Yas Island has become one of the most visited destinations in Abu Dhabi, built around entertainment, hospitality, and some of the region’s most recognisable venues. What it has been missing, until recently, is a Spanish restaurant that takes the food as seriously as the setting.
Marcella fills that space without compromise.
Located on the Yas Bay waterfront, Marcella is a modern Spanish bistro drawing from the food traditions of the Iberian Peninsula: wood-fired cooking, bold seasonal ingredients, and a menu built around sharing. It is not a theme park version of Spanish food. It is the real thing, delivered in a setting that happens to have some of Abu Dhabi’s best waterfront views behind it.
What Kind of Restaurant Is Marcella
There is a useful distinction to draw when talking about Spanish restaurants in Abu Dhabi. Some are tapas-led, designed for grazing and groups. Some are more formal, with set menus and a dining room that signals occasion. Marcella is the former, but with more depth than the category usually implies.
The menu at Marcella spans tapas and snacks, smaller dishes, larger plates, and sharing formats. The logic running through all of it is Spanish: fire, acid, fat, and salt in the right proportions, applied to ingredients that do not need much interference. The kitchen, led by Chef-Patron Mario Loi, has MICHELIN recognition and over a decade of experience cooking in the region. The food reflects that.
The Menu in Brief
The tapas section covers the classics executed with precision: pan con tomate, potato and egg tortilla, and patatas bravas with beef-fat potatoes and salsa brava. These are not fillers. In a Spanish kitchen, they are the measure of everything else.
The snapper carpaccio on tostadas with yellow chilli and pistachio is light, precise, and genuinely exciting. The prawn pil pil comes with bread for sauce-dipping as standard. The lamb ribs with sherry glaze are the most unapologetically indulgent plate on the list.
For tables eating as a group, the seafood rice with calamari, red prawns, and crab bisque and the bone-in ribeye on the parilla grill are the natural anchors of a longer meal. Both are built for sharing, and both are better for it.
The drinks list reflects the same thinking: wines from Spain, Portugal, and Argentina sit alongside a cocktail list that leans creative without being excessive. Pintxo Hour runs daily from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with drinks at 50% off and tapas at 10% off.
The Location
Yas Bay is a genuinely different part of Abu Dhabi. The waterfront promenade, the openness of the space, and the mix of residents and visitors create an atmosphere that the older parts of the city rarely replicate. Marcella’s position within it gives the restaurant both foot traffic and a backdrop of the bay.
The interior is warm and deliberate: a zinc-topped bar that holds 30 people, an open dining room designed for the kind of evening that starts at 7:00 PM and ends when it ends. The weekly business lunch offers a considered midday break for those working on or visiting Yas Island. And Pintxo Hour brings the spirit of a Spanish bar — small bites, good drinks, and an unhurried pace — to those who know to arrive early.
Getting There and Booking
Marcella is located on the Yas Bay waterfront on Yas Island, accessible from the main Yas Bay entrance. Parking is available on the island. For visitors staying at one of the Yas Island hotels, the restaurant is a short walk or drive from most properties.
The restaurant is open Sunday to Thursday from 12:00 PM to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM.
Reservations are recommended for evenings and weekends. Walk-ins are welcome at the bar during quieter periods.
Reserve a table: https://mymarcella.ae/reserve-a-table/
Read more about the kitchen and Chef Mario Loi: https://mymarcella.ae/about/
Have Any Questions?
Is Marcella the only Spanish restaurant on Yas Island?
Marcella is currently the only dedicated Spanish restaurant on Yas Island, offering a full menu of tapas, fire-grilled dishes, and Spanish wines on the Yas Bay waterfront.
What type of Spanish food does Marcella serve?
Marcella serves Iberian-inspired food centred on wood-fired cooking and sharing plates. The menu spans tapas and snacks, smaller dishes, larger grilled plates, and sharing formats like seafood rice and bone-in ribeye.
Who is the chef at Marcella?
Marcella is led by Chef-Patron Mario Loi, who has over a decade of experience in the region and recognition in the MICHELIN Guide.
Is Marcella good for a group dinner on Yas Island?
Yes. The sharing-focused menu, waterfront setting, and flexible dining room make Marcella well-suited to group dinners. Reservations are recommended for groups.
How do I get to Marcella on Yas Island?
Marcella is located on the Yas Bay waterfront, accessible from the main Yas Bay entrance on Yas Island. Parking is available on the island, and the restaurant is a short walk or drive from most hotels on Yas Island.