If you’re anything like us, it won’t take too much persuasion for you and your friends to get out of the house to head for a drink or some food.
After all, Abu Dhabi has some of the very best bars and restaurants anywhere in the world, and at the moment they could all do with some support.
One such venue is Rosé Lounge, which opened in Bab Al Qasr Hotel just before lockdown was introduced ahead of summer 2020. Through no fault of its own, it didn’t really have the chance to get off the ground before it had to close its doors.
Never a hotel bustlng with people looking for a rowdy night out, Bab Al Qasr is still quiet on our latest visit, and the bar even more so.
It’s a good-looking venue, with an almost Art Deco late-1950s vibe and some Middle Eastern accents here and there.
We are in the bar midweek, so it was never likely to be packed, but even still, we expect more than just us and the bartenders to be here. It’s a real shame as as well as the attractive décor, there are some good drinks on offer and it has a relaxing atmosphere.
The mixed drinks menu suits the venue and we go for a classic rye-based sour option. Next up, warming to the theme, we go for a favourite of Mad Men’s Don Draper. Both are decent, but not the best in the city. At around Dhs55, though, the prices aren’t as steep as in similar bars elsewhere.
If you’re more of a hops person, there are a few options by the bottle, as well as other short drinks. It is the grape selection that stands out on the menu, however, and, as the bar’s name suggests, it’s the pink version that gets the most attention, with options by the glass and bottle from all over the world costing on average around Dhs50 for a glass.
There’s a bar bites menu, too, with the likes of calamari, dynamite shrimp and meat and cheese platters available, as well as a few desserts, including Catalan caramel.
Rosé Lounge offers a pleasant experience, but if you’re after anything more than a sedate few drinks and polite conversation, there are other places to go.
However, we’d love to see if busy with people chattering and enjoying themselves. Here’s hoping normality resumes sooner rather than later.
