When you’re staying at – or visiting – one of the best-known party hotel names worldwide, there are certain expectations.
You expect a W Lounge with banging beats, cool vibes and innovative mixed drinks (preferably with a view). You expect a Wet Deck, with all the trendy pool party feels, a glam set-up and superb swimming pool. And W Abu Dhabi comes through with both those things.
We’ve talked about W Lounge before (it’s ace, don’t miss it) but as the weather (slowly) starts to cool and the new season rolls around, we’re all about Wet Deck – and you should be too.
W Abu Dhabi has two pools, one in each tower, and on taking over the hotel, W has swapped them around from what they were before – with the adults-only pool becoming the family-friendly one, and vice versa. Which means that Wet Deck now has a massive space to sprawl over (just like you will be on the sunloungers) and it looks sharp and trendy.
The pool area itself is elevated with a sprinkling of sun loungers and cabanas to loll around on – all ensconced in the famous metallic structure that makes the hotel such an iconic Yas Island structure.
On the lower level there’s sofa-style seating, a couple of round sunloungers floating like lily pads (just call us Kermit) in the tiers of water, as well as DJ booth, to get the party started.
Drinks and snacks are as you’d expect – hops, pink grape, various frozen mixed drinks, pizzas, burgers, salads, sushi et al – while service is slick
and friendly.
And there are some cracking deals to be had too.
Visit on a Saturday and you’ll get three hours of drinks from 12.30pm until 3.30pm for Dhs160 for ladies and Dhs220 for gents, all set to the sounds of a live DJ. Cool vibes while we wallow in the even cooler water? That’s what we’re talking about.
Friday you can get all-day access for Dhs150 to get back on food and drinks (from noon-8pm), while every Thursday there’s an Afrobeats night from 8pm until 11pm with three hours of drinks for Dhs150 for ladies’ and Dhs200 for gents.
The all-inclusive packages are a draw, but the setting’s worth a visit anyway.
Pull on your glitziest swimmers and swankiest sunnies – this is a place to be seen.
Open daily noon-11pm. W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, marriott.com (02 656 0000).
