Compare Corniche seafood orders with Finz in Al Zahiyah, current whole-fish prices and Sofitel’s Friday buffet, plus Hakkasan and a Lebanese alternative.
Seafood around the Corniche: choose the location and format
For seafood in Abu Dhabi, Catch at St. Regis is my Corniche shortlist; Finz is the separate Al Zahiyah waterfront choice. I’d compare either with Sofitel’s Friday buffet only after deciding how I want to eat. A whole-fish order and a fixed-price spread are different pleasures and different bills. Choose that first—then the setting earns its place in the decision.
My choice
I’d choose Catch when the Corniche and seafood order are the point, or Finz when Beach Rotana fits the evening. For a group wanting a buffet, compare the named Friday service instead of building an à la carte bill for everyone. Do not let the phrase waterfront turn Al Zahiyah into Corniche Road on the booking.
Our Abu Dhabi restaurants by cuisine and occasion widens the cuisine choice. If the table wants French rather than seafood, compare French restaurant alternatives in the capital; that is a different menu, not another name for the same occasion.
The distinction matters for the journey. Nation Riviera Beach Club, Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers sit around the Corniche and West Corniche; Beach Rotana is a separate waterfront destination. We would choose Catch when its seafood menu and setting are the purpose of the meal, Finz when the Al Zahiyah location fits the evening, and Sofitel when a Friday buffet suits the group. A Lebanese mezze dinner is another option, rather than a seafood tasting-menu substitute.
Corniche choices and a separate Al Zahiyah waterfront option
1. Catch at St. Regis Abu Dhabi (Nation Riviera Beach Club)
Catch is at Nation Riviera Beach Club, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi. Its operator lists oysters, caviar, sushi and seafood alongside steaks. Our menu-led starting point is the half-dozen Dibba Bay oysters at AED 120, the menu identifies locally sourced and sustainability-certified items individually. The published service is noon–midnight daily, with +971 2 694 4553 for reservations. Choose a seafood order from the actual menu and request the intended seating.
- Where: Nation Riviera Beach Club, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Corniche Road
- Price example: six Dibba Bay oysters AED 120; add the rest of the order separately
- Menu choices: oysters, caviar, sushi and seafood, with non-seafood dishes also listed
- Our pick for: a Corniche seafood order with a choice of waterfront seating
2. Finz, Beach Rotana
Finz is at Beach Rotana, 10th Street, Al Zahiyah. Rotana identifies Luca De Santis as its chef and describes an overwater dining room and terrace. The linked current menu lists Whole Fish from the grill at AED 395, Under Salt at AED 440 and The Fisherman’s Platter at AED 580. We would choose the whole-fish format when that is the meal the table wants, then ask about the fish and portions before ordering. The current contact is +971 2 697 9186.
- Where: Beach Rotana, 10th Street, Al Zahiyah; a separate trip from Corniche Road
- Price examples: grilled Whole Fish AED 395; Under Salt AED 440; Fisherman’s Platter AED 580
- Menu choices: Mixto ceviche AED 95, seafood small plates and whole-fish preparations
- Our pick for: a seafood-focused meal when Al Zahiyah fits the route
3. Hakkasan, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
Hakkasan at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental is a Cantonese restaurant with seafood choices, not a seafood-only house. Its operator’s menu descriptions include king-crab dumplings, har gau and squid among a wider selection. We would compare it when Cantonese cooking is the priority and the group wants alternatives to fish. Select the specific service before booking: a dim-sum lunch, à la carte dinner and event package have different menus and terms. Its Michelin star is a separate distinction from simply being selected in the Guide.
- Where: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche
- Price: select the current menu for your booked service; event and à la carte bills differ
- Menu direction: Cantonese dishes, including seafood dim sum within a wider menu
- Our pick for: Cantonese cooking and a mixed table rather than seafood only
4. Li Beirut, Etihad Towers: the Lebanese alternative
Li Beirut is the Lebanese alternative at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. Hilton publishes hot and cold mezze and grills, with outdoor Arabian Gulf views. We would choose it for a mezze-led dinner, especially when the group wants something other than a seafood-centred meal. The current schedule is daily noon–11pm, last orders 10:30pm. Use the actual menu for any fish order; the restaurant’s general cuisine description does not establish an ever-changing “seasonal catch” on your date.
