DXB City Expert July/August 2019

THE NIGHTLIFE
THREE FOR THE WISH LIST
SO YOU CAN SAY YOU'VE BEEN THERE
Dubai is home to some truly iconic venues.
Here's a trio you can enjoy with a drink in hand
1. Despite often mistakenly referred
to as a seven-star hotel (five stars
are the classification maximum, we
think you'll find) there's no doubting
the pulling power of Burj Al Arab.
You don't have to stay here to get
a peek inside, but you do have to
book ahead for drinks at Gold on 27
(taxi: Burj Al Arab, +971 4 301 7600),
which, as the name suggests, takes a
sledgehammer to subtlety.
2. You don't have to try hard to imagine
what the QE2 (taxi: Mina Rashid, +971 4
526 8888) was like in her heyday, when
it ferried Britain's Queen Elizabeth II to
overseas engagements - purposefully,
the decor is pretty much unchanged.
No doubt a former favourite of the
Queen Mother's, the Gin Bar stocks 40
varieties of the spirit and is open daily
from 5-11pm. Elsewhere onboard, The
Golden Lion is an old-school pub.
3. No must-do list for your holiday in
Dubai would be complete without
a mention of At.mosphere (taxi:
Burj Khalifa, +971 4 888 3828) in
the world’s tallest tower. You’re so
high up here (122 floors) that you’ll
almost think you’re seeing the earth’s
curvature. With such a spectacular
view you almost forget that the plush
interior is matched by some seriously
good (and seriously pricey) drinks.
a daily sundown ritual involving the
bar staff and a whole lot of smoke
– we'll leave you to discover it.
So photogenic you’ll feel like you’re
in a magazine shoot, the Jetty Lounge
(taxi: One&Only Royal Mirage, +971 4
399 9999) rocks white linen style and
beanbags aside the shimmering
sea. Open daily from 2pm-2am.
Moving downtown, Treehouse (taxi:
Taj Dubai, +971 4 438 3100) is known for
its views of the city skyline towards Burj
Khalifa. Make yourself comfortable as
this open-air lounge comes to life afterdark,
with house music spun by resident
DJ Taylor. It’s open from 6pm-2am on
weekdays and 6pm-3am at weekends.
Heading further downtown,
Cielo Sky Lounge (taxi: Dubai Creek
Golf & Yacht Club, +971 4 416 1800)
offers uninterrupted views of the
Creek, offering a glimpse at Dubai’s
rich history as a trading port.
BEST LADIES’ NIGHTS
Ladies’ nights show no sign of waning
in popularity in Dubai. Who knew
handing out free beverages to half the
population would prove to be such
a good idea? You can bar hop over
multiple levels at Dubai Marina’s Pier 7,
and on ladies’ night Asia Asia (taxi: Pier
7, +971 4 276 5900) is a great place to
begin your journey. The views are great,
the vibe leans towards classy but still
fun, and every Tue from 8pm you’ll get
three drinks just for not being a man.
Another dress to impress affair, with
nary a natural eyelash in sight, takes
place every Tue from 7pm-1am at STK
Downtown (taxi: Address Downtown,
+971 4 425 3948). The renowned
steakhouse offers up its fine cuts as part
of two or three course menus, yours for
Dhs199 and Dhs239 respectively, along
with three free drinks. Be prepared to
kick off your heels for a bit of a boogie.
You'll also feel the urge to hit the
floor at Japanese hotspot Ramusake
(taxi: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
Dubai, +971 4 559 5300), where the
atmosphere gets cranked up to
party mode as the night grows ever
younger. You get free drinks all night,
but there's a minimum spend of
Dhs100 per person to book a table.
Another Japanese joint worth a few
of your holiday dirhams is Morimoto
Dubai (taxi: Renaissance Downtown
Hotel, +971 4 512 5577), where Kira
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