We absolutely recommend filling up on the delicious pan-Asian food in Li Jiang, especially if you’re there for one of the excellent weekly deals (dim sum night is on Mondays FYI). But, we would forgive you if you decided to forgo the food and concentrate on drinks in the bar or terrace, which has amazing views towards the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The indoor bar isn’t a particularly grand space, but it does have a certain zen charm to it, and the bartenders sure know their way around a mixed drink. It is outside, however, that is likely to wow the most.
The terrace is decked out with super-comfortable seating and the atmosphere is very calm and romantic, with the low lighting happy to give way to the night sky and the glow from the illuminated mosque down the road. If you can come here and somehow leave unimpressed by the ambience then I’m afraid we just can’t be friends.
Taking its cues from the scarlet décor, the venue’s ladies’ night (every Tuesday, 8pm-10pm) offers women who turn up in red dress a free flow of bubbles. It’s always a popular night and we can see why. There’s also a late happy hour between 11pm and midnight and a classy Saturday afternoon brunch.
Service can be a little hit and miss, with some of the staff seemingly unfamiliar with some of drinks on offer, especially when it comes to the grape selections, and it can take a little while before anyone takes your order.
However, those niggles don’t really spoil the overall night-time experience at Li Jiang, which is one we wholeheartedly recommend.
The bottom line
Go for the relaxing terrace (and dim sum).
