BahriBarBazzarBar44BaristiBuddhaBar

With my friends visiting for the week it gave me a perfect excuse to go and check out some of the more swanky hang outs in Dubai and also a chance for the UK lads to escape Wetherspoons.

So a little thumbnail of each of the ones we went to:

Barasti

Located on the grounds of the Le Meridien - Mina Seyahi is Baristi. A nice open air bar where one can have drinks in front of multi-million dollar Sun Seekers and watch them construct the Palm Jumeriah. When I visited, one of said yachts was having a rather large private party with a powerful sound system and a better choice of music than Baristi. Oh..how the other half live....

As an aside - the original Baristi is is currently under renovation. Having had a peek through the hoardings, looks like it will be a great venue once complete.

Buddha Bar

Attached to the Grosvenor House hotel and one of the "coolest" places to hang out in Dubai - if you are rich and beautiful. Sadly me and my mates don't fit into either of these categories but it was kind of fun looking. The Buddha Bar is visually an impressive venue with a large restaurant, a terrace, a mezzanine level and numerous nooks and crannies to share an intimate drink - or to simply hang out looking cool.

Not somewhere I would go regularly but still good to have experienced it.

Bar 44

Occupying the majority of the 44th floor of the Grosvenor House is Bar 44. Here you can get a table offering fantastic views across either the Marina, Jumeriah Palm or the Sheik Zayed Road. It was one of the few places (other than Vue Bar) that offers views to rival that of Las Vegas. The ambiance in this venue is cool and relaxed - if you don't choke on the astronomical price of the extensive champagne list. A classic cocktail or two was plenty enough to enjoy Bar 44.

Bazzar

Located within the maze of the Medinat souk is the cookie cutter Baz Zar - with its highlight being a nice outside terrace that blends into the Amphitheater. With the a wide variety of places to drink within the Medinat - this place seemed as good as any of the others.

Barhi Bar

Sat in the Mina A'Salam is the Barhi Bar. When we visited, female vocals entertained the crowded bar interior. Whilst on the terrace we enjoyed simply breath taking views of the Burj Al Arab:



A very nice place to spend a relaxed evening with friends - sadly the classic Margarita was a little pricey at 95AED!

It was certainly fun to visit a smorgasboard of bars in Dubai and from glancing in Whats On or Timeout is certainly only the tip of the Dubai's nightlife. I think I will need more research into this area...