In the case of many of Dubai’s bars, your wander to the bar involves mooching through a mood-killing shiny mall or outdated hotel reception bleating brain-melting muzak. However, the route to Vista at the new Festival City Intercontinental is so awe-inspiringly good you may want to strut up and down it a few times as though it were a runway. The grand, high-ceilinged entrance, flooded with light from the full-length windows during the day, is on a par with the Kempinski when it comes to lobby scores (Yes, we subconsciously compare hotel receptions. How ‘Dubai’ is that?).

And if you liked the reception – you may well become a little overcome once you reach your final destination. Vista is divided into three distinct areas. Round the first corner and you hit the piano bar, where a tuxedoed tinkler taps the ebonies and ivories, droopy chandeliers sparkle and couples rekindle romances or start something special around the cosy tables.

Carry on further and you hit the sort of clean, sharp cocktail bar Ian Schrager (the man behind some of London’s front-running hotel bars) would be far from ashamed of. The modern, minimalist space is truly set off, however, by the view outside. The third and final area of the bar is a wooden outdoor terrace where you can fully inhale the stunning setting properly. There you can gaze out over the Creek, sandwiched between the new Festival City Marina and the ever-soaring Sheikh Zayed skyline, cool cocktail in hand.

Indeed, Vista, is certainly so-called for a reason. Just like its sister bars at Intercontinentals across the world, its view has been snapped and is showcased in a series of spectacular photographs in the menu (for us it’s a close call between Bora Bora, Sydney and, of course, Dubai for the top look-out spot).