Explore Bahrain's On-Base Restaurants: A Foodie's Guide

Bahrain is a popular destination for tourists and those visiting from Saudi Arabia for the weekend. The small Gulf archipelago offers a vibrant dining scene, with a mix of world favourites and homegrown talents. From celebrity chefs to acclaimed regional names, Bahrain's restaurants showcase a variety of cuisines, including Asian, Mediterranean, Italian, Japanese, and traditional Bahraini. Here's a look at some of the top restaurants in Bahrain, ranging from luxurious fine dining to casual eateries, all of which offer a unique culinary experience.

Best restaurants in Bahrain for an exceptional dining experience

Bahrain is a cultural melting pot, offering a plethora of dining options, from homegrown talents to world favourites. Here is a list of some of the best restaurants in Bahrain for an exceptional dining experience:

CUT by Wolfgang Puck

This restaurant, located in the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel, offers a stylish take on a modern American steakhouse. The airy interiors and sweeping outdoor terrace provide a perfect backdrop for lunch or dinner. The menu features prime cuts of meat, shellfish, and fresh whole fish, with typical Puck creativity and innovation. CUT by Wolfgang Puck is a must-visit for meat lovers.

Bushido by Buddha Bar

Bushido is a sumptuous and eccentric Japanese lounge and restaurant, part of the internationally acclaimed Buddha-Bar franchise. The restaurant features an outdoor terrace, a moody dining room, a teppanyaki room, and a sushi bar. The menu offers Pan-Asian cuisine, including sushi, sashimi, soups, curries, and grills. The restaurant's quirky Asian-themed decor and seductive red and black interiors create a unique and memorable dining experience.

Indigo

Indigo, located at the Merchant House, is known for its elegant rooftop setting adorned with greens and blossoms. The restaurant offers a blend of Mediterranean and Asian delicacies, with options like sushi rolls, Lamb Shank, and Katmer. The food is curated with love, passion, and innovation, using farm-fresh seasonal products. Indigo provides a flavourful dining experience with an alluring presentation.

Mirai Restaurant & Lounge

Mirai is widely regarded as the go-to spot for sushi on the island. With a contemporary mix of authentic and inventive Japanese-inspired dishes and a buzzing atmosphere, it has made waves in the dining scene. Signature dishes include tuna pizza, shrimp popcorn bao, and a great selection of maki. Mirai's sultry, minimalistic setting and modern decor make it a popular choice for diners.

Fusions by Tala

Fusions by Tala is a restaurant led by renowned female chef Tala Bashmi, serving innovative Bahraini cuisine. The restaurant, located in the Gulf Hotel, offers a modern twist on traditional dishes, with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The interiors are stripped back and modern, with hanging filament lights and plenty of greenery, creating a raw industrial-style vibe. Fusions by Tala provides a unique dining experience that showcases the best of Bahraini cuisine.

Top restaurants in Manama, the capital of Bahrain

Manama, the capital of Bahrain, has a plethora of restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. Here are some of the top restaurants to consider when visiting Manama:

Le Petit Chef at Teatro Restaurant

This restaurant offers a unique dining experience with a combination of fine dining and a captivating 3D screen show. The four-course menus start at 35 BHD per person, and you can enjoy dishes like the greatest act menu for 55 BHD or the vegetarian menu for 35 BHD. It is located in the Downtown Rotana Hotel, and reservations are necessary.

Monsoon

Monsoon is ranked #2 out of 590 restaurants in Bahrain on TripAdvisor, with excellent reviews. It offers top-notch Asian cuisine and great service. The ambience will transport you to a premium location in Thailand, with excellent choices and a plentiful menu. Monsoon is open for brunch, lunch, dinner, and late-night dining.

Fish Market Restaurant

As the name suggests, this restaurant is the perfect spot for seafood lovers. It offers a variety of seafood dishes, including lobster, sea bass, crabs, and king prawns, with beautiful views of Bahrain Bay. It is open daily from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am.

