Golf & Dining in Abu Dhabi

Visitors to Abu Dhabi can combine two of life’s great pleasures: golf and gastronomy. As well as world-class golf courses, the city’s golf clubs have superb clubhouses with fantastic dining options. Here’s our guide…

Abu Dhabi Golf Club

The National course at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club hosts the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship on the European Tour and provides one of the best golf experiences in the Middle East. The course, sculpted out of the desert by leading designer Peter Harradine, is exceptional.

The iconic Falcon clubhouse, built to resemble a falcon, has excellent dining options. International dishes are served at Cafe 28 from early morning to late evening, while the club’s signature steakhouse, The Grille Restaurant, offers a broad selection of meats paired with international wines. The club’s Championship Lounge and Sip N’ Dip pool bar are relaxing places to enjoy drinks and light snacks.

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, designed by legendary golfer Gary Player, boasts beautiful ocean views and is another must-play course in Abu Dhabi.

The clubhouse’s Hawksbill Restaurant – named after the endangered turtles that nest on the nearby beach – offers an a la carte menu of international cuisine, which can be enjoyed indoors or on a large terrace overlooking the golf course, with the city’s gleaming skyline as the backdrop. 

If you’re looking for a family-friendly dining option, try The Krunch. This kid-friendly brunch occurs every Friday at the club between 12pm and 3pm on the Dolphin Lawn overlooking the golf course. A play area with a bouncy castle and heaps of fun games will keep children entertained for hours.

Yas Links

Set on the western shores of Yas Island, Yas Links is ranked by All Square as one of the top 100 golf courses in the world and the best in the Middle East. It’s a stunning Scottish-style seaside links course where all 18 holes enjoy ocean views. 

At the clubhouse, Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving everything from a full-English breakfast to Thai salads and pizzas. Relax in the refined dining room, or on the terrace overlooking the golf course and the ocean beyond.

On the first floor of the clubhouse, you’ll find the hidden gem that is Matsu. This elegant restaurant and bar serve refined Japanese cuisine, and there’s a large terrace with views of the golf course. 

Abu Dhabi City Golf Club

Abu Dhabi City Golf Club is a challenging and beautifully maintained nine-hole course located right in the heart of the city, with the soaring skyline as a backdrop. There’s a two-tiered driving range, and the club offers floodlit golf in the evening. As far as urban golf goes, it doesn’t get much better than this. 

The clubhouse’s 19th Street Bar & Restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves international cuisine in a traditional sports bar setting with panoramic views.

You can also eat all day at the Pavilion, which offers al-fresco views of the golf course, the race track at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, and the city beyond. It hosts a BBQ every day from 5pm, and the Race Night BBQ on Sundays during the horse racing season.

At the swimming pool, the Pool Bar serves freshly squeezed fruit drinks and a snack menu from 7am until sunset and cocktails from midday. Upstairs at the clubhouse, you’ll find one of Abu Dhabi’s best Asian restaurants, Sushi Maru, serving authentic Japanese dishes, Korean fried chicken, and more.