Bar 44

Address: Grosvenor House Hotel, Dubai, Dubai, PO Box 118, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4399 8888
Website: view Bar 44’s website
Style: Cocktail bar

Review

So-called for its location on the 44th floor of the Grosvenor House Hotel, Bar 44 has taken a while to find its feet on the Dubai scene. Initially pitched as a Champagne bar, it catered to a jet-set crowd who were flocking to the newly built marina and as such, drew in a less-discerning drinker. Luckily, times have changed and Bar 44 has sneakily become one of the best cocktail bars in town. Its décor is still impressive; a large, circular bar forms the centrepiece of the establishment, with two satellite rooms serving as loungey seating areas.

The cocktail list itself is fairly basic - some of the classics are represented and there is a solid back-bar selection. The secret lies in the staff, who are attentive, knowledgeable and who have the skills to produce drinks made-to-order: we were served two within ten minutes that were both off-list and extremely well-balanced. More importantly, they had been created with minimum fuss and having had very little need for direction. These are guys who know their drinks - put your palate in their hands and let them lead the way.