Gigi Caffè is opening in Saadiyat Grove in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District.
The concept builds on Gigi Rigolatto’s international beach club and restaurant legacy.
Gigi Rigolatto Dubai won Favourite in the European category at the FACT Dining Awards Dubai 2025.
The FACT award-winning Gigi Rigolatto brand is bringing a new café concept to the capital.
Gigi Caffè is coming to Saadiyat Grove in Abu Dhabi, introducing a new expression of Gigi Rigolatto in the capital. The Paris Society concept will open within Aldar’s luxury retail and dining destination in the Saadiyat Cultural District.
From the pine trees of Saint-Tropez to the shores of Dubai and Bodrum, Gigi has built its reputation on beautiful beach clubs where Italian food comes with a generous helping of holiday atmosphere. Its wider family also includes restaurants in Paris, Rome and Miami, giving the brand a presence that stretches well beyond the Riviera.
For UAE diners, Gigi Rigolatto Dubai at J1 Beach was named Favourite European Restaurant at the FACT Dining Awards Dubai 2025. With its landscaped gardens, poolside afternoons and Bellini Bar, the venue has made a convincing case for turning lunch into an occasion that lasts all day.
While the Gigi Caffè menu has yet to be revealed, Dubai favourites give us plenty to hope for. We would love to see the bone marrow pasta make the journey down Sheikh Zayed Road, specifically Pappardelle allo Zafferano, which combines saffron butter with bone marrow and veal jus. Then there is Il Limone di Gigi, the signature frozen lemon, and Gelato Pistacchio, served in Dubai with caramelised pistachio and olive oil.
Those dishes capture the brand’s appeal: generous Italian cooking, indulgent pasta and desserts that deserve their own moment at the table. The café format will give Gigi another way to introduce that identity to diners, adding a new chapter to a name already associated with long lunches and memorable settings.
Saadiyat Grove provides an intriguing backdrop. Conceived as a living gallery, the destination brings together luxury shopping, dining, art and fashion, with architecture and storytelling woven into the experience. Its location places Gigi Caffè close to the soon-to-open Barrafina Abu Dhabi, Gymkhana Abu Dhabi and Momofuku Abu Dhabi.
A specific opening date has not yet been announced. For now, the arrival gives Abu Dhabi diners a new reason to follow Gigi beyond the beach.
Where: Gigi Caffè, Saadiyat Grove, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Contact: gigi-restaurant.com