We probably all know what we’re getting when we step foot inside a Belgian Café. With three branches across Abu Dhabi, it’s a frequent destination for many a reveller. However, the Novotel Abu Dhabi Gate branch is probably the one that gets the least love. It’s not hard to see why, out near the Al Maqta bridge in a distinctly businessy hotel, it lacks the prestige (and views) of its Yas Island sister and the Corniche location of the Belgian Café in the InterContinental.
But this version of the bar has plenty going for it. It has brunch every Friday, roasts on a Sunday, regular quiz nights, daily happy hour deals and big screens to watch sports. It also has a pleasant terrace, maybe not quite as spectacular as the one on Yas, but definitely a plus point for the venue.
It’s happy hour on our visit, with pints of hops coming in at around Dhs20 after tax, and house grape costing a few dirhams more. It’s certainly affordable, and the staff are happy to point out which drinks are on offer.
It’s early evening, so the place isn’t jumping, but there’s a nice, relaxed vibe going on. There are certainly no pretensions here and we sip our drinks in relative peace and put the world to rights.
That’s the kind of venue this is, somewhere to come with a group of friends and chat over a few reasonably priced beverages.
There’s a good selection of Belgian hops by the bottle if you want to splash out and try some of the more unusual offerings and the food (think mussels, fries, burgers bar bites and more) are good if not mind-blowing.
A good option for a quiet one.
The bottom line
A bar that plays to its strengths.
