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Vintage
A favourite of Dubai wine aficionados for its impressive wine list and wide-ranging of varietals, Vintage also serves superb fondue, cheeses, charcuterie meats and fantastic cheesecake. The living-room-like interior is well-lit - a boon if your eyesight is failing - but its small size means tables fill up fast. Arrive early.
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Vu's Bar
The tower-top views over Sheikh Zayed Rd are as breathtaking as the prices at this sophisticated restaurant-bar, 51 storeys in the sky. If conversation lags, bury your nose in the encyclopaedic cocktail list. Look sharp: no jeans or sneakers allowed.
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Zinc
Once you're past the metal detector, old reliable Zinc plays crowd-pleasing popular tunes everyone knows. Though some uppity expats call it trashy, we like Zinc because people don't seem to care who you are; they're here to dance and drink, not show off.
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Zyara
Puff in the shadow of giant skyscrapers at this convivial bo-ho-cool Lebanese café. The colourful dollhouse-like interior is great for booze-free socializing over a game of cards or backgammon. The sheesha is presented outdoors at living-room-like clusters of bright-orange sofas on a palm-lined patio, where you can gaze up at the impossibly tall towers.
