The well-traveled frequently choke on their Dom Pérignon when they inquire about Dubai expats' adjustment to life without bars. World-class bars and discreet drinking establishments abound in Dubai. 'Hops' refers to lager, beer, or ale; 'grape' refers to wine; 'bubbly' refers to prosecco or champagne; and 'cocktails' is short for mixed drinks in consideration of cultural sensitivity. Discover the code to open the door to the best nightlife in the area.
On "ladies' nights," a selection of drinks are free for women, and happy hours are ecstatic, frequently cutting Dubai's exorbitant alcohol tariffs in half. Join in the fun at the top bars in Dubai, or sit back and contemplate the setting sun on the sand at one of the most tranquil spots in the emirate.
See our guides to the best Dubai hotels, restaurants, shops, activities, and family-friendly activities for more travel ideas.
Dubai Marina
Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar
The bars that Grosvenor House Dubai makes are excellent. Start in the Siddharta Lounge, which bears the name of Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) and is a descendant of the hotel's well-known Buddha-Bar. It is furnished with enough Buddha busts to fill a Habitat. If it weren't so elegant, it may come off as cliched. Two outdoor decks with sofas, bar stools, and bleacher-style seating, one facing the city and the other the sea, are reached by elevator after passing through golden ropes guarded by a black-tie doorman. In between the two decks is an inside restaurant. The vast beverages menu includes a reference to its various specialty sakes, and balearic beats fit the mood.
Contact: siddhartalounge.com
Nearest metro: Dubai Marina
Getting in: Reservations recommended
The Jetty Lounge
One&Only Royal Mirage's jetty is framed by Islamic archways, and its deck is dotted with guiding lights that point towards the Arabian Gulf. With advance notice, you may take a boat from here to sister resort One&Only The Palm, where the 101 Lounge will vie for your attention as it is tastefully perched over the lake. But first, get lost in The Jetty Lounge's five premium champagnes, maze of white cube furniture strewn across decking and sand, and soothing chill-out music. Additionally, the selection of soft drinks is impressively diverse, including smoothies, shakes, iced teas, and freshly made lemonades.
Contact: oneandonlyresorts.com
Nearest metro: Palm Monorail Gateway Station
Getting in: Reservations required
Jumeirah Beach Residences
Lock, Stock & Barrel, JBR The Walk
This sports and entertainment bar may be the most Instagram-friendly in Dubai because to its industrial American aesthetic and walls made of recycled audio speakers and cell phones. Live bands and large-screen sporting events are featured by LS&B. While the late-night weekend sessions feature DJs spinning chart-toppers and club classics, the acoustic sessions are laid-back. Other entertainment options include pub food, pool tables for rent, and occasionally wrestling matches in inflated sumo suits, but probably the biggest draw is the low beverages, with daily happy hours from 4 to 8 p.m. and free drinks for women on Tuesdays.
Contact: lsbdubai.com/jbr
Nearest metro: Dubai Marina
Getting in: Reservations recommended; must be 21 or above with valid ID required on entry
Bla Bla
For those seeking more excitement than the typical stair drop, Bla Bla is bursting at the seams with 20 themed bars spread over purpose-built rooms. The bars are connected by a metal tube slide that descends from the top floor to the ground. The complex includes a beach club with an outdoor bar and restaurant as well as The Backroom, a speakeasy with live music, The Tent, a 22,000-square-foot auditorium and The Rooftop with views of Ain Dubai. Drink a beer at The Garrison, a pub modelled after the one in Peaky Blinders, take a tequila shot at the Mexican Bar, or celebrate with champagne at Bubbles Bar while drinking a Bronx Martini (passion fruit syrup, vanilla syrup and lemon juice) from a glass with an Empire State Building-shaped stem.
