Amazónico takes its jungle to Yas Marina for Abu Dhabi race week
A six day pop up beside Yas Marina Circuit with the charcoal grill, the maki, the cocktails and live drummers over race weekend
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Our race week plans now include a table in the jungle. From 1 to 6 December, Amazónico moves its jungle from DIFC to the Yas Marina waterfront for the first time, a six day pop up a few steps from Yas Marina Circuit as Formula 1 closes its 2026 season in Abu Dhabi. Lunch, dinner, DJs every night and live drummers over race weekend: we are planning to go early in the week for the food and come back on the Saturday for the noise.
What we will order
Amazónico has brought a tight edit of its Latin American and Japanese leaning menu to the marina, à la carte at lunch and dinner. We would start cold and sharp: Hamachi Tiradito, thin yellowtail in a passion fruit and shiso dressing, and Aguachile, a Mexican style sea bass ceviche with avocado cream and jalapeño. From the sushi side, the Langosta con Caviar Maki brings lobster, mango and unagi sauce under Baerii caviar, and the Salmón Rostizado is seared salmon with asparagus and teriyaki.
Then the dishes for the middle of the table. Pan de Queso, the cassava cheese bread that never lasts long. Langostino Meloso, prawns in garlic and ginger. A Wagyu Anticucho skewer with anticucho miso and lime. For mains, the charcoal grill is the point: Ojo de Bife, a 250 day grain fed Australian Black Angus ribeye, or Bife Angosto, Japanese Wagyu sirloin. On the seafood side there is Merluza Negra, Patagonian toothfish in panca miso with sesame pak choi, and Arroz con Mariscos, octopus, prawns and mussels with Arborio rice, Peruvian chillies and lime.
The bar
The bar list, overseen by Head of Bars Dimitris Maladaki, travels too. The Amazonegroni swaps in pineapple infused gin with red vermouth and Campari. The Sangria Blanca mixes gin, white vermouth, lemon, tropical fruit wine and aloe vera. Javari puts tequila and mezcal with marigold, basil and papaya pepper, and the Rainforest Old Fashioned is Zacapa 23 rum with hops, açaí and strawberry bitters. If the evening needs a push, the Monkey Business is vodka, passion fruit, lemon, elderflower and Red Bull.
How the week builds
From Tuesday 1 to Thursday 3 December, the pop up runs from noon to midnight, with resident DJs from 8pm. From Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December, when practice, qualifying and then the 58 lap finale run next door, it stays open until 3am, and live drummers, percussionists and a trumpeter join the DJs from 7pm. Live percussion is the DIFC restaurant’s signature, and we want to hear it carried across the water at Yas.
Race weekend comes with minimum spends. Between noon and 5pm it is AED 500 per person, from 5pm to 8pm AED 750, and from 8pm onwards AED 1,250. The minimums apply from 4 to 6 December, which is why we will go earlier in the week for a proper lunch by the marina.
Who is behind it
Amazónico opened in DIFC in 2019, part of the group that runs Amazónico in Madrid, London, Monte Carlo and beyond, with interiors by the Spanish designer Lázaro Rosa Violán: hanging foliage, layered greenery and a bar that feels like a clearing in the forest. In Dubai the team is led by General Manager Andre Alexy, with Diego Fernando Sánchez Vargas as Group Culinary Director for Europe and the Middle East. The dress code at Yas is smart and chic.
The details
- Dates: 1 to 6 December 2026
- Where: Yas Marina waterfront, Abu Dhabi, beside Yas Marina Circuit
- Hours: 1 to 3 December, noon to midnight. 4 to 6 December, noon to 3am
- Entertainment: resident DJs from 8pm (1 to 3 December). DJs, live drummers and percussionists from 7pm (4 to 6 December)
- Race weekend minimum spend: AED 500 (noon to 5pm), AED 750 (5pm to 8pm), AED 1,250 (from 8pm), per person
- Bookings and events: events@amazonico.ae
Imagery courtesy of Amazónico.