Living in Dubai - The Nightlife cont..

For expatriates living in Dubai the nightlife is going to be one of the first things to
check out!  It’s after dark that the social scene in Dubai really kicks off and there are
such a wide variety of events, attractions and venues offering a very impressive
array of nightlife entertainment that it can be hard to know where to start!
This guide to Dubai’s nightlife should give the brand new expat a good starting point for
getting out there and finding their particular social niche.
Unlike many other major worldwide capital cities, Dubai doesn’t have a nightlife district, there
is no particular entertainment heart to this city, rather there are many varied venues dotted
about across the amazing metropolis and it can take a good few nights out to explore them
all!
In terms of bars, all the major hotels have a variety of bars and many of them stay open until
the wee small hours.  They aren’t just the haunt of the businessman on tour, a lot of
expatriates meet up in their favourite hotel bar particularly on a Thursday or Saturday night as
these are the biggest nights of the week for socialising - just like in other lively business
orientated cities like London or Berlin where Thursday night is the introduction to the weekend
for those who like to work hard and party harder!  One of the newest hotel bars is the
Blue Bar which is in the Novotel on Sheik Zayed Road . 
It’s chic, fashionable and very, very popular.
In recent years there has been a decent flow of independent bars opening and here
expatriates meet to watch major sporting events, to chill out or seriously flirt and network! 
Try the Irish Village (also known as IV) as your first port of call - Time Out
Dubai call it “a Dubai institution” and it is truly one of the most popular venues for expatriates
bar none - you have to give it a try!  It’s located along the exterior of the Dubai Tennis
Stadium. 
In terms of alcohol - Dubai and the United Arab Emirates are of course Muslim - but
expatriates are allowed alcohol licenses to buy and consume alcohol in their homes and bars,
restaurants, pubs and clubs also have special licenses allowing them to sell alcohol to non-
Muslim clientele over the age of 21.
There are no casinos in Dubai as gambling is totally against the Muslim tradition.  Nightclubs
are varied and thankfully now plentiful!  Many cater only to the over 25’s, all have to shut by
3am and most are clearly divided into themes - from international to Arabic to African to Latin
Amnesia in the Palm Hotel for a fantastic dance scene or
American!  Try
maybe try Club Africana in the Rush Inn for something altogether
fantastically different.
For those who crave live music keep an eye out on the local listings as there are some
seriously talented bands at home in Dubai and many of the international venues and hotels
regularly import acts for a season, an event or a one off night of fantastic musical
entertainment.
Dubai is a fast paced, hard working, young, pulsating place and the nightlife purely reflects
the vibe of the city.  If you’re going to be living in Dubai the nightlife will not let you down and
you will have a different venue and a different event to sample every single night of the week
for the duration of your stay!  For the latest bar, pub, club and event listings and reviews, look
no further than Time Out Dubai http://www.timeoutdubai.com/

BARS

HOT BARS…
BarZar
in the Madinat Jumeirah
Enjoy drinks with a fantastic view on BarZar’s terrace or watch football in this impeccably designed
two-floored bar.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Nightclub
Wine Bar
Jumeirah

9.7
Overall

Blue Bar
in the Novotel
One of the newest bars on the block, Blue combines fashionable decor, chilled-out vibes and an
unusually good selection of draught Belgian beers to potent effect.
more »
Wine Bar
Shk Zayed Road

9.7
Overall

Ginseng
An intimate Asian-themed lounge bar, Ginseng has a formidable array of fierce cocktails, and while
it’s stylish, it’s not as pretentious as other similar bars in the city.
more »
Nightclub
Garhoud

9.7
Overall

iBO
in the Millennium Airport Hotel

more »
Nightclub
Garhoud

9.7
Overall
Lotus One
Once our eyes had become accustomed to the low ambient lighting, we discovered that we were the
only people in a vast space reminiscent of a safari camp, with light muslin drapes hanging from the
ceiling and comfy armchairs covered in animal print. We shouldn’t have been surprised by Lotus
One’s emptiness – it’s more bar than restaurant and only begins to fill up after 9pm.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Shk Zayed Road

9.7
Overall

Malecon
in the Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
The salsa scene is booming in Dubai, and one of the most original places to strut your stuff is the
Malecon.
more »
Latin American
Jumeirah

9.7
Overall

MIX
in the Grand Hyatt
A musical monolith, MIX is a three-tier clubbing complex containing what is reputed to be the Middle
East’s largest dancefloor – and who’s to doubt it? Music varies from night to night, but the main
room tends to err on the side of house while the smart upstairs area specialises in R&B and
commercial hip hop.
more »
English
Bur Dubai

9.7
Overall

Oxygen
in the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel
The only regular dance club on the city’s east side, Oxygen hands over its sound system to both
touring DJs and local talent.
more »
Nightclub
Garhoud

