The 2025 edition of the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, saw the finest chefs, restaurateurs and food lovers from across the region head to the UAE capital for six days of events. Here are some of the highlights.
A warm welcome at Sand & Koal
The sun was shining, the weather was sweet and the camels were trekking through the pristine sand at the ‘Welcome to Abu Dhabi’ lunch. Held at Sand & Koal at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, head chef Jack Jarrott made the most of produce from the UAE, with local farm mushrooms, spices and Emirati-made burrata on the extensive sharing plate menu. The decadent dessert was a specially commissioned Valrhona chocolate egg filled with crumble, hazelnut praline, dark chocolate cream, chocolate sorbet, light mousse and chocolate sauce, served with single origin coffee from Lavazza. Guests also sipped on refreshing cocktails including the Winter Sipper with 0% Ceder’s Classic, basil sorbet, smoked thyme and green apple.
The World’s Best Restaurant comes to Abu Dhabi
More than 300 people headed to Graphos Social Kitchen in the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island hotel for the ‘Flavours of 50 Best’ evening brunch, which featured: a live cooking demonstration of flourless coca pizza from Disfrutar’s Eduard Xatruch; charcoal (the iconic fish dish with a coal-black crust) from Gaggan Anand, the Indian-born chef whose Bangkok flagship was voted The Best Restaurant in Asia a record four times; Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 2023 Louisa Lim’s take on tiramisu, and cocktails from Raminta Ambroževičiūtė of LPM Dubai.
Beach party at Buddha-Bar Beach
It would be remiss not to make the most of the winter sun and balmy evenings in Abu Dhabi, so the beach party theme continued for the Chefs’ Feast at Buddha-Bar Beach at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. Executive chef Hamza Al Durdangi served up his signature Japanese-inspired cuisine, while Faisal Mohamed Alharmoodi from Abu Dhabi favourite Ryba served Emirati cuisine including jasheed bites – local fish arancini; maleh, cured dried fish with spiced salsa; and rangeena cheesecake with Emirati coffee caramel.
Desserts for days
At the Chefs’ Feast, Carmen Rueda Hernandez, the mastermind behind Dubai’s only dessert tasting menu experience, and the winner of the Middle East & North Africa’s Best Pastry Chef Award 2025, sponsored by Valrhona, brought a taste of Brix with her. Guests could try Rueda Hernandez’s aero chocolate with a twist; meringue with caviar, white chocolate and sour cream; smoked butter ice cream on a croissant bite; and elderflower and pandan garden.
Chefs share their childhood memories at #50BestTalks
The line-up of gastronomic talent at #50BestTalks held at the Abu Dhabi Edition hotel was a who’s who for chef followers in the region, featuring (from left to right): Mark Ayoub, operations director at Pier 88 Group; Yasmina Hayek, executive chef at Em Sherif Group and the Middle East & North Africa’s Best Female Chef 2025; Eduard Xatruch, chef-owner at Disfrutar in Barcelona; Sara Aqel, head chef at Dara Dining by Sara Aqel in Amman; Mostafa Seif, executive chef at Khufu’s in Cairo; and Gaggan Anand, chef-owner of Gaggan in Bangkok. The speakers offered myriad perspectives on their childhood influences, nostalgic dishes and how they create magical moments for guests.
Women in hospitality from across the region come together
Leading women from across the Middle East & North Africa’s hospitality sector met at the International Centre for Culinary Arts Abu Dhabi to share experiences and talk about their influences and inspiration. After a lively discussion, the group joined students from the culinary school who had prepared an amazing spread of treats to showcase their skills, from local snacks to intricate pastries and non-alcoholic cocktails.
Stars of the culinary world meet down at Erth
More than 600 guests landed at Erth Abu Dhabi to walk the red carpet. Chefs on the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants list were presented with their signature red scarves, courtesy of Aspire Lifestyles, and sipped on chilli and mango Gin Mare martinis and Woodford Reserve old fashioneds while catching up with old friends and wondering where their restaurant would appear on the list. Lucky guests were interviewed by food writer Laura Lai Coughlin at the Foodics stand.
Three is the magic number for Orfali Bros Bistro
Dubai restaurant Orfali Bros Bistro, founded by three Syrian brothers – Mohammad, Wassim and Omar Orfali – is named The Best Restaurant in the Middle East & North Africa 2025, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, for the third consecutive year.
The crowd goes wild for the Estrella Damm N.A. Chefs’ Choice award winner
Tala Bashmi has, almost single-handedly, put the island of Bahrain on the contemporary culinary map. During the introduction of the award before her name was even announced, people put the clues together and were cheering loudly for the super popular Manama-based chef.
Collaboration dinners like no other
Throughout the week of the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants event programme, 11 once-in-a-lifetime collaboration dining experiences took place. From Norbert Niederkofler from Atelier Moessmer cooking at Talea by Antonio Guida to Johanne Siy from Lolla in Singapore cooking at José by Pizarro, each was unique and special. Fayçal Bettioui from Table 3 in Casablanca, winner of the American Express One To Watch Award 2025, teamed up with Marshall Röth from Butcher & Still for a culinary culture clash for the ages.
See the full list of the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, hosted in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT).
