The Yas Island Guide: Big Rides, Brilliant Tables & a Proper Night Out

Yas Island is very good at encouraging ambitious plans.

A waterpark in the morning, a grand prix circuit by lunchtime, brunch in the afternoon and dinner on the waterfront. On paper, it sounds perfectly sensible. In practice, you'll spend half your day wondering which side of the island you're meant to be on.

The better plan is to choose one main attraction, have a proper meal and leave room for the evening. Yas Marina, Yas Bay and the theme-park end of the island are separate stops, not three restaurants on the same street.

Here is where we'd start, whether you've brought the family or just a group chat with strong opinions about dinner.

First, Pick Your Kind of Day

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Yas Mall end of the island · $$$

For the thrill seekers. But check the actual rides first.

Beneath the enormous red roof are rollercoasters, racing simulators and Ferrari-themed attractions for very different levels of courage. You don't need to know a gearbox from a glovebox to have fun, though enthusiasts will find plenty to keep them happy.

One important detail: as of November 2026, Formula Rossa is listed as closed for maintenance on the park's own website. Do not buy a ticket assuming the famous 240km/h launch is available.

Perfect for: Thrill seekers, car fans and families with children old enough for the rides they want.

Worth knowing: Check the live ride-closure list before travelling, and look at height restrictions rather than promising everyone the same experience.

Yas Waterworld

Yas Island · $$$

The day that needs swimwear and absolutely nothing else booked afterwards.

With more than 60 rides, slides and experiences, this is a full-day outing, not a quick detour after lunch. There are serious slides for the competitive members of the group and gentler water play for the ones who aren't interested in being launched down a tube.

A standard online ticket is currently advertised at AED 295, with multi-park options available if you're planning a longer Yas stay. Young children have different rules, so check height restrictions and age eligibility first.

Perfect for: Hot days, school holidays and families happy to spend a day in the water.

Worth knowing: Check the ticket options. Children under three are admitted free with their parents; check each ride's height limit before making promises.

Etihad Arena

Yas Bay · $$–$$$$

Don't go unless there's something on. Then plan the whole evening around it.

Concerts, comedy, sport and family shows turn Etihad Arena into a very different place from one night to the next. The event is the reason to come; the surrounding Yas Bay restaurants are what make it an entire evening rather than a trip in and out.

Book the show first, then choose a dinner table that leaves room for doors, security and walking to the arena.

Perfect for: Concert nights, big shows and visitors who want an occasion.

Worth knowing: Etihad Arena and Etihad Live are different venues. Double-check the name on your ticket, plus the show's arrival and bag policies.

For Lunch That's Actually Worth Stopping For

Bua Thai Café

Yas Bay Waterfront · $$

A very good curry without the ceremonial dinner reservation.

Bua Thai is the answer when the group wants something full of flavour rather than another hotel buffet. Punchy Thai curries, dumplings and mango sticky rice keep things casual, with generous cooking that earned the café a 2026 MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.

The waterfront address is a bonus, but it is the food that makes this a useful return visit.

Perfect for: Laid-back lunches, families and anyone who thinks a proper Thai curry improves almost any day.

Worth knowing: Check the in-house menu if you've only seen the delivery version; dishes and prices can differ.

Mika

Yas Marina · $$$

The long lunch that won't be rushed.

Mika has an easygoing Mediterranean approach, with seafood, pasta, good small plates and a terrace facing Yas Marina. Start with the filo-wrapped feta and honey if it is on the current menu, then choose a few dishes for the table rather than ordering in a hurry.

The restaurant holds a 2026 MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, which makes this an especially convincing place to build an afternoon around.

Perfect for: Couples, long lunches, marina views and bringing visitors somewhere memorable.

Worth knowing: This is Yas Marina, not Yas Bay Waterfront. They are different destinations, so tell the taxi the right one.

Garage at W Abu Dhabi

W Abu Dhabi, Yas Island · $$$

Five kitchens. One answer to a table that cannot agree.

Garage is a bold, busy dining room with several food concepts under one roof. Japanese flavours, international cooking and bigger sharing plates make it a useful option when half the group wants something different from the other half.

