IF it’s screens you’re after, Velocity delivers – by the away coach-load.
One of the best sports bars in the city (a previous holder of the Best Sports Bar accolade from Time Out Abu Dhabi), everything about the place is geared towards the beautiful game. And the rest of them.
Pride of place is an enormous screen showing the biggest matches of the day, while alcoved banquettes are lined with more TVs showing everything from handball to tennis. In short, Velocity is wallpapered with the things. The venue even posts a schedule online so you can check ahead to see if they’re showing a match you’re keen to watch (through your hands or otherwise).
Staff are quick to present themselves and take orders, but things tend to get held up at the bar, where the team could do with bringing a few more in off the bench.
Nevertheless, the bar is rarely less than busy and the atmosphere is always up. Better still, there’s an almost endless and ever-changing array of dirham-stretching deals. While most of these are usually themed around whatever the season’s big sporting events or occasions are, there’s plenty to keep you popping in regularly.
Keep an eye out for daily happy hour offers from 4pm onwards with drinks for Dhs24, plus hospitality industry nights with discounts on food and drinks, Saturday recovery sessions, and the Dhs150 after-brunch promotion on Fridays (and if you buy two packages, you’ll get a third free).
Bar snacks are well worth getting acquainted with, including the Velocity fried chicken wings – but beware the Volcanic Wings challenge, which promises 12 of the hottest in Abu Dhabi. Eat them inside 20 minutes and you’ll land yourself a T-shirt, pint and the food for free. If you don’t, that’ll be Dhs90 and your dignity out the door.
Then again, were your team really going to place anywhere this season anyway?
WHAT IS IT…
Rightly respected sports bar
WHY GO…
For the screens and cash-saving deals
