|
|
|
Nightlife
Drinking a pint of beer could land you in prison in some parts of the Middle East, however, in Dubai, alcohol is tolerated, with non-Muslims allowed to imbibe alcohol in the city's bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels Indeed, it is easy to forget all about the local attitudes to alcohol when on a wild night out in a city whose nightlife is increasingly nefarious. Although non-Muslims are the only people officially allowed to drink, often you can find Dubai Arabs enjoying a pint in one of the many bars.
There are no specific nightlife districts as many of the best bars are in the big tourist hotels, which are situated throughout the city. Many of these are open until 0100 or 0200. A cheaper and livelier option is the independent bars that are dotted around town. Happy hours are common, with Thursday and Saturday the biggest nights for going out. Tuesdays and Sundays are often ‘Ladies Night’, with female revellers receiving free drinks. A beer is generally in the region of Dh15-20. The legal drinking age is 21. Licensing hours vary greatly, as many of the hotel bars are allowed to open and close whenever they want. Closing time is normally around 0100 or 0200.
The club scene is a curious one, with nightclubs often delineated along ethnic and national lines. Increasingly, big name DJs are being attracted to Dubai, as a Western-style clubbing scene starts to develop. By law, clubs must close at 0300. Many clubs are over-25 only. Dress codes for bars are generally relaxed, although some bars and all clubs insist on no jeans, trainers or sandals. A more mellow night out can be had at one of Dubai’s coffee houses, where you can smoke apple-flavoured tobacco from a shisha pipe.
The monthly listing magazine, Time Out (www.timeout.com), can be found in many hotels, offering a full rundown of what is happening at night in Dubai. Hotel concierges are also often able to provide guests with the latest nightlife information.
Bars: One of the oldest ex-pat bars, The Irish Village, Aviation Club, off Al-Garhoud Road, is still going strong, with a good range of beers and an outdoor seating area. It faces stiff competition from more recent arrivals, such as Carter’s, The Pyramids, Wafi Centre, a stylish haunt of the 20- and 30-something brigade. Monday night happy hour is something of a local institution, with all cocktails priced at Dh10. Even more stylish is the minimalist Ginseng, Wafi City, with its mood lighting, Asian themed decor and first-rate cocktails. The lowest common denominator is catered for at Rock Bottom, Regent Place Hotel, Bur Dubai, a rowdy drinking den with three pool tables, live music and a dancefloor. A new favourite of Dubai’s ‘beautiful people’ is the swish Sho Cho, Dubai Marina Resort, Jumeirah Beach Road, a bar cum restaurant with a real buzz, live DJs, great cocktails and an outdoor jetty for special parties. The Fatafeet Caf, Alseef Road, has good views of Dubai Creek and is an atmospheric coffee house in which to try a traditional shisha.
Casinos: Dubai adheres to the Muslim ban on gambling and there are no casinos in Dubai.
Clubs: The most popular nightclub in Dubai, housed in the most genuine London-style club venue, is Planetarium, Planet Hollywood, Wafi City. Since the closure of the legendary Lodge, this has been the main venue for clubbers to head for. It also recently celebrated its third birthday. Planetarium is the most likely place in town to attract the big-name international DJs. Scream, Ramada Hotel, Al-Mankhool Road, is a warehouse-type venue that blasts out the latest techno to an appreciative crowd. Pancho Villa’s, Astoria Hotel, Al-Nahda Street, has become a bit of an institution on the Dubai club scene, with a mainstream choice of music, a restaurant and frequent live bands. Amnesia, Dubai Park Hotel, Sheik Zayed Road, is becoming more and more popular, especially with its 'Ladies Night' on Thursday.
Live music: Planet Hollywood, Wafi Pyramids, off Al-Qataiyat Road, is a reliable option, with an eclectic selection of mediocre to good bands and covers outfits. Bordertown, Al-Rolla Road, is a Mexican theme bar that stages live bands most nights of the week. The current en vogue music in Dubai is retro throwbacks to the 1970s and 1980s, with stars that are considered washed up in the rest of the world – such as the Human League, Kajagoogoo and Kim Wilde – regularly trooping into Dubai. The Irish Village, Aviation Club, off Al Garhoud Road, also hosts many live acts.
|
|
Nightlife