It is particularly lively on Saturday, when the B.I.G Brunch runs 1–4pm with entertainment. Don't turn up at 4.30pm expecting ordinary lunch service: Saturday dinner starts again at 6pm.

Perfect for: Groups, hotel brunches and friends who never manage to agree on a cuisine.

Worth knowing: Breakfast is 6.30–10.30am. On other days, the 12.30–10.30pm window covers lunch and dinner, while Saturday has separate breakfast, brunch and evening sittings.

The Group Plans

Central Yas Bay

Yas Bay Waterfront · $$–$$$

Dinner, bowling and somebody taking the competition far too seriously.

Central combines burgers, pizzas and group-friendly food with bowling lanes and arcade games. It feels more like an entire night out than a restaurant that happens to have entertainment in the corner.

Come early enough to get a lane, eat afterwards and resist the urge to explain why your score would have been better with different shoes.

Perfect for: Teenagers, groups, birthdays and lively evenings with something to do between courses.

Worth knowing: Booking a dining table does not necessarily secure a bowling lane. Arrange both parts of the plan.

Five Iron Golf Yas Bay

Yas Bay Waterfront · $$$

For when your group needs a game, not another round of small talk.

This indoor golf venue has 12 Trackman simulator bays, plus darts, pool and a proper bar. Some bays offer games beyond golf, so you don't need a perfect swing to enjoy yourself.

Book a late-afternoon slot and finish out on the waterfront terrace. It is easier to get everyone together for a game when there is somewhere good to sit afterwards.

Perfect for: Competitive friends, work groups and mixed-ability golfers.

Worth knowing: Ask specifically for a multisport bay if members of your group want to play something other than golf.

NURI Grill & Bar

Yas Bay Waterfront · $$$$

Korean barbecue with proper dinner-party energy.

The point at NURI is the grill, the beef and the table conversation happening around both. Premium cuts and Korean sides make it a better choice for a group that likes sharing than for anyone seeking a quiet one-course dinner.

Its programme includes several themed offers, so make sure you're booking the experience you actually want rather than the first timeslot that appears.

Perfect for: Steak-loving groups, birthdays and lively dinner dates.

Worth knowing: NURI on Yas Bay is not NIRI, the Japanese restaurant on Saadiyat. The names are similar. The journeys are not.

Dinner, Drinks and Staying Out

Marcella

Yas Bay Waterfront · $$$

Tapas first. Decisions about the rest of the night later.

Marcella's Spanish and Portuguese small plates suit the waterfront: order a little, order more, and accept that a short dinner may have turned into an evening. There's a wood-fired grill, a handsome zinc-topped bar and enough variety for everyone to find something worth sharing.

The bar is a good choice for a shorter visit, while the tables are made for a longer catch-up.

Perfect for: Dates, sharing plates and an easy first stop on the waterfront.

Worth knowing: The venue has advertised a Sunday-to-Friday Pintxo Hour from 3–6pm. Confirm the current offer when booking rather than assuming every item is discounted.

Lock, Stock & Barrel Abu Dhabi

Yas Bay, Arena Plaza · $$

For a night that is not going to stay quiet.

Two floors, live music, big screens and a menu designed for groups. Lock, Stock & Barrel is the place to come after a show when the evening still has some life in it. Expect burgers, nachos and plenty of noise, not a hushed conversation over candlelight.

Perfect for: A late one, big groups and post-arena drinks.

Worth knowing: This is a 21+ venue. Check the entertainment schedule before booking, particularly if live music is the reason you're going.

If You Have Only One Day

With children: Choose Ferrari World or Yas Waterworld in the morning and give it the day. If everyone still has energy, Central is an easy dinner-and-games plan.

For food and a proper evening: Book lunch at Mika on Yas Marina, head to Yas Bay for a game at Five Iron or drinks by the water, then choose NURI or Marcella for dinner.

For a show: Check your Etihad Arena ticket time first. Reserve an early dinner at Yas Bay and don't make your arrival depend on a taxi turning up at the exact second you need it.

Yas works best when you stop trying to conquer the entire island before sunset. One great activity, one good table and one reason to stay out a little longer is plenty.