9.7
Overall

Peppermint Club
in the The Fairmont Dubai

more »
Other
Shk Zayed Road

9.7
Overall
QD’s
Nestled in the grounds of the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, QD’s is a must-visit during the winter
months.
more »
African
English
Nightclub
Garhoud

9.7
Overall

Rooftop Terrace
in the One&Only Royal Mirage
Assisted by its location – hidden inside the romantic gardens of the Royal Mirage – the Rooftop Bar
is a lothario’s ideal wooing ground.
more »
Arabic
Cocktail Bar
Nightclub
Jumeirah

9.7
Overall

Sho Cho
in the Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
With the weather rapidly cooling to a more agreeable temperature and the bars silenced in
accordance with Ramadan, now is the time to venture outdoors for a quiet drink.
more »
Other
Jumeirah

9.7
Overall

Tangerine
in the The Fairmont Dubai
After a slow start, Tangerine is beginning to curry favour with Dubai’s notoriously fickle clubbing
fraternity by lowering its stringent entry requirements a notch (though a dress code is still in force)
and hosting some red-hot house nights.
more »
Nightclub
Shk Zayed Road

9.7
Overall

The Agency
in the Emirates Towers Hotel
An upmarket London or New York-style wine bar, the Agency attracts affluent, well-dressed, well-
behaved thirtysomethings.
more »
Wine Bar
Shk Zayed Road
9.7
Overall

The Agency
in the Madinat Jumeirah
Fantastic waterside terrace, chilled ambience and good wine list plus gourmet nibbles.
more »
Wine Bar
Jumeirah

9.7
Overall

The Irish Village

Situated along the exterior of Dubai Tennis Stadium, the Irish Village is a Dubai institution that is
frequently packed with residents and tourists alike.
more »
Irish
Garhoud

9.7
Overall

Trilogy
in the Madinat Jumeirah
Three levels of pure hedonism make this nightclub one of Dubai’s newest hotspots.
more »
Nightclub
Jumeirah

9.7
Overall

Up On The Tenth
in the Inter-Continental Hotel
A heart-warming (if wallet-straining) jazz bar, Up on the Tenth is the perfect spot for a pre-dinner
pick-me-up or a solitary nightcap, even though the Manhattan-style decor is looking increasingly
dated.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Jazz
Piano

Deira 9.7
Overall

Velvet Lounge
in the Al Khaleej Palace Hotel
Chilled atmosphere, intriguing music and sushi bar.
more »
Cocktail Bar

Deira 9.7
Overall

Vintage
more »
Wine Bar

Bur Dubai 9.7

Overall

Ginseng
Nightclub
An intimate Asian-themed lounge bar, Ginseng has a formidable array of fierce cocktails, and while
it’s stylish, it’s no...
more »

Tangerine
Nightclub
With its own exclusive entrance discreetly located to the side of the hotel, Tangerine occupies a
prime lower ground flo...
more »

Sho Cho
Other Bar
The pioneer of Dubai’s new wave of bars, Sho Cho’s remains one of the very best. Sophisticated,
classy and dead trendy, this is where the beautiful people go to play, pose and look pretty: you will
no...
more »

Name
Type
Area
Rating

African Star
in the Marco Polo Hotel
Listen to some soul-searching beats from the heart of Africa.
more »
African
Deira
Not rated

Al Khan Shisha Club

in the Ramada Continental Hotel
Arabic nightclub with Moroccan dancers.
more »
Arabic
Nightclub
Bur Dubai
Not rated

Al Mushref
in the St George Hotel
Arabic nightclub with Lebanese singers, belly dancers and live orchestra.
more »
Arabic
Nightclub
Bur Dubai
Not rated
Al Zumorrod
in the Carlton Tower Hotel
The newest Iranian club in town with an eight-piece band from Iran called Bakhara.
more »
Iranian
Nightclub
Deira
Not rated

American Dream
in the Seashell Inn Hotel
Rodeo-themed bar, restaurant and nightclub.
more »
American
Nightclub
Bur Dubai
Not rated

Amnesia
in the The Palm Hotel
Funky nightclub, out-of-town, with regular dance acts brought over from abroad.
more »
Nightclub
Shk Zayed Road
Not rated

Anthakshari
in the President Hotel
Watch the Bollywood stars in action with a themed dance every night by the in-house artist.
more »
Indian
Nightclub
Bur Dubai
Not rated

Arabic Nightclub
in the Mayfair Hotel
Live music, singers and dancers at this Arabic nightclub.
more »
Arabic
Nightclub
Deira
Not rated

Arbat Club
in the Carlton Tower Hotel
Country club ambience and live entertainment.
more »
Nightclub
Russian
Bur Dubai
Not rated

Arika Lounge

more »
English
Jumeirah
Not rated

Ashiana
in the Ramee International Hotel
Bengali nightclub with live band every night.
more »
Indian
Nightclub
Other
Deira
Not rated

