7 Elephants
A new alfresco watering hole in the DIFC
Usually when a bar tries to do restaurant food, or a restaurant tries to offer a hip bar, something falls by the wayside. The food is mediocre. The drinks aren’t exciting. The staff seems harried.
Fortunately, 7 Elephants manages to wear both hats with ease. Diners can expect a menu including great-value platters. There’s the Mexican platter (Dhs99), which includes shrimp tacos, quesadillas, and chicken wings; the Spanish platter (Dhs99) with truffle salami, calamari and prawns in garlic oil, and the Indian platter (Dhs90) with tandoor skewers and vegetable pakora, among others from a variety international cuisine. The bar menu is equally eclectic. The Spanish Boulevardier (Dhs59) that uses chorizo washed rum is innovative; while the Italian Job (Dhs59), combining gin and peach liquor with pomegranate juice, tempts those craving a sweet postwork respite. As for the atmosphere, picture a terrace overlooking Downtown, cream sofas, oversized lampshades and very long bar with TVs screening a special drinks stock market. At 7 Elephants, the prices for some drinks aren’t fixed. They fluctuate depending on the most popular on the night. The more times a drink is ordered, the more expensive it becomes, and vice versa. It’s a fun gimmick for those looking to save some dirhams, but we’re not convinced the patrons here are all that thrifty. Still, the crowd was a pleasant mix of DIFC folk, laidback shisha fans and merry Dubai residents just keen for a good night out. We’ll be back.
Financial Towers, DIFC, Dubai, daily noon to 2am. Tel: (04) 3544354. Taxi: Emirates Financial Towers. facebook.com/7elephantsdubai