including Tiger on tap, are available. If
there’s a wait, leave your mobile number
and head next door to Agency for pre-
dinner drinks. There are now four other
branches around town, including in Souq
Madinat Jumeirah and Dubai Mall.GourMeT burGer KiTchen burGerS $
Map p216 (level b1, Dubai international Financial
Centre; burgers Dh28-34; h9am-10pm Sat-Wed,
to 11pm Thu & Fri; c) This patty-and-bun UK
import stacks its burgers so high you risk
dislocating your jaw when trying to bite into
one. Go classic or try one of the more adven-
turous choices, like the Kiwi Burger with
beetroot, egg, pineapple and cheddar, in-
spired by the founders’ New Zealand origins.ZaaTar W ZeiT lebaneSe $
Map p216 (near Shangri-la hotel, Sheikh Zayed rd;
dishes Dh7-33; h24hr; c) In the wee hours,
this Lebanese fast-food joint is full of night
owls hoping to restore balance to the brain
with manaeesh – flat bread topped with
cheese, tomatoes, minced meats or zaatar
(thyme, sesame, marjoram and oregano).
Think Lebanese pizza. Laban taza (a salted
yogurt drink), not cola, goes best with them.
Other branches are in Dubai Mall, Mall of
the Emirates and on The Walk at JBR.6
Drinking &
nightlifEcalabar bar
Map p216 (ground fl, address Downtown Dubai,
emaar blvd; h6pm-2am) You’ll have plenty of
time to study the space-age Burj Khalifa, the
eye-candy crowd and the sexy cocktail bar
setting while you’re waiting...and waiting...
for your pricey but potent cocktail at this
Latino-themed bar. A winner the moment it
opened, it’s the kind of place that may very
well stay cool long after it’s done being hot.iKandy bar
Map p216 (Shangri-la hotel, Sheikh Zayed rd;
h6pm-2am oct-Mar) Wear white to Ikandy
and your clothes will glow in the diffuse
hot-pink light reflecting off the diaphanous
fabric hanging from the palm trees. The
vibe is chilled, almost mellow, helped along
by the rooftop poolside setting, the ambient
sounds and the inventive cocktails (try the
Thai martini made with lemongrass and
basil). Stellar views of the Burj Khalifa.neos bar
Map p216 (address Downtown Dubai, emaar blvd;
h6pm-2am) At this glamour vixen, you can
swirl your cosmo with the posh set 63 floors
above Dubai Fountain. It takes two lifts to
get to what is currently the highest bar in
town, an urban den of shiny metal, carpet-
ed floors and killer views. The dress code
has relaxed a lot since opening: we even
spotted sneaker-wearers – yikes!cin cin bar
Map p216 (Fairmont hotel, Sheikh Zayed rd;
h6pm-2am) You’d be hard-pressed to find a
more impressive wine-and-spirits list than
the one at this sleek wine bar. Cin Cin is
styled with blue light, deep leather club
chairs and changing-colour ice buckets.
The drinks list is dizzying, with over 400
wines – 55 by the glass – 50 vodkas and 26
scotches. Prices skew high, but you’ll find
good French vintages in the Dh300 range.
Shine your shoes.aGency bar
Map p216 (boulevard at Jumeirah emirates Tow-
ers, Sheikh Zayed rd; hnoon-midnight Sun-Thu)
This is a decent spot for pre-dinner un-
winding, even though it’s in the basement
of an office tower and feels like it. Women
receive the first two drinks for free on Tues-
day. Also in Souq Madinat Jumeirah.harry GhaTTo’s bar
Map p216 (boulevard at Jumeirah emirates Tow-
ers, Sheikh Zayed rd; h8pm-3am) Knock back
a couple of drinks if you need to loosen
your nerves before belting out your best
J-Lo or Justin at this beloved karaoke bar,
which is in the same tower as Sheikh Mo-
hammed’s office. Drinks are expensive and
service only so-so, but we love the odd mix
of people drawn here, including the occa-
sional dishdasha-clad local (a dishdasha is
a man’s shirt-dress).Vu’s bar bar
Map p216 (Jumeirah emirates Towers hotel, Sheikh
Zayed rd; h6pm-3am) Until Neos opened,
Vu’s was the Dubai bar with a view. The
panorama from the 51st floor is still breath-
taking, but the soft red- and black-leather
chairs feel dated and are now filled largely
with a moneyed salt-and-pepper crowd
grateful for the dim lighting. Still, it’s an
atmospheric spot for cocktails and quiet
conversation. Look sharp.s
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