Atrium Garden Club, The

in the Ramada Continental Hotel
A quiet hidden garden with small bar and snooker table.
more »
English
Bur Dubai
Not rated

Aussie Legends Bar & Grill

in the Rydges Plaza Dubai
Set on the ground floor of Rydges Plaza, the ever-popular Aussie Legends is, as the name implies, a
‘down under’ theme bar and grill with a small dancefloor and a well-used pool table.
more »
Australian
Satwa
Not rated

Axis Lobby Lounge

in the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
Lobby lounge with an array of gourmet teas, coffees and a selection of beverages.
more »
Other
Jumeirah
Not rated

Bar 44
in the Grosvenor House Dubai
With its swanky décor, top floor location and ceiling-high windows on all sides, Bar 44 is reminiscent
of Emirates Towers’ Vu’s Bar – the only difference is that Bar 44 actually has a readily accessible
view.
more »
Other
Jumeirah
Not rated

Bar Dada
in the Ibis
Bar DADA calls itself ‘a haven for mature individuals seeking intelligent nightlife.’ Although the
description reeks of singleton desperation, the concept behind this new Ibis venue is spot-on.
more »
Nightclub
Shk Zayed Road
Not rated
Barasti Bar
in the Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
The Barasti Bar has been open for over a decade now, which in Dubai years is more like a lifetime.
In the early days, the bar (which was literally a converted portakabin with cheap drinks, Astroturf
carpeting and thirsty sailors) was stuck way out of town.
more »
Beach Bar
Jumeirah
Not rated

BarZar
in the Madinat Jumeirah
Enjoy drinks with a fantastic view on BarZar’s terrace or watch football in this impeccably designed
two-floored bar.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Nightclub
Wine Bar
Jumeirah

9.7
Overall

Beach Bar
in the Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
Gentle Caribbean music plays at this carefree, beach look bar.
more »
Beach Bar
Jumeirah
Not rated

Beach Bar
in the Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort
Out-door cocktail bar.
more »

Jules Bar
in the Le Méridien Dubai
A lively Garhoud venue with a truly eclectic crowd, where leopard print-wearing ladies rub up
against clearly disinterested moustachioed men to the amusement of onlookers.
more »
Nightclub
Philipino
Garhoud
Not rated

Juna Lounge
in the Burj Al Arab
Cocktail lounge where you can watch the sunset, for over 21s.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Jumeirah
Not rated

Junction, The
in the Century Hotel
After 9pm you must be 21 years or older to get in.
more »
Nightclub
Bur Dubai
Not rated

Jungle Club
in the Lords Hotel
Fancy a game of pool in a jungle setting?
more »
Nightclub
Sports
Deira
Not rated

Kasbar
in the Royal Mirage Jumeirah Beach
A très chic (not to mention très sheikh) nightclub within the Mirage’s Palace section.
more »
Arabic
Nightclub
Jumeirah
Not rated

Koubba
in the Madinat Jumeirah
One of the best bars in the city.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Jumeirah
Not rated

Ku Bu
in the Inter-Continental Hotel
The lower the lighting, the later the venue, and the fact that there’s little illumination in Kubu
means that this is more of a post- than a pre-dinner bar.
more »
Other
Deira
Not rated

La Moda

more »
English
Not rated

Laguna Bar
in the Oasis Beach Hotel
'A Casa' duo from Australia plays live Mon-Sat and shisha is available throughout the evening.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Jumeirah
Not rated
Le Harem

more »
Arabic
Garhoud
Not rated

Left Bank
in the Madinat Jumeirah
Left Bank, MMI’s latest concept is a contemporary urban brasserie at Souq Madinat Jumeirah.
more »
English
Jumeirah
Not rated

Lindbergh’s Bar
in the Sheraton Deira Hotel & Towers
Enjoy a selection of beverages to the soul-soothing music of Anna and choose from a selection of
Cuban cigars.
more »
Cigar Bar
Other
Deira
Not rated

Links Bar

more »
Sports
Other
Not rated

Long’s Bar
in the Towers Rotana Hotel
The strangest thing happens to Long’s Bar during Ramadan. Always a popular pint station – the
locals are all but welded to the bar stools – the place has a tendency to fill up faster than Sheikh
Zayed Road when Iftar strikes during the Holy Month.
more »
English
Nightclub
Shk Zayed Road
Not rated

Lotus One
Once our eyes had become accustomed to the low ambient lighting, we discovered that we were the
only people in a vast space reminiscent of a safari camp, with light muslin drapes hanging from the
ceiling and comfy armchairs covered in animal print. We shouldn’t have been surprised by Lotus
One’s emptiness – it’s more bar than restaurant and only begins to fill up after 9pm.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Shk Zayed Road

