The novelty factor
From dancing bears to crowd karaoke, you’ve not properly partied in Dubai unless you’ve been to one of these unique clubs
HOUSE PARTY BAR
The aptly named House Party Bar is guaranteed to transport you to college frat culture with its cheesy tunes and red plastic cups. The nightclub is cleverly split into a series of ‘rooms’. Giant Jenga? You’ll find it in the garden. Beer pong? That’s in the games room. Table tennis? It takes place in the kitchen. Ball pit? Yes, just head for the play room.
aFairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, Mon and Thur 6pm to 3am, Sun, Tues, Wed and Sat 6pm to 2am, Fri 4pm to 3am. Tel: (050) 9955400. facebook.com/HousePartyBar
LUCKY VOICE
If you want to sing your heart out one evening, karaoke spots don’t come much better than Lucky Voice. At its bi-weekly Wednesday and Friday brunches, you can take part in crowd karaoke, or jump on stage for a lip-sync battle. If you’re more of a shy showersinger, opt for a private pod, where you can tackle 10,000 songs in a soundproof booth.
aGrand Millennium Hotel, Barsha Heights, Dubai, Sat to Wed 4pm to 3am, Fri 12pm to 3am. Tel: (04) 4478010. luckyvoice.ae
MAISON ROUGE
One of Dubai’s lesser known nightclubs is Maison Rouge. Filling a cabaret and dining experience shaped hole left behind by The Act, this intimate restaurant and lounge has more than a little burlesque feel about it. The shows range from ballet to sax players, and are on twice daily at 8pm and 10.30pm.
aThe Conrad, Sheikh Zayed Road, daily 8pm to 2am. Tel: (04) 3528169. facebook.com/ MaisonRougeDubai
MR MIYAGI’S
It might not be the classiest of nights out, but katsu and karaoke at this lively Media City hotspot is an unlikely but winning combination. Mr Miyagi’s has one of the most fun (and popular) party brunches in Dubai, complete with crowd karaoke, cocktails served from washing machines and team games that get very competitive. Couple that with the ultimate playlist of sing-along hits and a good happy hour, and you’ll be doing at least one Macarena lap of the bar before the night is over.
aLevel 9, Media One Hotel, daily noon to 2am. Tel:(04) 4207489. mrmiyagisdubai.com
THE HATCH
Who wouldn’t want to party seven floors underwater on an historical ship? That’s exactly what’s on offer at The Hatch, an underground nightclub found on legendary liner QE2 Dubai. Serving as a pop-up after-party for Blue Marlin’s famous day-to-night Friday house events, it’s a no-frills affair that’s all about the music. There’s limited space, so pre-booking your ticket is a must if you want to guarantee getting on board. Techno heads, this one’s a must-try.
aQE2, Port Rashid, Dubai, various Fridays. Tel: (050) 3759715. thehatchdubai.com
TOY ROOM
Partying with a life size bear might not be your typical night out, but it sure is a fun one. For this, head to Toy Room, where head honcho Frank the Bear can be found causing mischief several days a week. Weekly nights are dictated by a largely R&B playlist spun by the resident DJs, while Frank can be found leading the way, dancing on tables and taking selfies with revelers.
aSoho Garden, Meydan, Mon, Thur, Fri 11pm to 4am, Wed 12.30am to 4am. Tel: (052) 463 3338. toyroomdxb.com
MISS TESS
At the kitsch Asian restaurant at the Taj Hotel in Business Bay, expect to have your dishes served up by karate-kicking waiters or break dancing samurai warriors. Go here on a Wednesday and you’ll be served a lively evening brunch where anything goes. While it’s more of a restaurant than a bar, it’s bar side, called the Lucky Cat, serves up some great Asian inspired cocktails – as well as a daily ladies’ night.
aTaj Dubai, Business Bay, daily 6pm to late. Tel: (04) 438 3121. misstessdubai.com