The short answer
Erth, Qasr Al Hosn: what visitors should know first
Choose Erth if you want a calm, seated Emirati meal near the city's oldest building and can plan ahead. Book a table, check hours on the day, and ask the staff which dishes contain meat.
Useful facts
Erth, Qasr Al Hosn facts at a glance
- Location
- Hamdan Bin Mohammed St, Al Hisn, next to Qasr Al Hosn
- Dining style
- Modern Emirati, majlis-style seating
- Price signal
- Upper range; Akbar Travels cites about Rs 5,000 for two
- Recognition
- First Emirati Michelin-starred restaurant, per The National
- Signature order
- Try: ghee chicken saloona or lobster biriyani, per Listmag
- Good for
- Calm, seated special-occasion lunch or dinner
Why it matters
Why Erth, Qasr Al Hosn is worth your time
Erth is where Emirati home flavours are presented as a modern restaurant meal. The National reports it as the first Emirati restaurant to earn a Michelin star, and the menu leans on local ideas such as saloona, batheeta and Liwa dates, so it shows visitors that Gulf cooking goes well beyond grills and shawarma.
It is a reasonable choice for a family occasion or a senior traveller who wants calm surroundings, and the Qasr Al Hosn setting gives the meal some context. The trade-offs are cost and a meat-heavy menu. Vegetarian guests will find only a few dishes that appear meat-free and nothing on the pages we read confirms a vegetarian menu, so rely on the Indian restaurants elsewhere in this guide for everyday meals and treat Erth as an occasional dinner.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Majlis setting
Raised clay floors and cushioned seating, according to Listmag, in a calm room.
- 02
Emirati dishes
Listmag names ghee chicken saloona, lobster biriyani and a Liwa date cake with batheeta cream.
- 03
Next to the fort
Qasr Al Hosn is beside the restaurant, so one trip covers both.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Erth sits next to Qasr Al Hosn, so the easiest plan is to see the fort first and eat afterwards. Listmag describes interiors in a traditional majlis style, with raised clay floors and cushioned seating, and What's On found the mood calm and earthy with attentive but unobtrusive service. That suits older relatives who want a quiet, seated meal rather than a noisy one.
The pages we opened name dishes such as a Farid-inspired ravioli, an Emirati ghee chicken saloona, an Arabian Sea lobster biriyani and a date cake with batheeta cream. What's On also describes a beetroot and chami salad, loumi black rice with char-grilled oyster mushroom and a chami cheese pannacotta, which read as meat-free, but that review does not say so and the ravioli contains lamb. Vegetarians should confirm every dish with staff and ask about stock and ghee-based cooking.
Treat it as a destination meal rather than a quick stop. Reserve, arrive a little early, and confirm the day's hours by phone or through the official channels, because published timings differ.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Book a table and confirm hours on the day
- Ask staff which dishes are meat-free
- Take a taxi to the Qasr Al Hosn entrance
- Ask about steps and lift access when booking
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street, Al Hisn, beside Qasr Al Hosn
- Time needed
- About 1.5 to 2 hours
- Best time
- Lunch or an early dinner, combined with Qasr Al Hosn
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Seating is at proper tables and cushioned majlis-style seats, with al fresco and indoor options per What's On. Ask when booking about steps, lift access and a table near the entrance.
- Tickets and access
- Book ahead and confirm current hours; What's On lists 12pm to 11pm on weekdays and 8am to 11pm on weekends, but timings change.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Erth, Qasr Al Hosn
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Seating is at proper tables and cushioned majlis-style seats, with al fresco and indoor options per What's On. Ask when booking about steps, lift access and a table near the entrance.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Erth suitable for vegetarians?
Some dishes, such as the beetroot and chami salad, appear meat-free in What's On's review, but no page we read gives a vegetarian menu. Confirm each dish when booking.
What are the opening hours?
What's On lists 12pm to 11pm on weekdays and 8am to 11pm on weekends. Hours change, so confirm before you go.
Is it tagged pure vegetarian or Jain?
No. It serves meat and fish, and no source says it cooks Jain food.
Sources and further reading
- The National, Emirati restaurants in the Michelin Guide
- What's On, Erth review
- Listmag, best restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
