37 Best Bars in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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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, 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.
Sea Fu Bar
Seville's
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Sky View Bar
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.
Stereo Arcade
XL Beach Club
XL shares some traits with nearby Barasti, in that it's sprawling, by the beach, has DJs and live acts, and
melds day into night without effort. But where Barasti is laid back, XL is full-on. Expect the crowd to dress up, play hard, and stay late. The Friday brunch is a (somewhat messy) institution; many come for a feed over lunch time, slip into the on-site pool to chill, then dance all night to warm up again. Note: some weeknights are a little sleepy, so it's best to head out on a Friday or when there's a major event.