Bidi Bondi

The Aussie-themed sports bar fills a much-needed spot on The Palm 21 Reviews

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This Aussie-themed sports bar finally makes the Palm’s social scene worth shouting about. Although hard to find on the beachside of the Shoreline apartments, once you’re there, you’ll feel like you’ve really arrived. The light, airy bar looks out onto a sun-dappled terrace that in turn gives way to a pool, landscaped gardens and a beach. The stunning setting has already attracted the surfy chic set. The food’s also good – the same company that launched Après and Left Bank is in charge, so it hasn’t suffered from the same teething problems that many new start-ups face. In fact our only real reservation is that a Friday afternoon visit can induce a severe dose of lifestyle envy.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 13 November 2008

• Previous reviews
  • 25 August,2010- reviewed by Holly Sands
  • 13 January,2009- reviewed by Daisy Carrington

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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.

Posted by: Quizmaster Steve on 05 Aug ' 10 at 13:57

I was pleasantly surprised by the Bidi Bondi having read some negative comments on here. I thought it was a very friendly place with some excellent bar food, good staff and an excellent quiz night. I'd like to think I know a thing or two about about those having set a quite few in my time and also being a serial TV quiz show offender. I didn't win it though. Nonetheless, the questions were very interesting and varied and my runner-up prize of AED 200 off the bar bill was not to be sniffed at.. AED 400 for the winners was really generous particularly as the quiz was free to enter. A top pub quiz!
The free WiFi kept my teenaged son happy (we didn't google, honestly!) although I was less impressed with the selection of fizzy draught beers. Is this an Aussie thing? I stuck with some pricey canned Guinness.
I'd definitely recommend this place. It was certainly buzzing on the night my son and I visited.

Posted by: jf on 23 Jun ' 10 at 21:12

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• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

During the World Cup, don't bring your horn as the rule is NO Horns. No getting excited and standing on you chair if you team wins, and make sure you down you drink quickly once the game is over!! If not, the bouncer's will be over immediately! There are other better World Cup venues where you are actually allowed to get excited about the game!

Posted by: Eddy Markiewicz on 25 May ' 10 at 12:34

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

After a friend mentioned we should try the quiz at Bidi Bondi I decided that I would first check out the reviews. So, after reading that 90% of reviewers slated the service, we weren't expecting much, however; the service was excellent last night, it was friendly, courteous, efficient & quick. Our food and drinks arrived quite soon after placing our orders. The venue is great, especially as the smokers have to smoke outside, (unlike many places in Dubai where the non-smokers suffer), the atmosphere was great and very friendly. Our only gripe was the music......it was too loud and we had to shout to hear ourselves. We'll certainly be going back.

Posted by: Tan.T on 24 May ' 10 at 10:34

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

I agree with Sherry, I love Bidi Bondi and we’ve been there many times with my hubby, friends and visitors. When it comes to sport’s bar, I always recommend either Barasti or Bidi Bondi only. Bidi is a real relaxed and least pretentious place around Dubai. Staffs are okay, customers are sometimes rude and spoiled esp if they are drunk! Bidi is a place for those who simple want to enjoy the night and not to show off! Yes, this is not a 5 star hotel so please stop expecting too much.
I love this place and in fact we are (8 of us) heading tonight to Bidi Bondi for some pint of beer, fish & chips and catch some footy action on TV!!!!

Posted by: Sherri on 23 May ' 10 at 08:50

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

I am really amazed as some of these reviews. In fact so amazed, it has forced me to put one up myself.

I have been there many (many) times with my husband and friends and others times with large groups of friends.

This is a sports bar, it isn't trying to be a 5* restaurant/lounge. I think the staff do a great job, especially as the night rolls on and its full and the customers can get a bit gobby.. ;-) No-one is perfect and sometimes people do have bad days, but for me, I have never experienced anything that would make me type a review like some of the reviews on here.

I have seen 3 different types of crowds at Bidi, the very loyal locals/regulars, the out of towners (ie those from other parts of Dubai Lol) and travellers. All have a good time!

Bidi's would have to be the least pretentious place in Dubai, very relaxed and chilled, which is exactly what you want. Chris, Johnny and the team are well connected to the regulars and really do make you feel at home.

