotel in Al Ruwais will be able to find a festive spread on Christmas Eve, complete with the chef’s signature roasted turkey with cranberry sauce, roasted chestnuts and a vast array of sides.
Meanwhile, on December 25, Al Falaj will host a Christmas Day brunch brimming with seasonal specialties, festive music and decor.
December 24 and 25; 7pm-10.30pm for the dinner and 12.30pm to 4pm for the brunch; packages start from Dh115; 02 809 2222; remalhotel.ae
Sidekicks
Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch
If you want to have a festive time at the world's first Warner Bros Hotel, the WB Abu Dhabi has you covered. On Christmas Eve, there will be a lavish buffet with all the favourites: think slow-roasted turkey; mashed potatoes; gravy; cranberry sauce and winter vegetables. The menu will also include starters, mains and indulgent desserts for both adults and children.
Meanwhile, get your Christmas Day started with a grand brunch. Relish holiday favourites such as turkey with all the trimmings, beef wellington, festive entrees and traditional desserts such as Christmas pudding, mince pies and yule logs. The hotel’s resident Warner Bros characters will pop by to delight children and spread some Christmas joy.
December 24 and 25; 7pm to 10:30pm for the dinner, 1pm to 4pm for brunch; packages from Dh300 for dinner, Dh295 onwards for brunch; Yas Island; 02 815 0000; dine.thewbabudhabi@hilton.com
Villa Toscana
Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch
The Italian restaurant will have a decadent four-course Christmas Eve menu with traditional dishes given a festive spin. On offer will be starters such as the lobster tail served on pumpkin cream, mains such as the veal tenderloin au gratin with herbs and wild mushroom sauce; and an apple pie served with wild berry ice cream to end the evening on a sweet note. An a la carte menu will also be available.
On Christmas Day, there will be a lunch with Italian dishes ideal for sharing – think pan-seared foie gras and scallops – followed by a choice of main courses. For pudding, take a walk to the “dessert room”.
December 24 and 25; 7pm to 11pm and 1pm to 4pm respectively; from Dh450 for the dinner and Dh350 for the lunch; The St Regis Abu Dhabi; 02 694 4553; restaurants.abudhabi@stregis.com.
This list is being updated until the big day
