4.8(1496 reviews)$$$$The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Fine DiningHalalVegetarianVeganGluten FreeOutdoor Seating
Description
Sontaya is the Thai and Southeast Asian restaurant at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island, set along the resort's waterway with a serene, lantern-lit atmosphere that makes it one of the more visually peaceful dining rooms in Abu Dhabi. The setting - overlooking water, with an outdoor terrace that works beautifully on cooler evenings - establishes a mood that the kitchen and service maintain throughout the meal.
The food reads as authentically Thai rather than toned-down-for-tourists. The pad Thai is properly balanced, the satay skewers have good char and flavour, and the sweet and sour chicken delivers genuine depth. The barramundi is a standout main, and the dim sum programme is more refined than expected for a Thai-focused restaurant. The Sunday brunch follows a served format - starters and mains at your table with live grilling stations - that works well and avoids the impersonal feel of a buffet. The kitchen handles food allergies and dietary restrictions with notable competence, proactively checking and adapting dishes rather than simply removing ingredients.
Service is consistently warm, knowledgeable, and well-paced. The team guides ordering with genuine expertise and gets the rhythm of the meal right, with appropriate pauses between courses. The restaurant handles celebrations naturally, with complimentary touches for birthdays and anniversaries. The overall experience is calm, consistent, and high-standard - the kind of restaurant guests return to multiple times during a single stay.
Guest Reviews
5.0
Exceptional
60 reviews
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Jessica C5.0
last week
My best friend took me here for dinner to celebrate my birthday and it was the perfect evening. The food is such high quality, generous portions and a fantastic variety to choose from. The service was outstanding, nothing was too much trouble and our waiters Aung and Veera went above and beyond to make our evening special. This place is not to be missed and was well worth the drive from Dubai! Thank you so much for the best evening!
SK
Souhaila K5.0
last week
Amazing experience at the Sontaya restaurant in St. John's. Regis Saadiyat! Everything was perfect from start to finish: the quality of the dishes, the presentation, the flavors, the atmosphere... a real moment of luxury and pleasure. Special mention to the person who took care of me SHWE a magnificent, attentive and really warm service. I felt welcomed and pampered as rarely. I recommend 100% and can’t wait to get back! Machine Translated Show original
BS
Benjamin S5.0
last week
Shwe was the most lovely waitress and the food is the best Thai i have ever had (bessie)