We don’t like cricket at Time Out Towers. We love it.
And with the IPL exploding into life for the 2021 season on Friday evening, we pitch up some top notch venues and deals so you don’t find yourself on a sticky wicket without a place to watch the cricket.
Not into cricket? Check more cool things to do in the capital here.
So without further ado, here are the best places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi.
Appaloosa Sports Bar
Don’t get bowled over by this bar’s relaxed atmosphere. Appaloosa Sports Bar is a top spot for passionate fans to watch their sport. Proper pub food including dirty fries, burgers, chicken wings and fish and chips and a happy hour which sees 50 percent taken off all house beverages, that runs from 3pm three hours, makes this venue in the swanky Marriot Hotel Al Forsan one of the best places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi.
Open daily noon-3am. Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi, Khalifa City A (02 201 4131).
Blu Sky Lounge & Grill
While it may be known for its devotion to the beautiful game, in particular Manchester City, this funky, blue bar is one of the places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi. Showing all the 2021 IPL action live, fans can enjoy one of the longest happy hours in the entire city with drink deals starting from as little as Dhs22. Howzat!?
Open Mon-Thu 3pm-3am, Fri-Sun 3pm-3am. Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiya (02 818 4888).
c.mondo Bar
Cool venue? Check? Great food and drinks deals? Yes. Able to watch all the action live? You got it. With prices starting from Dhs19 on food and beverages, cricket followers can snaffle discounts of 50 percent off selected bottles of house grape and mixed drinks at this chic bar. That’s enough runs to c.mondo on the honours’ board of best places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi.
Open daily noon-1am. Centro Al Manhal by Rotana (02 811 5000).
Coopers Bar and Restaurant
With a happy hour running from 4pm to 8pm every evening and TV screens above the bar and two sizeable projector screens out on the chilled out terrace, Cooper’s plays a good knock for anyone on the hunt for the cricket. And with some super grub offers as well as bucket deals including hops and bites in which to indulge it is definitely one of the places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi.
Open Sun-Wed noon-2am, Thu-Sat noon-3am. Cooper’s Bar and Restaurant, Park Rotana Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Park area (02 657 3325).
Hemingway’s
It is said Ernest Hemingway had an unquenchable thirst for new experiences but we’re pretty sure visitors to this old school pub won’t leave unsatisfied. This cosy pub will be showing all the IPL action live with a happy hour running daily for four hours from 4pm. Plenty of chairs to settle in to watch the 40 overs and a menu that will keep away rumbling tums, this is one of the best places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi.
Open Tue-Sun 4pm-1am. Radisson Blu Corniche, W Corniche Rd – Al Bateen (02 692 4247).
Lexx
This super cool and colourful joint is the definition of playing it with a straight bat when it comes to getting a seat for the cricket. Screens galore, comfortable seats, beautiful views of the Corniche to embrace when it isn’t going right on the field and of course, a happy hour which sees 50 percent clipped off selected hops, grapes and mixed drinks, makes Lexx one of the best places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi this campaign.
Open Tue-Sat 6.30pm-2am. Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Residences Emirates Pearl, Corniche West (02 510 1234).
McGettigan’s
The Irish have been known to cause a few upsets with the willow and cork in the past and at McGettigan’s fans can catch the action while enjoying a cracking deal of five selected house beverages for Dhs100 (that’s a ton we can all salute). With a plethora of screens dotted around the venue, you won’t miss a ball meaning this Dusit Thani Hotel establishment is one of the best places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi.
Open daily noon-1pm. Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Sultan Bin Zayed The First Street, (02 698 8888).
NRG Sports Cafe
The current title holder of Time Out Abu Dhabi’s Best Sports Bar was always going to make the cut as one of the best places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi and when supporters visit they’ll find out why. Head along and get stuck into great food, enjoy unimpeded views of the action and take advantage of a daily four hour happy hour from 4pm where selected beverages start from Dhs25 at this fun bar made for watching sport.
Daily 4pm-2.30am. Le Méridien Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiya (02 644 6666).
PJ O’Reilly’s
Whether with bat or bowl, cricketers want consistency and at PJ O’Reilly’s the venue delivers time and again when it comes to providing the goods when it comes to watching sport. With screens placed all over the pub, tasty dinners on which to chow down, excellent pints of black stuff (which are Dhs27 during happy hour from Tuesday to Saturday this month) and drinks deals every day of the week, Abu Dhabi’s oldest Irish establishment never lets us down and that is why it is on the list of the best places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi.
Open daily Sun-Wed noon-2am, Fri-Sat noon-3am. Le Royal Meridien, Al Markaziya (02 674 2020).
Stars N Bars
American bars know a thing or two about showing live sports and with bucket loads of screens, proper sports watching food like chicken wings, nachos and fried tater tots and pints of hops from Dhs25, Star N Bars is one of the best places to watch the IPL in Abu Dhabi in 2021. And once the action is finished head out onto the terrace to enjoy cool tunes as well as some people watching.
Open Mon-Wed 11am-1am, Thu-Sun 11am-2am. Yas Marina, Yas Island, (02 565 0101).
