Yas Island is Abu Dhabi’s entertainment destination, with the final Formula 1 race taking place at Yas Marina Circuit every winter, huge concerts (usually) held all year round and four massive theme parks all within a few minutes of each other.
Add a marina and a seriously picturesque golf course into the mix, the world’s largest indoor flight chamber and tallest indoor climbing wall, as well as the emirate’s biggest mall, and you have more than enough to keep you busy. When you take into account the island’s bars and restaurants you have pretty much everything you need.
Now the second UFC Fight Island bubble has ended and the hotels and venues at Golf Plaza are open once more, we thought we’d bring them back to your attention.
Here’s our pick of the places to have a drink.
Aquarium
Really more restaurant than bar during the day, there are no prizes for guessing that Aquarium’s big focus is on seafood, but the place comes alive at night. Don’t miss out on the catch of the day or the deals on food and drinks throughout the week.
Sun-Wed noon-1.30pm; Thu-Fri noon-2am. Yas Marina, Yas Island (050 696 9357).
Belgian Café Yas Island
There are plenty of reasons to head go Belgian Café Yas Island but the outside terrace is the clincher. Inside, there’s plenty of space to sit, both high stools and lower tables, and there’s a lot of wood around the place. There’s also a lot of Belgian beer on offer, both by the bottle and on tap. The options in bottles cover a lot of ground and reach some high percentages, with prices to match. On draught there’s nothing too surprising, but it’s also very good here. Daily happy hours, brunches, regular theme nights and sport on the big screens… A simple, honest bar with a good beer selection.
Sun-Thu noon-2am; Fri-Sat noon-3am. Radisson Blu Hotel Abu Dhabi, Yas Island (02 656 2406).
Casa De Cuba
One of the UAE’s big F&B success stories from recent years, Casa De Cuba offers a long weekend for fans of dancing, music and expertly mixed drinks. There are DJs and drinks deals, when it’s open. Trouble is, at the time of writing it has still not reopened after the summer, though we are told it will be back in business soon.
Timings TBC. Yas Marina, Yas Island (056 742 7435).
Diablito
Spread over two storeys by Yas Marina, Diablito draws inspiration from Spain, Mexico and Italy for its eclectic food and beverage menus. Unsurprisingly for a restaurant of this name, there are plenty of spicy options for you to choose from as well.
Sun-Thu 3pm-midnight; Fri-Sat noon-midnight. Yas Marina, Yas Island (02 565 1175).
Filini Garden
This is one of the very best places in Abu Dhabi for sundowners. In a city that does sunsets very well indeed, you could say you’re spoiled for choice, however, the view over Yas Links and the waters surrounding Yas Island as the sun dips below the horizon is hard to beat. There’s an incredibly popular ladies’ night every Monday, which you’ll have to book up for, as well as a Thursday supper club and Friday brunch. Another place that also has great music, with the city’s best DJs performing. It’s a restaurant, too, and does a mean pizza.
Mon-Fri 5pm-midnight; Fri 12.30pm-3.30pm, Sat noon-midnight. Radisson Blu Hotel Abu Dhabi, Yas Island (02 656 4000).
Hickory’s
You might not think that a golf course would be the place to go for an all-day bar, but Hickory’s has some of the longest opening hours anywhere on Yas Island. Aimed at golfers as a 19th hole, it’s open to non-playing parties, too.
Daily 6.30am-midnight, Yas Links Golf Course, Yas Island (02 810 7714).
Iris
Once the only real destination bar on Yas Island, the Lebanese lounge now has plenty of competition, but just because it’s one of the older party places on the island, it doesn’t mean it’s tired. In fact, each summer when the venue closes for the summer months it gets a new look and revamp. This is a bar where the beautiful people of Abu Dhabi hang out, late into the night. There are great cocktails and the music is excellent. Offering a little bit of everything, you can come here for a post-work drink, some dinner and then hang out as the space becomes a brilliant nightclub.
Sat-Wed 6pm-3.30am; Thu 6pm-3am; Fri noon-3.30am. Yas Marina, Yas Island (02 406 2000).
Mr Miyagi’s
In some ways, this is the anti-Iris. Whereas one is all sophisticated cool, where you get dressed up to show off your finest clobber and pose for selfies with your beautiful friends, My Miyagi’s is all about letting your hair down, forgetting your worries and joining in with the over-the-top entertainment. Cocktails come in bags, there’s an overload of colour, it’s loud in every way possible and it’s tremendous fun.
Tue-Thu 5pm-3am, Fri-Sat noon-3am; Sun-Mon 5pm-1am. Yas Marina, Yas Island (02 565 1150).
Stars N Bars
A brilliant place to watch sports, indulge in classic bar foods (and some healthy ones) and drink hops, Stars N Bars is a fun hangout. There are also pool tables and arcade machines inside adding to the fun-filled vibe. There are two outdoor areas, a terrace off the main bar that’s super during the cooler months and the Star Deck, which comes alive with DJs at night. Really it’s about the dive-bar-come-diner vibes inside, though. There’s a good range of beers and cocktails and deals almost constantly.
Sun-Wed noon-1am; Thu-Fri noon-3am; Sat noon-2am. Yas Marina, Yas Island (02 565 0101).
Stills Restaurant & Bar
Stills is one of the older establishments on Yas Island but still has plenty to offer. Primarily focused around a gastropub concept, it has some of the finest burgers anywhere on the island and a good happy hour.
Sun-Wed 3pm-1am; Thu 3pm-3am; Fri noon-3am; Sat noon-1am. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Yas Island (02 656 3066).
The Scene by Simon Rimmer
Celebrity chef Simon Rimmer has made the short journey down to the capital after the success of the Dubai incarnation of his gastropub. British food is often maligned by other Europeans, but the Englishman seems determined to change people’s minds about it. The drinks deals are decent, too.
Sun-Thu 3pm-midnight; Fri-Sat noon-midnight. Yas Marina, Yas Island (02 565 1330).
Y Bar
With happy hours, live sports and a dizzying choice of libations, the Y Bar may not be offering anything out of the ordinary, but it does everything well. Food is served, too, and, unusually, kids are allowed until 10pm. There’s a nice terrace, too.
Sun-Wed noon-2am; Thu-Fri noon-3am. Yas Island Rotana, Yas Island (02 656 4000).
