OK fine, I’ll expose y’all to some of Dubai‘s hottest bars.
Just when you thought you’d scoured the city’s surface for its most happening spots, it turns out there’s a network of secret, exclusive bars that only those in the know tend to frequent. We love a bit of mystery, and we are sure you do too.
In the name of *spilling the tea*, we’ve curated a list of places to head to to hit up the city’s cool crowd, to make your friends jealous, or just, you know…hide from your ex at a bar he won’t know about.
La Camera! By TOTÓ
📍 Hotel Boulevard
Excuse me, did someone say glamorous rooftop bar? La Camera! By TOTÓ is the new IT-girl spot to be. Inspired by movies from the 50s and the 60s this speakeasy is literally a theatrical experience. Even Cristiano Ronaldo thinks so.
To book, call 04 215 2121
Honeycomb Hi-Fi
📍 Pullman Dubai Downtown.
This place is a literal recording studio. Within this studio, they have a bar with a record player to the side and a DJ set. The shelves are filled with vinyl records and your favorite liquor choices. The terrace has an outdoor bar but is surrounded by bamboo strands—how unique.
To book, call 04 412 6666.
Moonshine
📍 WiseGuys Restaurant-Gate District, Trade Centre, DIFC.
Behind a sandwich shop called WiseGuys, there lies a refrigerator door that allows you to pass through a portal to get to a bar that is so dark and lunar-inspired. Moonshine is a 1920s-inspired speakeasy bar, and with lit music, you’ll be getting lit by the screen project moonlight.
To book, call 052 450 7795.
Electric Pawn Shop
📍 The H Dubai Hotel.
This restaurant and bar inspired by 1970s Chinatown in New York feels like you’ve entered someone’s Brooklyn apartment-styled loft, and we are SO in LOVE with it. The red lighting is immaculate, giving it a late-night vibe.
To book, call 050 586 5510.
Galaxy Bar
📍 Gate Village, Building 9, DIFC.
This hot spot is giving a galaxy near home, and it has Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ written all over it. This bar in Dubai is *SUPER* exclusive as it only has about 30 seats, so if you want to get in, quick up the pace, bestie, and save yourself a table.
To book, call 050 513 5908.
Ling Ling Ultra Lounge
📍Atlantis The Royal, Palm Jumeirah.
You thought it couldn’t get any more exclusive. Well, we present to you Ling Ling Ultra Lounge, a secret club hidden in a restaurant that accommodates up to 10 people. This place has panoramic views of the hotel’s sky pool, Cloud 22, and, of course, the iconic Dubai skyline. This is also a fave place in the city amongst VIPs and celebs. Say less.
To book, call 056 997 1642.
LY-LA
📍 Under Alaya, Gate Village, DIFC
Oooo, a basement bar and club? This spot is hidden inside (under, lol) the Levantine-inspired restaurant Alaya. It is one of many of DIFC’s underground bars with Arabian tents and French Art Deco motifs. Ooh la la.
To book, call 056 680 0430.
NYX
📍 Gaia, Gate Village, DIFC.
If you enjoy bars for exclusive guests stepping foot on this spot, bestie Rihanna’s beau A$AP Rocky has been spotted here. So, expect good company if you visit NYX and PINK mirror walls and ceilings. So cool girl-coded.
To book, click here.
Gate Two
📍 Meydan Grandstand.
This hotspot is found near the iconic Iris. The venue is very intimate, and bestie, we gotta ditch the social media posting for a bit and enjoy the moment, as no cameras are allowed. Gate Two is all about good vibes, people, and music.
Secret Room
📍Address Dubai Mall Hotel.
Secret Room is found at F.R.N.D.S Grand Cafe—omg, another speakeasy. The moment you enter, you are met with Japan’s street markets with food. It has a two-floor room with a DJ booth. This bar is so unique that it turns into a massive club.
Suave
📍 Basko, The Opus By Omniyat.
Picture this: red tassels, chandeliers, blue suede couches, and vinyl records across the shelves. This place is located above Basko and is a Greek restaurant. They are here to teleport you back in time to the 1970s, baby.
To book, call 058 551 9143.
Voyage by Amelia
📍 Amelia Lounge, Address Sky View Downtown Dubai.
Famously known for its fine dining experience, if you can’t get enough (like us), you could head over to their lounge. This time, it’s not so secret, but it’s close enough to a speakeasy because it is a private space located on the second floor of the restaurant.
To book, call 04 328 2805.
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