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Dubai is party central for the Middle East. Expats here work hard and play hard, so there's no excuse for sitting in your hotel room watching reruns of Friends dubbed in Arabic. The city has action of every type—ultra-cool cocktail bars, beach clubs with day-into-night partying, desert terraces for sharing a glass of champagne,
Dubai is party central for the Middle East. Expats here work hard and play hard, so there's no excuse for sitting in your hotel room watching reruns of Friends dubbed in Arabic. The city has action of every type—ultra-cool cocktail bars, beach clubs with day-into-night
Dubai is party central for the Middle East. Expats here work hard and play hard, so there's no excuse for sitting in you
Dubai is party central for the Middle East. Expats here work hard and play hard, so there's no excuse for sitting in your hotel room watching reruns of Friends dubbed in Arabic. The city has action of every type—ultra-cool cocktail bars, beach clubs with day-into-night partying, desert terraces for sharing a glass of champagne, sports bars and pubs with monumental flat-screen TVs, and designer-label nightclubs where you can dance until dawn.
You may have to refinance your mortgage to pay for a serious night out in Dubai. Alcohol is served only on licensed premises—usually attached to international hotels—and the prices are often exorbitant. You have to be 21 to order drinks or stand in bar areas where alcohol is being served, and an ID will often be demanded. In addition, some popular clubs restrict entry to clients based on their appearance. People love to dress up in Dubai, so be sure to follow suit for your evening of clubbing; otherwise you may be left on the curb. Sandals are not allowed in clubs.
Live music is popular in the city, and tends to sit at extremes of the spectrum—cover bands perform in dive bars and mainstream international artists play for tens of thousands. Classic performance arts have had a thin presence, however recent years have brought welcome change thanks to the growing population, opening of the Dubai Opera House and the increasing quality of acts at venues like Madinat Theatre.
Movies have always been popular in the Middle East. Large multiplex centers show the latest blockbusters from Hollywood and Bollywood, as well as films from around the Arabic-speaking world. Here, going to the movies is a luxurious experience; theaters with food designed by Michelin-starred chefs, kids-only zones, and of course the latest in high-tech viewing, such as 4DX and IMAX.
Despite Palm Jumeirah's chichi image, there are plenty of casual bars and bistros, particularly on the trunk where the bulk of residential apartment buildings are located. Barrel 12 might be one of the most unappealing (and practically invisible) establishments from the outside, but there's plenty of life past the front door. A sports bar at heart, this modern industrial space pulls a very diverse crowd with a range of happy hours and daily specials. Expect anything from steak nights to kids' afternoons, ladies brunch and "drunch" (a dinnertime fixed-price drinking session). There's an outdoor terrace over the water with palm canal views, making it a lovely sundowner stop. Drinks and food are well made and well priced (for Dubai). Friday brunch is a great value.
Palm Views Marina East, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Styled by Heineken bar designer Ferry Tabeling, Loca is an industrial-styled, Tex-Mex themed beer haven. Apart from having a stack of options on draft or in bottle, it's the only place in Dubai where you actually pour from a beer tap on your own table. The venue is very casual; T-shirts and shorts won't cause an issue here (as they do in many other venues in the city).
Jumeirah Rd., Jumeirah 1, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
This might be a Lebanese import, but most would never know; teeming with multicultural excess, this place screams Dubai. It's modeled after a traditional theatre, complete with tiered seating (in booths) and red velvet drapes. From around 10 pm on, the curtains begin to part, and short acts progress through the evening. Anything from folk music, acrobatics, Arabic pop, tango, opera, Italian lounge music, and magic might be involved. You never know what to expect, but by midnight the whole venue will be jumping, even the skeptics. A night out here can be expensive, but worth it for those who want a kooky experience they won't find anywhere else (except perhaps Beirut).
