Republique

Dress to impress at latest venue on the nightlife scene 11 Reviews

© ITP Images

This new kid on the nightlife scene specialises in tunes from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s; when we first heard about it, we placed it firmly in our ‘top fun’ category. Once you’ve navigated the cryptic entry, which has you driving through The Dubai Mall car park, you’ll be greeted by a disco ball, a drinks menu that mostly sells by the bottle, a gorgeous (mostly Lebanese) crowd and cheesy tunes. The venue caters for a more relaxed bar crowd on weekdays, before ramping up the volume (and the nightclub vibe) at weekends.

On our first visit at 8pm one Thursday evening, we ventured to the club’s upstairs bar area, hoping for after-work nibbles and beverages. The website had said Republique was open from 6pm and served food, yet we arrived to an empty space, the waiters confused by our presence, saying food wasn’t on offer. Slightly annoyed, we headed to The Address Dubai Mall’s restaurant to fill up, only to be turned away when we returned to the club at 11.30pm because it was too full. Grr.

When we finally managed to visit the following Thursday (we made sure to dress to impress), we found the club lively, the interiors suitably irreverent, the tunes addictive and the crowd intimidatingly gorgeous – it’s just a shame it was such a long journey to get there.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 19 July 2011

• Previous reviews
  • 01 July,2011- reviewed by Holly Sands

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Time Out reviews bars anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: Lizzi on 28 Mar ' 12 at 06:54

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Best for: DJ
• Would you go back to this bar/club? Yes

Absolutely love this club. Heard it was one to watch and it certainly is! Went last weekend, and it was one of my favourite nights in Dubai. People are dressed to impress, music is great, the overall vibe of the club is electric, but at the same time laid back and not pretentious.
Music at the beginning was old skool, but cool old skool; Forgotten gems that were brought back to life, with mixing and fading. Then the DJ started to play the new commercial tracks.
I think this club is going to be come my regular now! Fact!!c Already booked the tabel for the weekend ;)

Posted by: Randa Jurdi on 21 Feb ' 12 at 04:19

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Would you go back to this bar/club? Yes

Republique is one of my favorite clubs in Dubai, without a doubt. It breaks the mold when it comes to the typical Dubai pretentious seedy nightclub, while still having a top-notch crowd and music that will keep you on your feet till 3am. Quite simply, its real fun rather than fake fun.

Posted by: amber g on 15 Feb ' 12 at 12:12

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Best for: DJ
• Would you go back to this bar/club? Yes

This was an awesome club... I walked inside and did my usual scope out.. it was good i liked the vibe then the Dj hit the decks and it was absolutely awesome. 10/10, if you havent been you absolutely must!

Posted by: Bassem on 12 Feb ' 12 at 20:00

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Best for: DJ
• Would you go back to this bar/club? Yes

If you want to listen to great music and have a proper fun night out then Republique is the place to be. Non of the silly pretentious stuff that you see around most clubs in Dubai.

A good place, good people, and good music!

Posted by: Ziad Kamel on 12 Feb ' 12 at 11:10

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Best for: DJ
• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

One of my favorite parties in Dubai! The music is tasteful and makes your body move. The people freely mingle and dance the whole night. Great place to meet some of the nicest people Dubai has to offer :-)
Gonna head there again next time i'm in Dubai

Posted by: Abby on 11 Feb ' 12 at 17:50

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Best for: DJ
• Would you go back to this bar/club? Yes

Im a regular at Republique because it sets itself apart from the mass of pretentious clubs around Dubai and there's always a good crowd of people looking to have a good time.

I LOVE the music there, my girlfriends and I can be found there most nights dancing till closing (especially on ladies night!) instead of swaying back and forth with drink in hand to house music like the 90% of clubs in Dubai.

Cant fault the service, the staff are always lovely and Ive never had to wait long for a drink at the upstairs or downstairs bar.

The atmosphere alone is one of the reasons I'm always going back, its always busy with people singing and dancing to 80s, 90s, bit of indie and a bit of current.

This place is a gem.

Posted by: Samee H. on 11 Feb ' 12 at 17:35

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Best for: DJ
• Would you go back to this bar/club? Yes

Im not a fan of nightclubs in Dubai to be very honest but there's something different about this place. The DJ is awesome, plays some of the sickest tunes. I love the decoration and those flags hanging from the ceiling..especially the RHCP one.
The crowd is so down to earth. There's none of that sparklers look at me i got a bottle kind of attitude. People actually go there to drink and dance, not stare at each other all night like zombies. Which is so refreshing to see for once around here. My fav night's a Friday!

Posted by: Lizzi. S on 09 Jan ' 12 at 06:27

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Best for: DJ
• Would you go back to this bar/club? Yes

Edited by TimeOutDubai.com

This is one of my favourite clubs in Dubai. The music is eclectic- they contantly mix things by playing music you wouldn't necessarily hear at your generic Dubai club, but you want to hear again. I went on a Friday and it was crazy busy, but the service was really good. Dj was playing some old skool stuff at the beginning but soon started playing all the commercial hits. LOVED it. Definitely going again! Republique

Posted by: Samer Hamadeh on 03 Jan ' 12 at 17:09

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Best for: DJ
• Would you go back to this bar/club? Yes

Republique's DJs are some of the best in town. If you want to feel like you are in London or Beirut, this is one of maybe two places that let you feel you are outside of Dubai- no fireworks every time someone orders a bottle of champagne and definitely not pretentious attitude.

If you care about music and good service and a high end club + a very fun, easy going crowd, this is your best choice in Dubai for sure.

Posted by: Joey on 03 Jan ' 12 at 17:05

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Best for: DJ
• Would you go back to this bar/club? Yes

Republique has become my favorite club in Dubai FOR SURE. While I think they took a risk playing 80s and 90s on thursday its crazy busy so obviously some people LOVE it. Personally I prefer fridays because they play mostly new music but NO house- which is great because every other club plays the same music and its the same crowd.

These guys dont have the champagne with the fireworks which is amazing because I cannot think if a more overdone thing on earth!!

Republique is the one place i KNOW for a fact I will have a good time with no pretentious people at all no matter what night i go.

Posted by: Marta on 04 Dec ' 11 at 21:21

OverallDecorService

MusicAmbience

• Best for: Live music
• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

The place is great, the crowd is young and mostly western and then arabs. the ambiance was good but the music was terrible. The tunes are 70's, 80's and 90's but nothing I would imagine hearing in a club. didn't like it at all. However the place is really nice and well crowded.