Society Saadiyat

Society is a UAE-born café and bakery with two beachside branches, one by Mamsha Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi and the other in Jumeirah in Dubai. The Saadiyat café has built a reputation above all for its breakfasts, and it describes itself as an award-winning restaurant with one of the best breakfasts in town. The concept is modern European classics, carefully prepared and attractively presented.

The setting is a big part of the appeal. Outdoor seating looks over a long stretch of white sand, and inside, the café and lounge are decorated in an art deco style, with olive and mustard tones and gold and copper accents. It is a stylish but relaxed space, equally suited to a long weekend breakfast or a coffee and pastry after a morning on the beach.

Breakfast covers a wide range. Eggs are prepared in many ways, and there are pancakes, French toast, Greek yoghurt with granola and acai bowls, alongside regional favourites such as khachapuri, the Georgian bread filled with cheese and egg, shakshuka and Turkish eggs. For a larger appetite, there is a full English-style breakfast with eggs, chicken sausage, beef bacon and mushrooms. Later in the day the menu turns to pizzas, including margherita with burrata or cured beef, Caesar salads, including a lobster version, carpaccios, tartares and sandwiches.

Society suits couples, friends and families, as well as visitors staying in the Saadiyat Island resorts who want a change from hotel breakfasts. Weekend mornings are the classic time for breakfast here, so arrive early if you want a terrace table. Prices are moderate for the location.

The café is by Mamsha Al Saadiyat, close to the Saadiyat Cultural District, so breakfast here can be followed by a morning at Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum or the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. A taxi from central Abu Dhabi is the easiest way to get there. For the latest opening times and menus, check the Saadiyat Island website or the café's official social media channels before you go. If you are on the island for several days, it makes a good contrast with Ten 11 Beach nearby, which focuses more on specialty coffee.