A visit to Saadiyat Island is always welcome.
Some of the best hotels in the city are here, the beaches are pristine and the general vibe is one of relaxing and having a good time… All things we can get on board with.
Now the football season is up and running, with plenty of fixtures every weekend, and the IPL and more sport about to hit our screens, the search for a good sports bar to take it all in is near the top of our list.
Tucked away at the side of Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island, Offside has typical sporting memorabilia on the walls, including some Andy Warhol-style skateboards, and screens, lots of screens, which is handy when you want to watch a match.
We take a seat and were at one of a few tables of people enjoying a quiet midweek night out.
The happy hour deals are good but we like craft hops and we’re happy to pay a little more for the pleasure, especially when the same drink (from a cool Scottish brand) costs you Dhs10 to Dhs15 more by the pint elsewhere.
Next up, food, and when in a bar, order chicken wings. That’s not our actual motto here at Time Out, but it could be. A plate of buffalo chicken wings, medium spice, arrive and we tuck straight in. They have a nice kick but we wonder how hot the ‘ludicrous’ version on the menu is, and what kind of person would order them.
Offside has a chilled vibe, the food is good and the prices are too. There’s an awful lot to like about the place.
We can’t help but feel there’s something missing. The buzz of watching a live match, that’s it. By the time you read this, the season will have started and we’ll be back to see how Offside is getting on with some live sport playing.