Haus Restaurant & Lounge

This restaurant is a newcomer to Manama's dining scene, specialising in Italian and Japanese cuisine. It offers wallet-friendly menu prices and a special discount for ladies on Tuesdays. It is open daily from 12:00 pm to 11:30 pm, and reservations are available.

Furn Bistro & Bakery

Furn Bistro & Bakery is a multi-award-winning restaurant, with 12 awards since its opening in 2016. It offers international cuisine with a modern twist and is located inside the Westin City Centre. It is open daily for breakfast, with extended hours on weekends. The bakery welcomes guests from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Cantina Kahlo

Cantina Kahlo is a Mexican restaurant located in the Ritz-Carlton, offering exceptional Latin American cuisine with traditional dishes and décor inspired by Mexico's vibrant art scene. It is open from Monday to Wednesday from 4:00 pm to 12:00 am, Thursday to Friday from 1:00 pm to 1:00 am, and Saturday from 1:00 pm to 12:00 am. Reservations are available.

Other Notable Mentions:

• Aisha Bahlool Restaurant: Offers a wide variety of cuisines, including Arab, Gulf, Lebanese, Thai, Indian, and Iranian.
• Buffalo Wings & Rings: An American steakhouse with a lively atmosphere and a variety of wings and burgers.
• Baharat Restaurant: A Turkish/Arabian restaurant with a Friday brunch buffet and a mix of traditional café classics and local dishes.
• Fusions by Tala: A restaurant led by renowned female chef Tala Bashmi, offering innovative Bahraini cuisine with a modern twist.

Best restaurants in Bahrain for traditional dishes

Bahrain is a small gulf island country that attracts visitors from all over the world. The country is known for its vibrant nightlife, offering a plethora of bars, clubs, and restaurants. The Kingdom's oldest restaurant, Haji's Cafe, is a great place to start when it comes to traditional Bahraini cuisine. The cafe, located in the heart of the old souk, serves local cuisine in a friendly and informal setting. With both indoor and outdoor seating, guests can enjoy the energy of the bustling thoroughfare or the cool white stone walls, blue accents, wooden tables, and nostalgic black-and-white photographs indoors. The Bahraini breakfast is a popular choice, featuring a spread of fresh warm bread, beans, eggs, keema, dal, foul, liver, omelette, and more. For lunch and dinner, guests can indulge in barbecued meat, mixed grills, and traditional liver.

For a modern twist on traditional Bahraini dishes, Fusions by Tala is the place to go. Led by renowned female chef Tala Bashmi, the restaurant has made multiple appearances in the prestigious MENA's 50 Best list. Chef Tala hand-picks ingredients from local farmers, ensuring the highest quality and freshness for her contemporary take on traditional Bahraini cuisine. The restaurant, located in the Gulf Hotel Bahrain, features modern and stripped-back interiors with a raw industrial-style vibe, including hanging filament lights and plenty of greenery.

Em Sherif Sea Cafe is another great option for traditional dishes. This elegantly designed restaurant in Avenues Mall Bahrain offers authentic Lebanese cuisine in a beautiful and airy blue-and-white sea-inspired dining room, complete with ocean and skyline views. Guests can enjoy classic Lebanese dishes as well as more creative seafood-inspired options, and there's also a raw bar and a pasta menu.

If you're looking for a unique dining experience, La Fontaine should be on your list. Located in a historical monument-cum-cultural hub, La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art, the restaurant serves Mediterranean fare with a focus on Italian cuisine. Guests can navigate through the cosy courtyards and winding corridors before stepping into the warm and welcoming dining room filled with natural light.

For a truly special dining experience, La Table Krug by Y, located in the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, is dubbed Bahrain's most exclusive fine dining experience. Led by renowned foodie innovator Chef Yann Bernard Lejard, the restaurant offers a wholesome and rustic yet refined and contemporary dining experience. The intimate dining room and formal dress code set the tone for a creative and satisfying menu that includes dishes like wild mixed mushroom raviolo smothered in intense truffle sauce and salmon souffle with scallop mousseline, caviar, and beurre blanc.

