Marcella Abu Dhabi: bold Spanish bistro on the Yas Bay waterfront

At this Yas Bay bistro, fire cooking shines, bold Spanish plates impress and golden hour turns into laidback dinners

The Spot

Image supplied

Marcella sits right on the Yas Bay Waterfront, with marina views that do half the flirting for you. This is a Spanish-inspired modern bistro that leans into fire, smoke and movement, thanks to an open kitchen anchored by a wood-fired grill. You feel it the moment you walk in. Warm, buzzy, a little dramatic in the best way. Chef-owner Mario Loi’s fingerprints are all over the place. After the success of Mika, this feels like a confident second act rather than a safe repeat.

The Vibe

Classy without the stiffness. Elegant but relaxed. It is perfect for a first date where you want to look like you aren’t trying too hard to make a good first impression, while still making a great first impression. It feels social and grown-up, the kind of place where you order one more drink because golden hour calls for it and once the sun sets, you’ll order another because the night is still young.

The Food and Drinks

Image supplied

This is a menu built for sharing, grazing and arguing politely over the last bite. Spanish flavours sit at the centre, but they are not stuck in the past. Everything feels clean, confident and ingredient-led. We started with tapas. The signature picaña steak roll with chimichurri delivered big flavour and proper satisfaction. The croquetas were rich, cheesy and exactly what you want them to be. The standout though was the courgette flower tempura with honey dressing. Light, crisp, a little sweet and completely addictive.

The black rice with squid and espelette came next and surprised us. Deeply savoury, well balanced and comforting without being heavy. Oysters were fresh and clean, no drama, just good produce doing its thing.

Dessert was a chocolate mousse with cream and olive oil. It sounds simple and it is, but it works. Silky, not too sweet, with a sneaky hint of salt. At the bar, the pomagranate mocktail was a genuine moment of calm. Fresh, balanced and restorative. The crema cocktail was a Marcella take on a margarita and leaned smoky and woody, echoing the fire-driven food and tying the whole experience together.

Image supplied

The Service

Friendly, patient and present without hovering. The staff know the menu and give you time to enjoy it.

What to Order

Courgette flower tempura with honey dressing

Signature picaña steak roll with chimichurri

What’s On the Bill

Dhs450 to Dhs500 per couple

What’s On Verdict

The flavours are bold but the portions may leave you wanting more, which is not always a bad thing. This is the kind of place where you forget about your diet and do not feel bad about it later.