Contact: blabladubai.ae
Nearest metro: Dubai Marina
Getting in: Must be 21 or above
Jumeirah
The Bulgari Bar
You can work up an appetite at Dubai's most upscale bar, which shares space with the two-Michelin-starred Il Ristorante - Niko Romito. However, in true Italian fashion, you'll probably be too full from the cicchetti, the small plates served with aperitivo, to even consider dinner. Offerings include 'bombs' of pulled veal, mustard, wild herbs, and capers, focaccia with burrata and Cantabric sea anchovies, and red prawns carpaccio with garlic, chilli, lime, and extra-virgin olive oil. There are Instagram-worthy concoctions alongside traditional drinks like the negroni, such the vodka-based lychee and jasmine cocktail with rose water and grapefruit sorbet.
Contact: bulgarihotels.com
Getting in: Free entry; dress code is smart-casual
The Rooftop at Folly
The expats in Dubai like to keep this pub a mystery. Nick Alvis and Scott Price's restaurant, Folly, is tucked away in the Madinat Jumeirah resort above. It is not the kind of spot that people randomly find. Views of the medina-like Madinat Jumeirah that snakes through canals and ferries visitors in classic wooden boats beneath the iconic Burj Al Arab may be seen from The Rooftop. Deep house music is played by a resident DJ as the welcoming bar staff mixes speciality drinks. For fresh ginger mixed with fennel seed syrup and whisky, get the Ginger Sour; it costs AED 55 (£11.85) and is well worth it.
Contact: folly.ae
Getting in: Free entry; dress code is smart-casual
Al Satwa
Level 43 Sky Lounge
With its gentle ultraviolet lighting and Café del Mar-inspired music, Level 43 offers a respite from Dubai's urban jungle of mirrored skyscrapers, commanding signs, and street lights. It serves traditional drinks like Singapore Slings along with lighter fare like sashimi and maki rolls and heartier main dishes without the pretence found in comparable sky bars. One of the city's best vantage points for neon-streaked nighttime photos of the busy Sheikh Zayed Road is from this open rooftop bar, which is popular with aspiring photographers. If you want to bring a tripod, be sure to let the staff know in advance.
Contact: level43lounge.com
Nearest metro: Financial Centre
Getting in: Reservations are only accepted Sat-Mon and Wed; must be 21 or above; dress code is smart-casual
Business Bay
Weslodge Saloon
In this Canadian bar and restaurant that combines 19th century portraiture with wall-mounted antler-topped animal skulls to create an Americana-Victoriana setting, bearded bartenders perform cocktail-spinning stunts with colourfully inked arms. The playlist alternates between obscure rock bands from Oregon and British stalwarts like The Smiths and Radiohead. Late-weekend sessions are hosted by à la mode DJs, frequently flown in from outside, such Hoxton Radio regulars Orange Soda. Strong beverages like the mouthwatering Snickers Old Fashioned and the smoky Tobacco Manhattan will wash down a dinner of lobster poutine and southern fried chicken.
Contact: weslodge.ae
Nearest metro: Business Bay
Getting in: Reservations recommended, dress code is smart-casual
DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)
Zuma Dubai
Occupying the first floor above Rainer Becker’s restaurant, Zuma Dubai’s bar is consistently winning accolades. In 2021, it ranked at number 17 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. With expertly crafted cocktails, among them the Japanese Old Fashioned made with Zuma’s secret bitter, and above-par bar snacks (the salmon and tuna tartare with Sevruga caviar is sublime), it’s busy most nights. DIFC’s post-work crowd can afford the bar tab and big spenders attract beautiful people. It’s a winning formula with local DJs spinning dance tracks.
Contact: zumarestaurant.com
Nearest metro: Emirates Towers
Getting in: Reservations essential; dress code is smart
Luna Dubai
The rooftop lounge Luna Dubai, which Adam Tihany, a hospitality designer based in New York, created, makes the most of Dubai's stunning skyline. It is conveniently situated minutes from many of Dubai's most upscale restaurants and is perched atop the Four Seasons DIFC, making it a favourite destination for aperitifs. Drinks like the Smoked Whisky Negroni testament to the expertise of the on-site mixologists. If you want to eat, the main dishes range from £60 Kobe burgers to £325 Kobe striploins, while upscale bar snacks and appetisers include 30g tins of osetra and beluga caviar and black cod croquettes with aji aioli and lime zest.
Contact: fourseasons.com
Nearest metro: Emirates Towers
Getting in: Smart dress required
