Adliya is where Bahrain goes when it wants to eat well. Block 338 sits at the centre of it; a walkable stretch of restaurants, cafés and galleries that has held its position as the island’s most reliable dining destination for years. The neighbourhood spills out into the surrounding streets, where some of Bahrain’s longest-running favourites still draw regulars several generations deep.
Here are the spots we keep going back to.
If you’ve spent any time in Adliya, you’ve been to Lilou. The Parisian brasserie styling is the obvious headline, with the wrought-iron bannisters, velvet seating and balcony views over the block, but what keeps people coming back is breakfast. The omelette du Pirée is the order if you can’t decide, and the dessert cabinet does most of the talking for itself.
Best for: Long breakfasts, weekend catch-ups, dessert after dinner anywhere else.
The Adliya outpost on Block 338 spans three floors and feels built for an occasion. The Certified Prime Angus cuts are the draw, with the 1.2 kg Tomahawk being the order to share, but the BBQ ribs, smoked brisket and Wagyu burger all hold their own. Open until 3 am, which makes it a useful late-night option.
Best for: Birthdays, group dinners, and anyone who takes their steak seriously.
Haus has been doing Itameshi, an Italian-Japanese fusion, since 2018, and it’s still one of the more interesting menus in Adliya. Truffle and parmesan land next to nigiri and tempura, and the kitchen knows when to lean Italian and when to lean Japanese. The lounge runs late, and The Garden, the new open-air bar, is a welcome addition for cooler months.
Best for: Date night, drinks that turn into dinner.
At the Palmyard Hotel, MASSO is the Italian-Mediterranean spot that has built its name on refined simplicity rather than spectacle. Seasonal ingredients, modern Mediterranean classics, a sunlit terrace and a wine list worth lingering over. It does brunch well and dinner better.
Best for: Slow lunches and elegant dinners.
ORLA brings Mediterranean and Aegean flavours to Adliya with the kind of menu that’s easy to share. The food leans delicate rather than heavy, and the room has a community feel that makes solo dinners and big tables both work.
Best for: Mediterranean cravings, group bookings, a lighter evening.
Chef Antonio Camilli runs L’Orto with a rustic Italian sensibility and a daily-changing menu built around what’s in season. The name means ‘The Vegetable Garden’, and that’s the spirit — Tuscan cooking that lets the ingredients speak. Worth checking what’s on the menu when you book, because it shifts.
Best for: Italian done properly, vegetable-forward dishes, repeat visits.
The Osteria Papà ethos is straightforward: good Italian food, good ingredients, fair prices, a room that feels like home. Nothing showy, nothing oversold. A useful neighbourhood option when you want pasta without the production.
Best for: Casual Italian, weeknight dinners, family meals.
Cico’s opened in 1978 and has been feeding Bahrain ever since. The whitewashed walls, checked tablecloths, and grape-vine décor haven’t changed much, and neither has the food. The cappelletti vitello with truffle oil is a long-standing favourite, and the dessert trolley still rolls around at the end of the meal.
Best for: Family dinners, anniversaries, and anyone who doesn’t want a trend.
Sato has been doing Japanese food at the Gulf Hotel since 1983, making it one of the oldest Japanese restaurants in the country. Sushi bar, teppanyaki rooms, full à la carte. The room is calm and low-lit, with none of the over-styled flourishes newer Japanese spots reach for.
Best for: Sushi without the scene, teppanyaki nights, a quieter dinner.
Seoul is the Korean spot Bahrain keeps loyal to. Barbecue dining is built for families and bigger groups, plus a karaoke room when dinner needs to turn into a night. The atmosphere feels properly Korean from the moment you walk in.
Best for: Korean barbecue, group nights out, karaoke after the meal.
O Liban does Lebanese with a modern hand. Mousakhan rolls, makanek sausages, fatteh chicken, kafta on homemade dough, harra fries — the menu reads like a Lebanese table that knows its classics and isn’t afraid to update them.
Best for: Lebanese done well, group sharing, comfort food with character.
The Irish pub that became an Adliya institution. The menu hops between Ireland, America and Asia, the ingredients are sourced both locally and from the emerald isle, and the room is built for sport, live music and an unhurried drink with friends.
Best for: Match days, live music, a long evening with mates.
Adliya is best done on foot, especially around Block 338. Park once, eat somewhere, walk to dessert, walk to drinks. Reservations are smart on weekends — most of these places fill up fast.
[All images belong to the respective restaurants and have been used here solely for representation purposes.]
READ MORE: The Lebanese Dining Guide: The Top 10 Spots in Bahrain
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