Here in the UAE, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to excellent restaurants. While many are found within the busy city centers, others are set out in the country’s stunning natural surroundings with amazing views and wonderful peace and quiet.
Inviting you to dine on delectable (and large plant-based) specialties whilst admiring jagged mountain ranges, swathes of date palms, green and luscious pastures, and more untouched landscapes, the below are some of our favourite back-to-nature restaurants found across the UAE.
1484 by Puro, Ras Al Khaimah
You have to book in advance to grab a table on the jaw-dropping terrace of 1484 by Puro, but it’s 100 percent worth the effort. Named after its height above sea level (a staggering 1,484m), its views over Jebel Jais – the highest mountain in the UAE – are out of this world, and it probably goes without saying that it’s the highest restaurant in the country, too.
Committed to championing local produce, the menu spans hearty breakfasts, dramatic afternoon tea spreads, a whole section of tasty vegan and vegetarian specials, and much more. If you feel like raising a toast after your journey to the top (it’s only polite, surely) there’s a wide choice of creative cocktails, beers, wines, and champagne to choose from, too. @1484_by_puro/
Casa Mikoko, Umm Al Quwain
Along with being a spectacular destination for a relaxing staycation, this eco-friendly, African-style resort is also the perfect place to stop by for a wholesome and nutritious meal. Providing a refreshing break from manmade city life, and perched over the peaceful mangrove forests of sleepy Umm Al Quwain, the Mikoko restaurant offers an enticing mix of African-inspired specials like pumpkin and sweet potato curry, local Arabic favourites such as wood-fired manakish, and international recipes as diverse as vegan ‘glow green’ burgers, vegan Beyond meatballs, and truffle and mushroom risotto.
If you want to work up an appetite beforehand, it also offers revitalising yoga classes, hosted out on the resort’s tranquil floating wooden platform. @casamikoko.uaq
Crane, Abu Dhabi
Jubail Mangrove Park is a lovely place for a nature walk. But, don’t get so distracted by the sparkling blue waters and wild mangrove forests that you forget to stop for a pre- or post-stroll pick me up at Crane. Known for its ultra-trendy organic matcha lattes and unique, Abu Dhabi inspired creations such as the best-selling Liwa latte, MBZ latte, and Dhafra latte, the friendly homegrown hideaway offers one of the most picturesque settings of any coffee shop in the city.
The true definition of a hidden gem, the terrace overlooks a protected area of over 5,000 hectares of mangrove forest. While you’re not quite close enough to see the thousands of crabs and fish that fill the waterways – you are in the ideal place to pause and enjoy a relaxed coffee set to the tranquil sounds of nature. @crane.ae.
Ethr, Al Ain
Walking around the 147,000+ palms of Al Ain Oasis can be hungry and thirsty work, and seeing homegrown coffee shop Ethr emerge from between the trees can feel like stumbling upon a mirage. Like no other cafe you’ve ever visited, every part of the rustic indoor-outdoor venue is constructed from sustainably sourced and upcycled materials – including some very clever furniture made from dried date seeds – and it blends effortlessly into the surrounding palms of the UAE’s oldest farm. Only open during the winter season, it provides just one more reason to get your next staycation to Al Ain booked in ASAP. @ethr.ae
Farmer’s Bistro, Abu Dhabi
Found inside Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi’s biggest and most beautiful public park, Farmer’s Bistro is a warm and welcoming place for a refuel after some outdoor fun. Completed with a pleasant terrace surrounded by lofty palms, the tempting menu features heaps of delightful smoothies, fresh salads, chunky sandwiches, loaded veggie burgers, and many more farm-to-table specials. Plus, with art installations, community markets, yoga events, and family-friendly film screenings hosted by the park throughout the year, you’re never short of reasons to pop by and treat yourself to a tasty bite or two. farmersbistrouae.com
Lowe, Dubai
Along with being one of the most sustainable restaurants in the UAE, Lowe also has one of the prettiest settings. Tucked away inside the eco-conscious community of Al Barari, and set within a calm and peaceful green oasis, everywhere you look from the shaded terrace you’ll see nothing but palms, greenery, and healing nature, and the menu is all crafted from locally sourced and organic produce, too.
The proud recipient of an incredible three Michelin Green Stars, it also holds a place on the MENA 50 Best Restaurants list 2024, you’ll struggle to find a more special or loveable venue anywhere in the UAE. Try the charred cauliflower with dukkah and tofu cream and you’ll soon see what we mean. @lowedxb.
Mazaraa Farm, Al Bahyah, Abu Dhabi
Hidden away in the furthest reaches of Abu Dhabi’s city suburbs, Mazaraa Farm is said to be the UAE’s first certified organic farm. Surrounded by rows upon rows of organic vegetables and fruits, a visit to the farm’s cafe is just the medicine you need after a busy week at work. Serving delicious dishes prepared with ingredients that were plucked straight from the ground just metres from your table, the invigorating ginger and turmeric shots provide a nourishing boost of vitamins, while the delightful all-day breakfasts crafted with organic free-range eggs from the farm’s roaming chickens.
The warm-from-the-oven homemade cakes are also worth a try (the creamy San Sebastian cheesecake is particularly unreal), and don’t forget to pick up some of the Mazaraa olive oil and honey before you head home either. @mazaraashop.
The View by Wave, Sharjah
A handy refreshment stop on Khor Fakkan’s popular Al Rabi hiking trail, this stunning cafe has become a social media sensation. Inviting weary hikers and day trippers to pause and replenish their energy levels against a backdrop of the jagged Hajar mountain range, the terrace is completed with comfy furniture and flowers, while the bright blue waters of the Gulf of Oman below add to the drama, too.
Offering a varied selection of breakfast specials, decadent desserts, hearty lunchtime dishes, all the photo-worthy recipes are just as pretty as the views. Make sure you arrive with plenty of space on your camera roll – you won’t be able to resist taking dozens and dozens of pictures. @theviewbywave
