Bidi Bondi

The Aussie-themed sports bar fills a much-needed spot on The Palm 11 Reviews

© ITP Images

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
  • 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: 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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