Bayshore: With its thatched roof, this small seaside bar accurately recreates a Polynesian shack. Don’t be put off by its rustic appearance, the barmen know how to mix up a mean mixer. The place has recently started regular beach parties, from 2pm-8pm on Fridays, where you can escape the pressures of your working life and live the island dream for a short while.
Open daily, 7am-sunset. InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen (02 666 6888)
Bay View: On any given weekend, this small bar is surrounded by beachwear-clad folk turning their days away from the office into a mini-holiday with plenty of thirst-quenching, swimming and toasting themselves in the sun. There’s also a swim-up bar, should you feel the need to drink in your Speedos, while the restaurant serves up a decent club sandwich.
Open daily, 8am-10pm. Beach Rotana Hotel, Tourist Club Area (02 697 9000)
Best for Holiday Vibe!
Beachcomber: As the name suggests, this beachside haunt has the holiday resort idea at its heart. There’s an informal atmosphere – you won’t get turned away if you arrive in shorts and flip flops – making it an ideal place to sip on a bevvy, puff on a shisha and watch the sunset.
Open Sun-Thu, 4pm-1am; Fri-Sat noon-1am. Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Corniche (02 677 3333)
Best Undiscovered Gem!
Blue Line: The rooftop pool bar at this new hotel was almost deserted when we last visited, which is a shame as it’s so hip it deserves a boost in numbers. Why did we like it despite the ghost town feel? First of all, the chunky white marble pillars gave it a certain kitsch appeal, while the giant TV screen blaring out Arabic music videos and the plentiful supply of shisha made for an authentically Middle Eastern atmosphere. Hope to see you there soon.
Open daily, noon-1.30am. Oryx Hotel, Al Markaziyah (02 681 0001)
Brauhaus: If you venture outside the authentic Bavarian brew house interior, you’ll find a sizeable terrace that, now the weather’s easing off, is a great place to drain a few bottles and tuck into a pretzel. Prices aren’t the cheapest, but that doesn’t put off the hordes of punters who pack out the alfresco area regularly.
Open Sun-Tues, 4pm-11.30pm; Wed-Sat, noon-12.30pm.Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, Tourist Club Area (02 697 9000)
Best Pub Garden!
Captain’s Arms: A rowdy knockabout kind of place that’s as close to the British pub garden experience as you’re likely to get in Abu Dhabi. There are plenty of benches, drinks are pretty cheap, the fish and chips are possibly the best in the capital and they do a hearty roast dinner platter on a Friday. What’s not to love?
Open daily, noon-12.30pm. Le Méridien, Tourist Club Area (02 644 6666)
Best for Shisha!
Cedar Lounge: If the lively belly dancer floor show and loud Arabic band get too much for you at this high-end Middle Eastern nightspot, take a seat on the busy outdoor terrace to smoke some shisha. The comfortable armchairs, beautiful spot and comatose vibe are just what’s needed to help digest a giant Lebanese feast.
Open daily, 7pm-2am. Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Bain Al Jessrain (02 654 3333)
Eight Restaurant & Bar: A firm favourite among Abu Dhabi’s Lebanese expat population, the super-chic Eight Bar has a smart little terrace that’s all about seeing and being seen. Turn up in your best designer gear, order some vintage bubbly or high-end tipples and you won’t feel out of place.
Open daily, 8pm-3am. Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain (02 558 1988)
Left Bank: Venture outdoors from the space age interior, and you’ll find a compact little terrace facing a scenic vista over the Maqtaa Creek and the Grand Mosque. We’re looking forward to the new Britpop and Indie scene night, Recession, starting on October 15. Get yer rocks off, honey!
Open Sun-Thu, 6pm-2am; Fri-Sat, noon-2am. Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain (02 558 1690)
Level Lounge: Low-level lighting reflects from the pool to the high-up rooftop bar; Level Lounge fits the bill if you’re up for lounging on a beanbag, sipping some drinks. At weekends, there’s a house DJ, but space is limited, so don’t expect any over-expressive dance moves as there really isn’t any room for that kind of thing without danger of slipping into the pool.
Open daily, 7pm-1am. Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Hamdan Street (02 621 0000)
Coolest Bar!
Pearls & Caviar: If you have friends in town and they’re up for a party but only have time to visit one bar, you should make Pearls Bar your sole port of call. The terrace is decked out with plump white sofas, which are a perfect spot to chill around dusk and soak up the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Don’t expect the chilled vibes to last, though, as later on in the night a real party atmosphere kicks in.