I will be back, again and again!!! ;-)

Posted by: oleo on 16 May ' 10 at 00:12

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• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

Whats up with the owners of Bidi Bondi? It seems to be getting worse and worse despite former regulars making heaps of helpful suggestions, Its in an absolutely amazing setting, very chilled & llaid back but service has deteriorated since its opening to an all time low for anywhere in the world, Waiters have to be chased or worse still most of our food & drink order was DIY despite the cost of the fare.Even cutlery had to be begged for.

On a quick revisit last night to see if anything had improved in what could be a marvellous regular pitstop & place to take dUBAI visitors to, it hadn't.,

Needs better management team & properly trained staff. .

Posted by: Michael on 26 Apr ' 10 at 04:54

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• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

I've been to Bidi's a few times now with mates to watch matches, etc and the service was always slow but generally looked on this being because of the large numbers and loads of people ordering at once. A few week ago, went in there on a Friday after noon, sat out side with 2 mates for a few drinks and food and I can honestly say, it was the worst service Ive had anywhere (enough to make me write here in Timeout). There were 4-5 waiting staff floating around the area with nearly as many customers and waiting seemed to be all they were doing as they didnt come near us (you nearly needed a white flag to wave at the staff to beg for service). Food took an age to arrive and cold when it did (without cutlery so an added wait). It could take approx 15mins or more if you ordered a drink to arrive and asked for the bill on 4 occassions from 3 different members of staff who all said they would be with us shortly and eventually had to pay inside ourselves 30mins later. I have read other reviews of the bar and used to think they were getting undeserved bad press, but now Im in 100% agreement.

Posted by: mike j ; Barsha on 10 Apr ' 10 at 09:57

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• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

just visited bidi bondi;bought the entertainerbook and got the vouchers,lets try bondi,supposed to be okay;well bar ok for sports,the food that we purchased was okay;.
service however was shocking,no control on how the staff are supposed to carry out there duties,they had plenty on but it was not that busy;
first one took drink order;and disapeared,i got from bar myself,second eventually took food order, then supervisor said no fish left,ok give me burger,then we got a nice member of staff with our food;odered another drink were five feet from barservice area we then noticed poor waitress walking back and four with our drinks;
absolute shambles with the staff;okay we had a voucher but you should still expect decent service;
wont be back;and as for remaining vouchers binned;would not recommend to anyone.sorry but truths hurt;

Posted by: Kathryn on 28 Feb ' 10 at 11:46

The pub quiz on Monday night is good fun. The food is good; a bit beyond standard pub grub, and satisfying. But believe the hype about the service - it's poor, although the servers are friendly. Food and drink arrive quickly enough when ordered, but it's difficult to get a server over to you - even when the bar is empty there are loads of them milling about, but seemingly oblivious to the presence of patrons.

Posted by: Andy on 14 Feb ' 10 at 12:20

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• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

Far from a sports or even a good bar. Myself and a friend wanted to watch a FA cup game then the rugby, which we knew were on Al Jazeera sports. Knowing not every bar has Al Jazeera we phoned ahead and were promised they would be showing the games. Outside there was even a board advertsing all 6 Nations games.

We ordered round of drinks and had to wait 15 minutes for them, it wasn't even particularly busy. Then when we asked for the television to be changed from Showtime, the manager hesitated and proceeded to go through every channel one by one. At that point we knew they didn't have the subscription to Al Jazeera and just left.

A good sports bar knows the days sporting events and has the relevant subscriptions to the channels showing them. It's not enough to just have Show sports on a constant loop and call yourself a sports bar.

In summary this bar would be adequate if you lived on the Palm and wanted a drink nearby. As a destination bar, I would avoid completely.

Posted by: Kate on 20 Oct ' 09 at 05:06

Firstly lets remember this a pub, it is great for an afternoon beer or a casual evening catch up and to be honest I have never had any trouble with the service. I have only ever ordered a burger and thought it was fine and not overpriced. I just wanted to make a few comments about visitors complaining about pool access. Why would visiting a pub give you access to a residential pool complex ? Can you also see the risk of allowing a pub full of potentially drunk people into a pool where poeple who live there swim with their children. All the hotels in this town have pools however you don't expect to be able to swim in them just beacuse you eat at one of the restaurants. Residents pay money to live on The Palm, and like any residential pool complex non-residents don't swim in the pools

Posted by: Antonio Soares on 09 Sep ' 09 at 11:26

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

Bidi Bondi is a sports bar and with that in mind don't expect restaurant service/food etc.