- Where: Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, West Corniche
- Price: total your current mezze and grill order, plus drinks
- Menu direction: Lebanese hot and cold mezze and grills; check specific seafood dishes
- Our pick for: a Lebanese alternative with outdoor Gulf-view dining
5. Corniche All Day Dining, Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche
Le Corniche at Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche publishes a Friday Seafood Night, 6:30pm–10:30pm. The offer is AED 285 per person including soft drinks and water, with 50% off for children aged 6–12. The hotel describes salads, hot courses, live seafood BBQ and desserts. This is our fixed-price group choice on the list; it avoids individually costing each dish. Contact +971 56 997 7409 or +971 2 813 7777. Choose it when the group wants the same fixed-price format, with its dishes and drinks settled in advance.
- Where: Le Corniche, Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche
- Price: Friday Seafood Night AED 285 with soft drinks and water; ages 6–12 half price
- Menu direction: live seafood BBQ, salads, hot courses and desserts in a buffet format
- Our pick for: a fixed-price Friday group dinner
My small-order check: three oysters or six?
Catch’s published food menu lists Dibba Bay oysters at AED25 individually or AED120 for half a dozen. Three individual oysters cost AED75; six ordered individually would cost AED150, so the six-piece listing saves AED30 against that same quantity. I’d choose the half-dozen when six is the order we actually want—not spend another AED45 merely to call a bigger order better value. These are oyster-only subtotals, not a complete meal.
That is why I would settle format before comparing bills: a few selected dishes at Catch or Finz are not interchangeable with Sofitel’s buffet. For current reservations and terms, use Catch’s access and dress guidance, Finz’s operator page and its food menu, or Sofitel’s Friday offer. Ask Sofitel separately about younger children: its published half-price category is ages 6–12, not evidence of every other age’s rate.
Good to Know Before You Book
- Book the exact service. A buffet offer and an ordinary restaurant reservation are different products. Specify the date, party size and menu before paying.
- Request the actual view. Ask whether the requested terrace or waterfront seat is confirmed. A hotel’s coastal address does not give every indoor table the same outlook.
- Use venue-specific dress rules. Catch expressly excludes shorts, open footwear and swimwear. Check each other restaurant’s own terms rather than applying that rule to every hotel.
- Plan access for the chosen venue. Catch lists valet parking. Beach Rotana is in Al Zahiyah, so do not use Corniche Road directions for Finz.
- Use the dated offer. A seasonal or holiday menu can have different inclusions. Do not assume the standard Friday buffet applies to every special event.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best seafood restaurant on Abu Dhabi Corniche?
Our menu-and-format picks are Catch for a Corniche seafood order and Finz for a seafood-focused meal in Al Zahiyah. Compare Hakkasan when Cantonese cooking matters more than a seafood-only menu. Choose the venue and current service that fit your journey, budget and party.
Is there a budget-friendly seafood option on the Corniche?
Sofitel’s published Friday Seafood Night is AED 285 per adult including soft drinks and water, with 50% off for ages 6–12. That gives a clear buffet cost; it is not a claim that every seafood meal nearby costs more.
Do these restaurants have sea views?
Catch has a beachfront setting, Finz an overwater dining room and terrace, and Li Beirut publishes outdoor Arabian Gulf views. Request the actual seat when booking. Indoor and outdoor tables can have different outlooks.
My final choice
Choose by the evening you want: an individually ordered seafood meal at Catch, a whole-fish order at Finz in Al Zahiyah, Cantonese dishes at Hakkasan, or the Friday buffet at Sofitel. Li Beirut gives the table a Lebanese alternative. Establish the full order and seating before adding the rest of the evening to the plan.
Two worked food budgets
Catch’s six Dibba Bay oysters at AED 120, Salmon Carpaccio at AED 80 and Hamachi Ceviche at AED 90 total AED 290 before additional dishes, drinks or other applicable extras. At Finz, grilled Whole Fish at AED 395, Mixto ceviche at AED 95 and Herb Potatoes at AED 32 total AED 522; the menu states prices include applicable service charges and taxes. These are order examples, not promises about how many people they feed. Ask the kitchen about portions. At Sofitel, two adults and one child aged 6–12 total AED 712.50 at the published buffet rates.
Menu examples and visitor information rechecked on 21 October 2026. These are menu-led recommendations, not a new tasting or a guarantee of a particular table’s availability. Li Beirut’s operator guidance and Hakkasan’s venue page cover those alternative formats; Hakkasan’s star is confirmed in Michelin’s 2026 selection announcement.