9.7
Overall

Lounge Bar, The

in the Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
Spend a relaxing evening listening to the in-house pianist.
more »
Piano
Wine Bar
Jumeirah
Not rated

M-Level
in the Hilton Dubai Creek
One of the hottest venues in town at the time of writing, the M-Level regularly hosts a number of
one-off events by the big promoters.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Nightclub
Wine Bar
Deira
Not rated

Maharlika Café
in the President Hotel
Maharlika’s is one of Dubai’s best live music venues – presuming, that is, that your favourite tunes
come from Filipino cover bands.
more »
Nightclub
Philipino
Bur Dubai
Not rated

Main Bar
Members only bar.
more »
English
Deira
Not rated

Malabar Choice
in the Ramee International Hotel
South Indian Bar and restaurant with wall size movie screen showing Indian films.
more »
Indian
Deira
Not rated

Name
Type
Area
Rating

The Embassy
in the Shangri-La Hotel
Does Dubai really need another ‘exclusive’ venue peddling vocal house? Apparently so, according to
the newly-launched Embassy at the Shangri-La which will no doubt be trying to steal Peppermint’s
thunder with its own night for the beautiful people.
more »
Other
Shk Zayed Road
Not rated
The Glasshouse
in the Hilton Dubai Creek

more »
Wine Bar
Deira
Not rated

The Irish Village

Situated along the exterior of Dubai Tennis Stadium, the Irish Village is a Dubai institution that is
frequently packed with residents and tourists alike.
more »
Irish
Garhoud

9.7
Overall

The Lodge
A cross between a British working men’s club and a Costa del Sol slosh-pit, the Lodge is a legend
among long-term expats.
more »
English
Nightclub
Bur Dubai
Not rated

The Terrace
Given its opulent, arabesque surroundings, The Terrace at the brand new Park Hyatt hotel doesn’t
really fit in. While the rest of the complex resembles the extravagant home of a medieval Persian
aristocrat, The Terrace looks like a cricket pavilion clad in white, uPVC double glazing.
more »
Other
Deira
Not rated

Tiki Bar
in the Renaissance Dubai Hotel
Located adjacent to Spice Island, the Tiki Bar features live Polynesian music and a wide range of
cocktails.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Deira
Not rated

Trader Vic’s
in the Crowne Plaza
Spanish band Fascination playing daily at this Polynesian restaurant and Mai Tai loungeA frankly
bonkers Mai Tai lounge where the Polynesian band and the most potent cocktails in the UAE
combine to create a magnificently carefree atmosphere.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Shk Zayed Road
Not rated
Traiteur Bar
If Dubai had a design award, Traiteur would win top prize for being the best-looking bar in the city.
It’s simply stunning to look at with its beautifully crafted (and for once, immensely comfortable) bar
stools and modern art pieces. But the pièce de résistance is their pulsating ceiling.
more »
Other
Deira
Not rated

Trilogy
in the Madinat Jumeirah
Three levels of pure hedonism make this nightclub one of Dubai’s newest hotspots.
more »
Nightclub
Jumeirah

9.7
Overall

Tropicana
in the Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
Arabic nightclub with resident DJ.
more »
Arabic
Nightclub
Jumeirah
Not rated

Up On The Tenth
in the Inter-Continental Hotel
A heart-warming (if wallet-straining) jazz bar, Up on the Tenth is the perfect spot for a pre-dinner
pick-me-up or a solitary nightcap, even though the Manhattan-style decor is looking increasingly
dated.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Jazz
Piano
Deira

9.7
Overall

Uptown Bar
in the Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Cocktail bar with a great view of the coastline.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Jumeirah
Not rated

V.I.P Lounge at Century Village

more »
Nightclub
Garhoud
Not rated
Velvet Lounge
in the Al Khaleej Palace Hotel
Chilled atmosphere, intriguing music and sushi bar.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Deira

9.7
Overall

Vice

more »
Cocktail Bar
Bur Dubai
Not rated

Viceroy, The
in the Four Points Sheraton (Bur Dubai)
Colonial style Viceroy bar & cocktail lounge.
more »
Cocktail Bar
English
Bur Dubai
Not rated

Vinoteca
Accorded a minute piece of turf opposite Andiamo!, Vinoteca’s a pretty, stone-flagged space with a
lovely bar and lots of heavy garden furniture circled round a miniature fountain.
more »
Wine Bar
Garhoud
Not rated

Vintage

more »
Wine Bar
Bur Dubai

9.7
Overall

Vu’s Bar
in the Emirates Towers Hotel
Laid-back elegance at premium prices has well-heeled conversationalists heading up to this swanky
51st-floor bar, where high-vaulted ceilings and impeccable good looks open on to one of the finest
views in Dubai.
more »
Cocktail Bar
Wine Bar
Shk Zayed Road
Not rated

Walk In Pub
in the Ramee International Hotel
Economical bar.
more »