Dubai - restaurant/bar/club recommendations please

I think Tillybean is the Hitched Dubai expert but I was there for a long weekend in November and had a fab time.

Where you are staying will have a big impact on where you go. Taxis are dead cheap but traffic is chaotic and to be honest, most drivers don't have much of a clue - we directed one of them back to our apartment argh!

We stayed in an apartment near the airport and spent most of our time on the 'Dubai' rather than the Jumeriah side. The Dubai creek marina had some really nice restaurants. If you are down the beach area all of the hotels have a huge range of restaurants and bars.

I'll have a think about where else we went, but take a look at the Timeout Dubai website for ideas and reviews. To be honest, I didn't think wine and beer was too expensive considering. I guess about 15-20 quid for wine and cocktails from about a fiver or so. Food was really good value.

Thanks eastybabe - we're staying at Le Meridian Mina Seyahi - on the map it's near the palm, so will mean a taxi ride into Dubai.

Will check out the Timeout site now.

Thanks again

Hi - I live in Dubai - so do shout if I can be of any help at all. Which hotel are you staying at?

There are lots of very spectacular bars that are definitely worth a visit. 360 at Jumeriah Beach Hotel is fantastic for sunset - its kind of out to sea a bit. Uptown at Jumeriah Beach Hotel on 24th floor is also quite nice and outside - but definitely bring a jumper as its getting a bit nippy. Neo's at The address in downtown Burj Dubai is on 63rd floor and is alos impressive - I could go on there are so many! Wine by the glass is generally pretty expensive in the more in vogue bars - about 8 quid for a small glass but generally bottles aren't too expensive. Equally you can drink pretty cheaply if you go to places during happy hours etc.

What type of restauarants are you after?

I 'think' we may have visited the hotel - is it part of the Madinat resort (We had some cracking cocktails at Trader Vics and ate at an Italian restuarant)? If so it's in a great area, both on site restaurants and close to many other hotels all along the beach.

Bars we went to included Barista, Tamanya Terrace and the Irish village. (The village is just like a fake O'Neils but you can sit outside which isn't really the norm as you are generally in a hotel)

One other must is a day at the Atlantis water park. It was pretty expensive to get in but we spent the whole day theer, mainly sitting in a rubber ring! You are then on site for a whole load of restaurants etc.

As Scaredy-cat says, watch out for happy hours and 'ladies' drink offers.

Le meridien is a bit further up the coast towards the Marina from the Madinat. It has Barasti at it which is quite nice and chilled out (its on the beach) The Westin is next door and is apparently very nice although I haven't been. Taxis are very easy to get so I would definitely get a copy of timeout and maybe browse through The Dubai explorer book which covers everything you could ever need or want to know about Dubai. Agree the Madinat is a nice area to wonder around too - but there really is so much to choose from you are spoilt for choice. Hope you have a fantastic time!

Next door to the Mina is the Royal Mirage - that has a nightclub , Kasbah , just outside the reception entrance to the right of the camels.

On the roof of the Arabian Court is a really nice outdoor bar area with a chill out club. Restaurant there called Nina's is a good place to eat, as is Eau Zone.

Restaurants - there are so many now, it's really a case of what you fancy to eat rather than the place to go as such.

Fish restaurant at the Burj, you get via submarine

Grovesnor Hotel - Gary Rhodes

Verre (Gordan Ramsey) Hilton Creek

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/bars/search/dubai-marina

Have a great time

? all

Sorry not replier sooner but have been out taking dog to vet. Some great ideas and I have had a quick look at Timeout and will go through it in more detail with H tonight. I quite fancied Verre (H is a chef) and as we will be child free for the week want to go for a few fancy meals to make the most of it!

Thanks again!