We have long been fans of the Belgian Café at the InterContinental. Truth be told, we’re fans of the chain in general. You know what you’re going to get, Belgian hops, a decent happy hour and pots of mussels served with relatively little fuss, by good staff in a smart, dark-wooden panelled bar. What sets this branch apart from the others? The huge outdoor area, looking towards the hotel’s marina.
During the winter months, when the city is alive with tourists and residents enjoying the cooler climes, this place is buzzing. And while we love the indoor area of this venue, it’s rightly quieter than the terrace outside.
On our latest visit we miss happy hour by a few minutes (thanks, 6pm finishes) which means the drinks are around Dhs45, putting them at the upper end of the scale here in the capital. It doesn’t seem to matter too much, however, judging by the throngs of people enjoying the early evening air.
Most of the crowd seem to be here on holiday, with a few Abu Dhabians propping up the bar post-work or pre-dinner.
We take a couple of stools at one of the high, communal-style tables and order a couple of drinks.
It takes a while for the waiter to come over initially, but once we’ve ordered, the service is super and swift from here on in.
There can be no complaints about the quality of what is served. The drinks and bar snacks are excellent, and though we’re not partaking in any of the regular offers, there are plenty of deals on throughout the week to add value to your visit.
Steaks are Dhs99 on Sundays, mussels are unlimited on Tuesdays, it’s Dhs99 for a pot of mussels on Mondays, you’ll get unlimited ribs and wings every Saturday and a burger and a pint is Dhs120 during football games (shown on a huge screen outside). There’s live music on Wednesday nights and half-price drinks post-brunch on Fridays. Thinking about it, there’s a reason to come here every day…
WHAT IS IT…
A chain bar that does its thing very well
WHY GO…
For the sprawling outside area with views of the marina