Pool access is denied because that pool is only available to residents - if not a resident - swim at your own pool!!

Posted by: Gary on 17 Aug ' 09 at 11:57

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• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

Such potential...such confusion. Where is it? Al Mankhal Beach club..but no access to Beach or Pool. Outside area has hard wood black seats !! fenced off from Pool. Dark interior. Elevator music. Champions League Football , only 1 Aussie beer, Surfboard but no Surf posters. Staff in NZ All Black. Bar food at 4star prices. Table water at twice the price elsewhere. (mis ) run by ELR who need a Manager to realise the potential of this LLLocation. Sad Sports Bar

Posted by: Mandy on 12 Jun ' 09 at 10:59

I'm an Aussie who hasn't been to Bidi Bondi but was planning to go today, because my husband went and he said so many good things about this place, including that you could swim in the pool. But now the message is clearly that the pool AND and the service is worse, I think I'll take our group of 10+ people elsewhere!!! We've been trying to contact the bar to confirm/deny the pool access issue, but they've clearly taken the phone off the hook. Guess this place really stinks for service... No thanks, won't be going and will be telling all my friends to stay away from it!!!!

Posted by: pedro on 27 Apr ' 09 at 08:57

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

Great setting with all the trimmings of what you would expect for a club on the palm jumeriah. Yes i agree with the other readers on the service problem as it is poor even at their best. There seems is no coordination between the staff on what they are doing with regards to food orders, clearing and catering for drinks. On a positive note i think the food is good with a slightly high price tag but the fish and chips is the best around dubai....

Posted by: Luke in Dubai on 12 Apr ' 09 at 07:34

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• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

I can only echo the unfortunate common theme here. Namely that this bar has fantastic potential but is let down by appaling service. And it isn't just bad service, it must rival the worst of the worst in Dubai (and that really is saying something).

The irony is that when the place is packed, the atmosphere is great for both rugby and football. But it takes far too long to get served unless you're already sat at the bar (and most people aren't) and I once ordered food before kickoff and didn't get my meal until the game was nearly over. This is not a rare occurence I'm led to believe.

Until they sort it out, I'll go elsewhere.

Posted by: Matt on 02 Apr ' 09 at 14:09

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

I can't speak for the others on this page but I found the place ok. Had a couple of good meals and enjoyed the view! Service was ok too...

Posted by: Hani on 19 Mar ' 09 at 09:34

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• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

Great great concept - but by far the absolute worst service in Dubai, and I went on 3 different occasions. Not going to bother again.

Posted by: Brendan on 13 Mar ' 09 at 08:21

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

Great bar for an after work drink and a good bite to eat. Never mind the underrated reviews, this place is great. Espically for an aussie's out there. Only thing they need to work on is the service, a little underdone and more aussie beers.

Posted by: helen on 15 Feb ' 09 at 13:02

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• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

Cool decor - feels like a kiwi/aussie holiday house. Nice outdoor eating area. Lots of good screens for watching a game of footie - but this is probably what the place is best for. Service is okay...but the food is average & over-priced: think small portions and cheap ingredients. Basically bar food with restaurant prices....such a pity, as if the food were good I would make this place a regular haunt!

Posted by: Dave on 09 Feb ' 09 at 14:33

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• Would you go back to this bar/club? No

Hasn't suffered teething problems? Are you serious? This bar has to be the worst example of good food & service in Dubai. I and most of my friends stopped going there and I found that on a recent visit back there most of the original regular visitors had disappeared aswell. Just one of many examples of how bad it is there.... A friend ordered the fish and chips and started eating the fries only to have the waitress come back and swipe the plate from under her. Then proceeded to say it was for someone else...and guess what she took the plate and placed it at another guests table even though my friend had started eating...I on another occasion having been left 20mins waiting for a drink went to the bar to complain only to find other patrons where actually shouting at the staff with frustration. They have plenty of staff but unfortunately none of them are in any way professional or properly trained. I and nearly everyone I know that used to go there complained many many times to the management but it fell on deaf ears. Now Bidi's seems to have anything but a regular crowd just the usual tourists passing by leaving with no doubt a sour taste of what should be an exceptional experience of having a nice drink and bite to eat on one of the wonders of the world.

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