Open daily, 5pm-2am. Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain (02 555 8888)
NRG: You’ve made the effort to get out to the pub to watch your team play and, inevitably, they’re getting thrashed. Don’t take out your rage on the opposing fans – instead, console yourself with a nice quiet drink on this sports bar’s terrace. There’s even a full-sized replica F1 car here, which might cheer you up a bit, unless you’ve been watching the motorsport and you’re favourite driver has just died.
Open daily, 4pm-1am. Le Méridien, Tourist Club Area (02 644 6666)
Oceans: The recent refurbishment of Oceans means that it now has a sparkling new interior. Don’t let this put you off hitting the terrace though, because, although the views over the adjacent towering office blocks are remarkably unspectacular, the ample seating and huge choice of shishas make for a fun night out. However, it can get very busy at weekends, so don’t expect a place on one of the sofas if you get here after 8pm.
Open, Sat-Wed noon-1.30am; Thu-Fri, noon-3.30pm. Le Royal Méridien, Al Markaziyah (02 674 2020)
PJ O’Reilly’s: PJ’s is a smoke-filled, noisy, rough-and-ready kind of place, but it’s exactly what people expect from an Irish pub, and hence is chock-a-block with punters enjoying the craic every weekend. If you’re up for a few Irish beverages without risking emphysema, there are plenty of outdoor seats both on the ground and first floors.
Open daily, noon-1am. Le Royal Méridien, Al Markaziyah (02 674 2020)
Poolbar: There are few bigger symbols of nouveau-riche ostentation than having an infinity pool in your back garden. If you can’t quite afford this ultimate status symbol yet, spend the day at the Shangri-La’s amenity then rock up to the poolside bar and at least live the dream until it’s time to return to your hovel.
Open daily, 9am-11pm. Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain (02 509 8888)
Poolside Bar: When it comes to five-star luxury, the gleaming new Fairmont Bab Al Bahr has it in spades, and its glamorous poolside bar is the kind of place where the well-to-do hang out to sip upscale drinks while showing off their jewellery.
Open daily, 10am-sunset. Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Bain Al Jessrain (02 654 3333)
Best for Views!
Relax@12: The sweeping panoramic vistas from Relax@12 over Abu Dhabi island are worth the visit alone. These views make for a great talking point on a first date, while the trendy decor and decent food menu means it’s perfect for a birthday party or a few cheeky drinks before a big night on the tiles.
Open daily, 5pm-2am. Aloft Abu Dhabi, Khaleej Al Arabi Street (02 654 5000)
Sho Cho: Sho Cho’s outdoor zone isn’t one of the biggest in the city by any means, but the ’80s soundtrack is good, cheesy fun. Nice enough views over Maqtaa Creek win location points, though we’ve had far better sushi elsewhere.
Open daily 12pm-2.45pm, 6pm-11.45pm, Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Bain Al Jessrain (02 558 1117)
Best to keep an eye on!
Skylite: At the time of going to press, this rooftop bar at Yas Hotel was still closed for refurbishment, but there’s no way a nightspot this good could remain under lock and key, and it will be reopening on October 21 –just in time for the swarms of motorsport fans jetting in for the F1. This giant bar looks to be all about comfy sofas, the amazing sci-fi inspired architecture of Yas Hotel and sweeping views over the racetrack.
Open daily, 6am-1pm. Yas Hotel, Yas Island (02 656 0000)
Stills Bar & Restaurant: Drag yourself away from the capital’s longest bar and head out to the covered outdoor terrace, which – if last year’s cooler months are anything to go by – won’t be short of a patron or two. With such a stretched bar, you’d expect an ample choice of beverages, and you won’t be disappointed. It also serves some of the best bar grub in the capital, should you be up for an alfresco pie.
Open daily, noon-1am. Crowne Plaza Yas Island (02 656 3000)
Best Alfresco Parties!
Sundowner: The Crowne Plaza’s pool bar is getting a reputation as one of Yas Island’s top party spots. During the week it’s a nicely chilled place to quietly work on your tan, but the regular weekend Space Ibiza parties, in which top DJs jet in from the White Isle to dish out some lessons in house music, are gaining a reputation as the hottest parties in the city.
Open daily, 10am-late. Crowne Plaza Yas Island (02 656 3000)
Best for Families!
