Uptown Bar

High-flying bar with light snacks and good views Discuss this article

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From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2009

Jumeirah Beach Hotel sells Uptown Bar as ‘understated elegance’, a phrase that means absolutely nothing. Quite why they didn’t just use the tagline ‘crikey, it’s got a cracking view!’ we’re not sure. Because it does – probably our favourite view in Dubai, to be honest.

Stepping out of the cosy interior bar – which is perfectly nice, but not particularly memorable – and onto the balcony, you’ll find yourself gazing down at an extraordinary panoramic view of Jumeirah, with roads receding to a vanishing point and the Burj Al Arab glowing on the horizon.

But come back at night and it’s even more extraordinary, as the city becomes an abstract drawing in fluorescent light. We haven’t mentioned the food yet, you’ll notice. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. Far from it, in fact – whether you’re buying one of the limited range of bar snacks or from the expansive room service menu, it’s all excellent stuff made with fine ingredients.

But it’s also extremely expensive for what you get, and it’s hard to escape the feeling that Uptown Bar isn’t made for food anyway – it’s there for alfresco chinwagging and soaking in an extraordinary view. And on those counts, it’s flawless.

• Previous reviews
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Jeremy Lawrence
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff

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