Top Ten Places for a Boozy Daytime Catch Up

Everyone works so hard during the week here in Dubai, that’s why we think you should book yourself a day off midweek and meet your mates for a bit of a drink…treat yourself!

10. Marina Social – InterContinental Dubai Marina

If you like cocktails or a fancy punch with a nice bite to eat, head to Marina social at the Intercontinental Dubai Marina for your posh drink-fuelled catch up in a smart venue with a great view. Be sure to eat the clever concoctions they call food before you’re too intoxicated to remember how good they were. We recommend the Eton Mess and the Choc and Peanut bar for dessert. 

9. Nola – JLT

It’s hard to believe that a year ago, New Orleans style bar,  Nola was still a pile of building work, but now it’s so popular, it’s pretty much impossible to get through the door after 10pm, unless you’ve booked in advance. Why? Because it’s loud, fun, plays wonderful live music and the drinks are delicious. The great news is this: it’s still relatively easy to get a table during the day, so sit inside or in the garden and line up your choice of beers or wine, order a Cajun Shrimp Salad or line your stomach with the Voodoo Turkey Burger, and settle in for a chinwag.

8. Claw BBQ – Souk Al Bahar

This is a favourite of ours when it comes to eating no nonsense, super filling food, but Claw BBQ also have a mean drinks list (try a whole A3 sized menu of them) and as they’re open from midday, it’s perfect for day drinking. With every cocktail you could imagine and one of Dubai’s best jukeboxes…you’ll never want to leave!

7. Zero Gravity – JBR/Marina

If you like your daytime drinks with a bit of sun and a pool and you like doing your catch ups on a sun lounger, then you can’t get much better than the fun that’s to be had at Zero Gravity. Pay AED 150 for a day pass to use the mega pool and stunning beach and get AED 50 back to spend on your booze and food…sounds like a winner to us.

6. JB’s Gastropub – Amwaj Rotana, JBR

Relatively new on the scene but a firm favourite with anyone who has stepped foot inside, JB’s is what Dubai has been missing: a cool, non-pretentious boozer that does great English food. Choose from a huge variety of wines and beers…or settle in for the cocktails…you’ll get stuck here for hours.

5. Roberto’s – DIFC

If you work DIFC end of town and have ever been to Roberto’s for a delicious Italian lunch, you’ll know how hard it is to leave and go back to the office. Next time…take the afternoon off and stay to drink the day away in this gorgeous setting. Still there at at 5pm? Roberto’s has a daily aperitivo from 5-8pm with cocktails and cichetti. Drinks include aperol spirits, classic negroni and bloody Roberto’s. 

4. Barasti – Le Meridien Mina Seyahi 

There’s not much that a bucket of Coronas at Barasti Beach Bar can’t fix. And it doesn’t get much better than laying on the beach and enjoying them while your colleagues are slaving away at work. Wash the beers down with one of their delicious pizzas and double-cooked chips. Yum! 

3. McGettigan’s – JLT

No list about drinking would be complete without this watering hole added to it. Whatever your thoughts on how messy drinking can get at McGettigan’s towards the early hours of the morning…daytime drinking here is AMAZING. It’s chilled, the staff will never let you go a few minutes without a drink (at the bar or table service) and the food ain’t half bad either. Taken the Thursday off? Stay on for ‘That Thirst-
day Feeling’ where house drinks are just AED 25 or AED 19, every Thursday from 4pm to 9pm.

2. Cocktail Kitchen – JLT

If you haven’t been to Cocktail Kitchen yet…where have you been? Not just JLT’s trendiest place to hang out (even Sheikhs have popped in for lunch), it’s becoming one of Dubai’s coolest too. Like it says in the name, this place does a rather fabulous menu of cocktails, as well as great wine and beers (check out Entertainer’s new Cheers app for great buy one get one free offers). Still want more? Selected drinks are AED 25 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm every day but Friday.

1. Reform Social & Grill – The Lakes

When the weather is good, Reform is the closest you’ll get to a English beer garden in Dubai. When it’s too hot, pull up a chair inside for a comfy setting to go with your craft beer. Tuck into fish and chips as you sip on your Magners Pear Cider and slowly wile the afternoon away. Bliss.

Now read: Top Ten Places To Meet Mates For A Non-Boozy Catch Up