A poet, journalist, novelist and sportsman with an unquenchable thirst for new experiences (and other things), Ernest Hemingway is one of the all-time literary greats. So what would he make of the bar that bears his name in Abu Dhabi?
Well, we think he’d probably quite enjoy it. The dark pub is the kind of place you take refuge in from the hot weather outside, and the shards of sunlight streaming through the windows makes us quite smug about being tucked away in this veteran venue.
Found at the back of the Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche (formerly the Hilton), the pub has been around for years and years, and it has a lived-in feel you’d expect from somewhere that’s been open for so long.
That’s not a bad thing in our book, we love nothing more than a bit of nostalgia to go with our pint and pub grub.
It’s quiet during our lunchtime visit, which is maybe to be expected for a weekday, but despite a few of the staff coming and going from our table, it’s still fairly difficult to place our orders and, eventually, get the bill.
The staff are lovely, however, so we’ll cut them some slack for seeming a little disorganised.
There’s usually some kind of deal on, whether that’s happy hour, a burger and pint combo or unlimited drinks deals when sports are on.
The draught hops options will be familiar to any Brit, which only adds to the proper pub feel of the place. There’s a decent selection of grape and short drinks, too, and even some mixed drinks. A humidor is present as a nod to the pub’s namesake.
This is a sprawling venue, with nooks and crannies all over the place, and there’s a pool room.
Like the work of Hemingway himself, there’s a pleasing minimalism to the venue, which only concerns itself with doing the basics right. There’s not a lot of fuss here, and similarly, not a lot to get over-excited about.
The pub does most things well without pushing any boundaries. It’s a good spot for some respite if you’re on the Corniche.
WHAT IS IT…
An old-school pub with plenty of deals
WHY GO…
To see if you soak up any of old Ernest’s mecurial talent
