10 to try: Oud Metha

Time Out selects its favourite bars in Oud Metha 1 Comments

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Crossroads: Swish cocktails in cool surroundings at Raffles Dubai. As with most of Dubai’s best experiences, cocktails at Crossroads come at a price but the attentive service and expertly-mixed tipples make the extra dirhams worth it.

Vintage: A wine lovers dream this time at Wafi Pyramids. Follow the smell of cheese fondue and pull up a stool for an evening of vino-themed fun. It’s not ideal for big groups as space is at a premium but for a quiet drink with a friend or a romantic evening, it’s perfect.

Plan B: More of a nightclub than a bar but still great for a drink if a lively venue is on the cards. Check your shame at the door and strap on your dancing shoes if you arrive past midnight, there is seating but it’s in short supply unless you make it to the hallowed heights of the upstairs VIP area.

Chi @ The Lodge: One of Dubai’s biggest clubs but also a trendy bar earlier in the evening. Sit outside in the cooler months in relative quiet pre the club crowds or park yourselves inside for a more intimate gathering. Drinks promotions earlier on make this a good place to try if you’re trying to save some dirhams.

New Asia Club: Raffle’s contribution to the world of Dubai clubbing is as overpriced as you would expect but it’s a good place to try for those in need of a change of scene. Themed nights and occasional drinks promotions cut the costs and the atmosphere justifies most of the extra you’ll spend on an evening here.

Carter’s: Cheap and cheerful pub grub and drinks in Wafi and slap bang in the middle of a host of other bars and restaurants if you feel the need of a change of scene. Live music and resident DJs mean that the atmosphere has potential to get lively, though it has long since moved on from the position of one of Dubai’s premier party spots.

Sevilles: Tapas joint with live music and weekly salsa as well as a pretty outdoor terrace. Try the Sangria if you’re feeling traditional although the decidedly fish-light shell-heavy paella is not to be recommended if you plan for a long night of flamenco.

Jimmy Dix: Cast from the same no-frills mould as the Rock Bottom Café, Jimmy Dix attracts an up-for-it throng, out to drink themselves silly. Although the poorly-ventilated scarlet interior gives the impression that one is trapped in the lung of a chain smoker, the decent cover band and resident DJ can whip up an (admittedly subdued) storm with their airings of old school pop, rock and lightweight dance. Jimmy Dix is also worth a visit for the intermittently excellent Laughter Factory comedy nights, which are held monthly.

Ginseng: Reasonably-priced cocktails and cool surroundings, not to mention some pretty tasty bar snacks, make this one of the nicest, but underused, venues in town. Definitely worth a trip.

Mix: Not the most popular bar in town, and best-known for its club status, but worth a visit purely to admire the sheer size and enjoy the occasional promotions. Call ahead to find out what’s going on as the line-up changes quite regularly.