La Mer, Sofitel Abu Dhabi

What’s it like: With its marine-inspired décor – think white-wooden walls, colour schemes, and cobalt blue cushions that add a pop of colour – this seafood bar and restaurant offers a fresh, airy vibe. Specialising in seafood cooked in a French and Mediterranean style, the restaurant serves an array of fresh fish and crustaceans, many …

La Mer, Sofitel Abu Dhabi

What’s it like: With its marine-inspired décor – think white-wooden walls, colour schemes, and cobalt blue cushions that add a pop of colour – this seafood bar and restaurant offers a fresh, airy vibe. Specialising in seafood cooked in a French and Mediterranean style, the restaurant serves an array of fresh fish and crustaceans, many of them sourced from the Gulf. Before we were served appetisers, we tucked into a basket of freshly baked bread accompanied by seaweed butter (although not a big fan, it was intriguing to try). Starters were a generous portion of king crab salad with honey tiger prawns, which rated as high on presentation – the prawn tail sprung out of a foam – as it did on taste, with the juicy prawns offering a subtle hint of sweetness. A refreshing pineapple sorbet with mocchito foam cleansed our palates and offered a little tingle to our taste buds while we waited for the main course, a seared Greek sea bass atop mashed potato, with tomato, pear and passion fruit jus. The dish was bursting with flavours in every morsel – the sweet yet tart pear jus offsetting the fish perfectly. As we gazed out at the sea from our chairs, we treated ourselves to wine and Fondant au chocolate with vanilla ice cream – a firm favourite of mine – which was made to perfection!

If you want to go: Approximately Dhs700 for two, without drinks. Call 02-8137777.

Best for: Cosy date night

– Nicola Monteath