Crescent Rd. W, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
A spin-off of the club in NYC, Provocateur keeps things classy. Music is always electronic, acts are international, the crowd is elegant, and reservations are always necessary. Interiors are decked in open booths, with steel and neon highlights and just a splash of greenery. The club is known for good service and happy party people. Be prepared to wear a hole through the soles of your Louboutins, but a hole in your wallet at the same time (some table reservations have a minimum spend of 5000 dirhams).
Jumeirah Beach Rd., Jumeirah 2, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
One of Dubai's first forays into Nikkei cuisine is also one of the prettiest overwater bars. The decor is what sells this place—someone has spent a pretty penny on printed wallpaper, decorative fabrics, copper cutlery, and very fine glassware. The enormous space has an art nouveau slash Cubano beach side feel, and the cocktails fit the atmosphere: plenty of Pisco as you might imagine, with Japanese flavor injections of yuzu and matcha. You can throw the drinks back while enjoying a spread from their fusion sushi bar. There's a large terrace area leaning over the water, but then you'd miss out on the gorgeous interiors, a happy conundrum.
Club Vista Mare, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Set among the rose-color barjeels of Madinat Jumeirah with splendid views across the complex, Bahri Bar is a good spot to slip off your shoes and relax. Rich earth tones and gold hues give the space a sumptuous feel, especially in the soft lighting after dark. From the terrace you can watch the abras (boats) ply the canals and listen to the distant bustle of the souk while making the most of your private vantage point. The tapas-style menu is perfect for a light dinner or snack to accompany your drinks.
Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh Rd., Al Sufouh, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Opening in 2002, Boudoir was the first French lounge-styled club to open in Dubai (of course, without the Burlesque dancers). Think flocked wallpaper, chandeliers and gilded fretwork offset by glossy black furnishings. The champagne continues to flow freely here, just like it did at the Moulin Rouge in Paris's heyday. Lovers of Bollywood and Persian cinema flock to Boudoir, because it's known to have been a preferred venue for celebrities. You'll need to look the part, so dress to attract attention—plenty of bling, labels, and flesh.
Jumeirah Rd., Jumeirah 1, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The perfect place to get your tiki on while lapping up Dubai's tropical climate, Mahiki is a Polynesian-themed club, complete with all the fantasy interiors you might expect, and most of the drinks are served in novelty cups, treasure chests, and coconuts. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun, the crowd outgoing and ready for anything, but you should still dress to impress. Music ranges in style depending on the night, but they are particularly good at retro tunes that will have you singing as well as dancing.
Jumeirah Rd., Umm Suquim 3, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
With American deep-south styling and its smokehouse smells, this is one of Dubai's most alluring watering holes for those who like things casual and comfortable. The venue is decked in wood and Americana, there are TV screens with live sports, and at peak times there's often some type of live music. Officially it's a restaurant, but the best thing to do here is pull up a stool on the terrace and order a couple of beers and a bucket of wings or a plate of nachos covered in smoked brisket and chilli. From here you can watch the abras glide to-and-fro across the Madinat waterways, and, if there's a show on a the Madinat Amphitheatre, you can listen in for free.
Al Sufouh Rd., Al Sufouh, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
This bar flanks a casual yet elegant restaurant of the same name, and sits just short of the sand on the Four Seasons' private Jumeirah beach. The sun will reflect over the waters of the Arabian Gulf as you sip champagne in the alfresco lounge pit, complete with contemporary open fire and mellow tunes by a remarkably good in-house DJ. Happy hour (5--7 pm) makes this even more accessible. Shisha also available.
Jumeirah Beach Rd., Jumeirah 2, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The finlike structure at the top of the stylish Burj Al-Arab Hotel has fantastic views along the Dubai coastline, no matter what time of day you choose to visit. The bar has a lunch menu (brunch on Fridays) and is a hot spot for afternoon tea. If you'd rather take in the sunset here, you can watch as the natural light fades and the city's neon glow takes its place. If you're not staying at the hotel, you'll need to make a reservation before you visit.
Jumeirah Rd., Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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