Brunch review: Ilios Restaurant & Beach Club in Abu Dhabi

Time Out Abu Dhabi

07-05-2025

If you picture the idyllic Greek getaway, it would probably look a lot like the Sunday Aegean brunch at Ilios Restaurant & Beach Club.
Perched on Hudayriyat Island within Surf Abu Dhabi, the sun-drenched spot hits all the high notes: breezy Mykonos vibes, Mediterranean feasting and just enough glam to make you feel like you're starring in your own holiday montage.
From the first salty breeze to the last beat dropped by the DJ, Ilios doesn't just do brunch — it throws a full-blown celebration of the good life.
With two packages to pick from (soft and house beverages), the brunch menu is a collection of Ilios' MVPs.
(Credit: Ilios Restaurant & Beach Club)
Starters roll in like a delicious Greek parade: fresh marinated seabass with kumquats that almost (almost) look too pretty to eat; crispy courgette fritters; one of the best Greek salads you'll ever try; delicate marinated sweet peppers; crunchy calamari; and grilled octopus so tender it probably writes poetry.
Then it's time for mains, when you get your pick from three of the menu's highlights. Creamy mushroom risotto? Check. Perfectly grilled seabass fillet? Check. Slow-cooked veal cheeks like the Greeks do it? Check.
And just when you think it can't get any better – boom – dessert. There's only one option here, but it's okay because it's a crowd pleaser. A citrus eclair with Amalfi lemon curd and mixed berries that comes in just the perfect size to end a meal that will leave you just the right side of full.
(Credit: Ilios Restaurant & Beach Club)
As for the vibe? Well, there's a DJ bringing the Greek island party vibes and people surfing in the world's biggest wave pool. As the sun dips and everything turns glowy and gorgeous, you realise you haven't looked at your phone in hours (except when you try to catch the perfect wave on camera, of course).
By the time the sun sets, the beats mellow and your camera roll is overflowing with golden hour magic, you'll feel like you've been living out your own Greek dream– only better, because it comes with lemon eclairs, surf waves and good vibes only.
Ilios' Aegean Brunch isn't just a meal; it's a legend in the making – and trust us, you'll want an encore.