Most stylish restaurants in Bahrain

When it comes to dining in style, Bahrain has a lot to offer. Here are some of the most stylish restaurants in the country:

Indigo

Indigo, located at the Merchant House in Manama, is known for its elegant rooftop setting adorned with greens and blossoms. It offers a blend of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, with options like sushi rolls, Lamb Shank, and Katmer. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and its operating hours are 6:30 am to 11 pm from Sunday to Wednesday and 6:30 am to 12 am on Thursdays and Fridays.

Bushido by Buddha-Bar

Part of the internationally acclaimed Buddha-Bar franchise, Bushido is a sumptuous and eccentric Japanese lounge and restaurant. Guests enter via a bridge over a small moat lined with Samurai statues, leading to a dining room with red and black interiors and quirky Asian-themed decor. The menu features Pan-Asian cuisine, including sushi, sashimi, soups, curries, and grills. Bushido is located in the Seef Area.

Masso

Masso, located in The Palace Boutique Hotel, is inspired by the Mediterranean way of life and celebrates the joy of sharing meals with loved ones. As Bahrain's first and only "farm-to-table" restaurant, Masso uses fresh produce from its own garden and organic ingredients to create nutritious and tasty dishes. The relaxed setting makes it an ideal spot for dining with family and friends.

La Table Krug by Y

La Table Krug by Y, located at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, is led by renowned food innovator Chef Yann Bernard Lejard. The restaurant offers a rustic yet refined French dining experience, transporting guests to the bucolic French countryside. The intimate dining room has a formal dress code, and the menu features dishes like wild mushroom raviolo and salmon soufflé. La Table Krug by Y is located in the Al Seef District of Manama.

Fusions by Tala

Fusions by Tala, located in the Gulf Hotel in Manama, is led by renowned female chef Tala Bashmi. The restaurant offers a contemporary take on traditional Bahraini cuisine, with a menu that fuses Middle Eastern flavors with fine dining. The interiors feature a raw industrial-style vibe with hanging filament lights and plenty of greenery. Fusions by Tala is known for its stylish setting and innovative cuisine, making it one of the best restaurants in Bahrain.

Best restaurants in Bahrain for vegetarians

Bahrain has a vibrant dining scene with a variety of vegetarian options. Here is a list of some of the best restaurants in Bahrain for vegetarians:

Le Petit Chef at Teatro Restaurant

Le Petit Chef offers a unique dining experience with a combination of fine dining and a captivating 3D screen show. The restaurant features a four-course menu starting at 35 BHD per person (approximately US$93), with a 15% summer discount available in August and September. The restaurant offers a vegetarian menu, making it an excellent option for vegetarians.

Monsoon

Monsoon is a highly-rated Asian cuisine restaurant in Bahrain, offering top-notch food and service. The restaurant's ambience transports diners to a premium location in Thailand, with excellent choices and plentiful portions. Monsoon serves sushi, Asian, and Thai cuisine and is open for brunch, lunch, dinner, and late-night meals.

Haus Restaurant & Lounge

A relative newcomer to the Manama restaurant scene, Haus Restaurant & Lounge specialises in Italian and Japanese cuisine. The restaurant offers wallet-friendly prices and a special discount for ladies on Tuesdays. Vegetarian options are available, making it a great choice for vegetarians.

Furn Bistro & Bakery

Furn Bistro & Bakery is a trophy-winning restaurant located inside the Westin City Centre. It offers international cuisine with a modern twist and has vegetarian and vegan options. The bistro is open for breakfast, and the bakery welcomes guests from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Cantina Kahlo

Cantina Kahlo is a Mexican restaurant located in the Ritz-Carlton, offering exceptional Latin American cuisine with traditional dishes and décor inspired by Mexico's vibrant art scene. The restaurant provides a down-to-earth atmosphere and reasonably priced meals. Vegetarian options are available.

Aisha Bahlool Restaurant

Aisha Bahlool Restaurant offers a wide range of cuisines, including Arab, Gulf, Lebanese, Thai, Indian, and Iranian. The restaurant provides reasonable prices and has vegetarian options available, making it a great choice for vegetarians looking for a variety of meatless dishes.

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