Downtown Dubai
The Dubai spawn of the Beirut original did not need long to lure local socialites with high-energy rooftop parties under the stars. International…
Must-see nightlife in Dubai
Deira
This always-buzzing pub, with its Irish-main-street facade (complete with post office) and made with materials imported straight from the Emerald Isle,…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Since 1995, Barasti has grown from basic beach shack to top beach club spot for lazy days in the sand, and is often jam-packed with shiny happy party…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Since opening in 2016, LSB has been racking up the accolades as living proof that there's room in bling-blinded Dubai for keeping-it-real party hangouts…
Downtown Dubai
This happening joint has ushered the sports bar into a new era. Sure, there are the requisite big screens to catch the action, but it's packaged into an…
Dubai
This chic bar drips with sultry Middle Eastern decor and has a veranda laid with Persian rugs and comfy sofas perfect for taking in magical views of the…
Deira
Watch the ballet of lighted dhows floating by while sipping cocktails at this always-fun outdoor Creek-side lounge deck where carpets and cushions set an…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
This gastropub is as popular with the after-work crowd as it is with families on sunny Saturday afternoons. There are a dozen beers on tap, along with…
Downtown Dubai
Enquire with the concierge where Poppy is within the hotel and he (or she) will likely respond in a whisper. It's a venue of US Michelin-starred chef…
Downtown Dubai
At the top of the Taj, this luxe lair treats guests to cracking views of the Burj Khalifa, top-shelf drinks and an outdoor living room setting with potted…
Downtown Dubai
Been-around-forever Fibbers is an amiably scruffy morning-to-night Irish pub with Guinness and Kilkenny on tap, all-day breakfasts (including the…
Dubai
This sprawling multistorey venue has a woodsy interior with an open kitchen, but it's really the three bars with killer views of the Burj Al Arab that…
Deira
Looking very much like a futuristic James Bond–worthy yacht, Cielo flaunts a sultry, romantic vibe helped by the bobbing yachts below and the cool views…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Home-grown Atelier M delivers a double treat atop the circular Pier 7 building. The lift drops you at the restaurant, which serves respectable French…
Downtown Dubai
If you ever wanted to find out how to milk a camel (and who doesn't?), watch the video on the interactive iPad menu of this pretty cafe while sipping a…
Dubai
With a minimum spend of Dhs370 for cocktails and afternoon tea running at Dhs590 (Dhs720 for window seating), the tab at Burj Al Arab's Skyview Bar is as…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
With a huge marble-topped bar as its centrepiece and a daily happy hour (5pm to 8pm), the New Orleans–inspired Nola is popular with the after-work crowd…
Bur Dubai
This been-here-forever Western expat fave has a '70s-era American roadhouse feel, with a cover band blaring out Top 40 hits and a DJ filling in the breaks…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
This UK import features private karaoke pods where groups of six to 25 people can belt out tunes from a huge playlist without (much) fear of embarrassment…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
With metal-plated stools, palette tables and oversized artwork in a warehouse-style setting, this place works hard to channel New York but still manages…
Dubai
This Ibiza-style beachside 'meet' market is one of Dubai's top day-to-night dance clubs and worth the trek out of town at weekends, especially when big…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
When it comes to glorious views over The Beach at JBR and Palm Jumeirah, this chic indoor-outdoor lounge is in a lofty league on the 35th floor of the…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
This place is exclusive with a capital E. Entry is via fingerprint recognition, and minimum spend at a table for four is Dhs5000. If you want to drive…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
From the moment you start following the meandering path through One&Only's luxuriant gardens, you'll sense that you're heading for a pretty special place…
Bur Dubai
This breezy open-plan space is the perfect place to sip on a cup of speciality tea, traditional chai or coffee, including a creamily delicious cappuccino…
Deira
Need some A.S.S., Man Kiwi or Viagra? Then head down to this actually very wholesome Saudi juice bar famous not only for its 200 fantastically creative…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Sunset is the perfect time to stake out your turf at the circular bar or on a cushiony sofa in a tented 'pod' at this beachfront lounge with view of the…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Revamped in 2018, the ethos of this club is that it offers revellers the flip side of the VIP high-end nightclub experience. Decor is stripped back,…
Downtown Dubai
Finance moguls and corporate execs mix it up at this intimate rooftop cocktail bar perched atop the 40th floor of the H Hotel with views of the World…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
This is the prettiest branch of a local chain serving regional faves in a dimly lit, endearingly over-the-top Arabian Nights setting complete with…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Part of Buddha Bar in the same hotel, Siddharta is an urban oasis and great spot to join Dubai's glam crowd in taking the party from daytime by the pool…
Dubai
Score a candlelit table on the terrace overlooking the Madinat canals and illuminated Burj Al Arab, and you’ll instantly know you’ve found one of the most…
Rooftop Terrace & Sport Lounge
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
With its fabric-draped banquettes, Moroccan lanterns and Middle Eastern carpets, this lounge is one of Dubai's classiest sports bars. Catch live games in…
Dubai
At this stylish rustic wine bar imbued with a homey vibe, you can match your wine to your mood. Most pours come from small vineyards and are served with…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
A welcoming gastropub with a vast space made intimate by the warm wood fittings and moody low lighting. There are a couple of sports screens here, but the…
Deira
This airport-adjacent Irish pub staple has eight beers on tap, better-than-average pub grub (especially the chicken curry) and an appropriate blarney…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
A moodily lit atmospheric bar which attracts an eclectic crowd here for the nightly happy hour (5pm to 8pm) or the packed-out ladies' night (Tuesday) with…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
Home of the self-indulgent Queen's Night with free-flowing sparkling rosé, tasty light bites and hand-crafted cocktails, the Observatory also scores with…
Bur Dubai
The Majestic's latest cool place to hang out, this Cuban-themed bar with its leather sofas and wood-panelling has the cigars, the rum and the background…
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
If there are celebs in town, they'll show up at Buddha Bar to enjoy superbly handcrafted cocktails surrounded by a dramatic Asian-inspired interior decked…