The Village Club: This capacious outdoor eatery is all about being family friendly. Let your little angels go free on the trampolines and horse rides, while you puff a shisha and dig into the Lebanese-style buffet under the sun. That’s your weekend sorted then.
Open daily, 5pm-1.30pm. One to One Hotel, Al Nahyan Camp (02 495 2000)
Traders Beach Bar: Having been shut down for the summer, this sandy drinking spot has just reopened. Although the beach is only small, the Friday barbecue, serving up freshly charred meats and fish, is perhaps the main draw here.
Open daily, 10am-10pm. Traders Hotel, Bain Al Jessrain (02 509 8888)
Waves: For people living in Al Bateen, Waves is their own little secret drinking spot. Hopefully, they won’t mind us sharing it too much, as spending a day at the lounger-laden poolside bar will make your weekend feel like you’ve left the city for a holiday.
Open daily, 10am-11pm. Al Bateen Marina (02 665 0144)
Y Bar: Should you feel like you need to escape the wall-to-wall TV screens showing MTV Arabia in the brick-lined interior, Y Bar (pictured) has an adequately sized terrace. The views of Yas Plaza, which basically resembles a business park, aren’t the best in the capital, but it’s always fun to do a bit of luxury car spotting. Either way, the bar food is exceptional.
Open Sat-Wed, 12.30pm-3.30pm, 7pm-2.30am; Thu-Fri, 12.30pm-3.30pm, 9am-1am. Yas Island Rotana (02 656 4000)
Best for High Rollers!
Yacht Club: Since its opening, Yacht Club has set the benchmark for über-cool bars in the capital, and still comfortably keeps pace with the leading pack. Outside, you have a sofa-stuffed terrace which overlooks the hotel’s private marina, creating a real holiday vibe. A big night out here is so costly you can expect an angry phone call from your bank manager the following day, but you pay for what you get in this world.
Open Sat-Wed, 12.30pm-3.30pm, 7pm-1am; Thu-Fri, 7pm-2.30am. InterContinental, Al Bateen (02 666 6888)
31st Bar: A small alfresco terrace littered with comfy sofas and pot plants. What the place lacks in atmosphere and quality food, it makes up for in decent views over mid-town Abu Dhabi. If you live in Mushrif or Muroor it’s right on your doorstep, which means you don’t have to spend a fortune on a taxi to enjoy a few swift drinks.
Open daily, 7pm-1am. Holiday Inn, Muroor (02 657 4888)
Make a weekend of it
Step outside the confines of the city and you’ll find a few alfresco gems hidden behind sand dunes or on desert islands…
Al Shams: After spending a day on safari spotting the array of animal species that inhabits Sir Bani Yas Island, you’ll probably have a mouth as dry as a lizard’s belly. Best solution? Head to the hotel bar, grab one of the loungers overlooking the beautiful turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf and enjoy an icy drink while shuffling through the hundreds of photos you will have no doubt taken.
Open daily, 10am-9pm. Desert Islands Hotel & Resort, Sir Bani Yas Island (02 801 5400)
Eden Rock: With views across the Al Ain wastelands 4,000 feet below, this terrace bar/restaurant can’t fail to impress. The hotel itself is a little bit old-school, but if you’re looking for somewhere consistently cooler than anywhere else in the emirate (in a purely physical sense), then this is the bar for you. Just remember to take a pullover.
Open daily, 10am-11pm. Mercure Grand, Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain (03 783 8888)
Ghadeer: If you haven’t had the chance to visit the amazing Qasr Al Sarab Hotel in the Liwa Desert yet, you’re missing out on what is probably the country’s most tranquil retreat. When you get around to booking in, your first activity should be stripping down to your bathing costume, swimming up to this poolside bar, ordering a tipple and sitting back to take in the stunning views of the sweeping apricot-coloured sand dunes that stretch into the distance.
Open daily, 10am-9pm. Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort, Liwa Desert (02 886 2088)
Plastik: This beachside bar/club thrives on self-imposed exclusivity, but if you feel you warrant a place among the elite, this out-of-town haunt is the spot for you. It’s a fair trek from Abu Dhabi, but the lengthy journey doesn’t seem to dissuade the UAE’s beautiful people from regular weekend fashion-conscious parties.
Open Fri, noon-1am. Golden Tulip Al Jazira Hotel & Resort, Ghantoot (02 565 9100)
