Must-see nightlife in United Arab Emirates

  • Wiz Khalifa Performs At White Club Dubai on March 31, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    White Dubai

    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…

  • Barasti

    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…

  • Lock, Stock & Barrel

    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…

  • Bridgewater Tavern

    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…

  • Bahri Bar

    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…

  • Beach House Rooftop

    Abu Dhabi

    Don't be deceived by the unassuming back staircase entrance. Climb to the top, and you'll be dazzled by incredible turquoise waters and panoramic ocean…

  • Tap House

    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…

  • Poppy

    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…

  • Treehouse

    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…

  • Fibber Magee’s

    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…

  • Folly by Nick & Scott

    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…

  • Atelier M

    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…

  • Majlis

    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…

  • Raw Place

    Abu Dhabi

    It's pricey, but this organic, cold-pressed-juice chain churns out some seriously tasty bevvies fashioned from all manner of fresh fruits, vegetables and…

  • Colombiano Coffee House

    Abu Dhabi

    Sitting in the cafe part of this establishment, beside the pond in comfortable armchairs, is a pleasant and sociable experience, especially on warm nights…

  • Skyview Bar

    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…

  • Nola Eatery & Social House

    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…

  • Rock Bottom Café

    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…

  • Maya Fridays

    Abu Dhabi

    This pool and beach party, beloved by Abu Dhabi's buffed and toned set, is an all-day affair. Boats leave frequently from the dock near the Khalidiya…

  • Lucky Voice

    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…

  • Up & Below

    Abu Dhabi

    Have a beer (Dhs34 to Dhs40) or wine (glass from Dhs35) with high-rises as your neighbours at this bar on the roof of the World Trade Center; entry is…

  • Tribeca

    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…

  • Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

    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…

  • Pure Sky Lounge

    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…

  • Secret Room

    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…

  • Ratios Coffee

    Sharjah

    Caffeine nerds rejoice: this hipster coffee house digs deep with single-origin beans sourced from El Salvador, Ethiopia and Indonesia, among others, and…

  • Buddha-Bar Beach

    Abu Dhabi

    The famous Asian-themed chillax lounge from Paris has brought its normally temporary beach-bar concept to Abu Dhabi – the first location to receive a…

  • Jetty Lounge

    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…

  • Cafe 302

    Abu Dhabi

    We really like this cafe, fronted by a small street-front terrace, for its cracking coffee, cooling milkshakes and good tea selection. The taupe and white…

  • Kava & Chai

    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…

  • Level Lounge

    Abu Dhabi

    This relaxing poolside rooftop lounge at the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi reopened after a full makeover in 2018. New glass partitions and ceilings offer a…

  • Bliss Lounge

    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…

  • Industrial Avenue

    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,…

  • 40 Kong

    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…

  • Reem Al Bawadi

    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…

  • Siddharta Lounge

    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…

  • Koubba Bar

    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…

  • Grapeskin

    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…

  • JB Gastropub

    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…

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