We Ended up Drunk Dancing on Tables in Dubai’s Top 10 Marina Bars
Storytime: I grew up nerdy and became the target of jokes because of it. So the moment I turned 21, I swore I would be the slickest guy ever and impress the other cool dudes. Back then, I thought that meant hosting epic pool parties and chugging beer like a pro.
Since I was clueless, I had to do some serious research on the best bars. I started with the ones around Dubai Marina since it’s close to where I live. Turns out, drinking alone can be daunting, so I roped in some of my fellow geeky friends to join me.
Long story short, I had such a blast drinking and dancing with them that I forgot all about my initial agenda. I just ended up making regular bar trips with my new crew! If you’re up for a bar crawl yourself, I listed my top picks in Dubai Marina below.
What are the top bars and pubs in Dubai Marina?
There are many top-notch bars and pubs in Dubai Marina. Some notable spots are Buddha-Bar, Atelier M, Harbours, JB’s Gastropub, and McGettigans Irish Pub.
Buddha-Bar
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Website: http://www.buddhabar-dubai.com/
Address: Grosvenor House Dubai – Al Emreef St
Contact Details: +971 4 317 6000, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 7 PM to 1 AM
- Friday – 7 PM to 2 AM
- Saturday – 8 PM to 2 AM
Pricing: AED 200 – 250 per person
Buddha-Bar is a glamorous Dubai Marina bar offering pan-Asian cuisine. You’ll expect elegant interiors here, with moody lighting, reddish furniture, Buddha statues, shimmering chandeliers, and golden dragons.
We think there’s a lot of great Japanese, Chinese, and Thai food here too! Though, the best ones for us are the seabass, maki rolls, and chili prawns. On top of that, we bet you can’t have just one piece of mochi here—try chocolate and mango!
Pro tips:
Buddha-Bar has a strict dress code! Remember to wear smart and trendy attire. No shorts allowed!
Having a tough time looking for parking? The valet can park your car for free if your ticket is stamped.
Atelier M
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Website: http://www.atelierm.ae/
Address: Marina Mall – Floor 7/7M – Pier 7
Contact Details: +971 4 450 7766, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Monday, Wednesday to Thursday – 5 PM to 2 AM
- Tuesday, Friday – 5 PM to 3 AM
- Saturday – 2 PM to 3 AM
Pricing: AED 150 – 200 per person
Atelier M is a 1920s-style Mediterranean-French restaurant with a live band and marvelous rooftop views. We’re in awe of the gold and crystal art deco floors—it’s like being in Leo DiCaprio’s movie, The Great Gatsby!
We also like the Wagyu gyoza, truffle risotto (a creamy rice dish), and dynamite prawns. The small chocolate lava left us wanting more too. So if you’re thinking of sharing this dessert with a friend, we dare say think again!
Pro tips:
We recommend making reservations in advance at Atelier M so you can sit next to the marina vistas. For us, this is amazing for a date night!
Are you a sports fanatic? Don’t miss out on the bar’s live sports events at the lounge and rooftop—bring your buddies for a night of camaraderie!
Cargo
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Website: http://www.cargo-dubai.com/
Address: 3rd Floor – Pier 7
Contact Details: +971 4 361 8129, info@cargo-dubai.com
Operating Hours:
- Sunday – 12 PM to 2 AM
- Tuesday to Thursday, Saturday to Monday – 12 PM to 2 AM
- Friday – 1 PM to 2 AM
Pricing: AED 150 – 200 per person
Cargo is a Dubai Marina pub that takes you back to the 1960s—but in Hong Kong! Think shipping crates, weathered wood interiors, and raw concrete for decor. For us, this gives off a unique yet charming vibe as you dive into the street foods with a twist.
Our food recommendations are the Thai green curry, salt and pepper tofu, and spring rolls. We also think the hibiscus cocktail is worth your time!
Besides having a DJ, we like that there’s a saxophonist here too! That’s why it can get pretty loud here. We think you might not be able to chat with friends that much, though.
Pro tip:
Want a fun midweek recharge (but at lower prices)? Experience ladies’ happy hour at Cargo every Tuesday night!
Harbours (Nezesaussi Grill)
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Address: Address Dubai Marina Al Marsa Street, 66 – Dubai Marina
Contact Details: +971 4 436 7777
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 1 PM to 3 AM
Pricing: AED 150 – 200 per person
Harbours (formerly Nezesaussi Grill) is among the best sports bars in Dubai Marina if you want to see international sports on more than one TV screen!
For us, the bar finger foods that go well with draft beer or cider are chicken wings and pork ribs. When it comes to dessert, we think you can’t go wrong with the apple berry crumble. There are big portions all around too, so we bet you’ll leave feeling full!
There’s also a pool table and jukebox here as well, so we believe you’ll have enough activities to enjoy while drinking with your buds.
Pro tip:
Is your budget a bit tight? Consider downloading the More Cravings app to get a 30% discount on food and beverages at Harbours!
McGettigans Irish Pub
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Website: https://www.mcgettigans.com/hilton-jbr-dubai
Address: McGettigans Irish Pub – Lobby Level – The Walk – Dubai Marina
Contact Details: +971 4 318 2580, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday, Tuesday to Thursday – 12:30 PM to 2 AM
- Friday – 12:30 PM to 3 AM
- Saturday – 10 AM to 3 AM
- Sunday – 10 AM to 2 AM
Pricing: AED 200 – 250 per person
McGettigans Irish Pub offers a notable non-smoking spot with modern Irish dishes and access to watch soccer. We find it amusing that there’s a live band here every day too!
In our opinion, your visit here wouldn’t be complete without trying the Irish breakfast and stew! Alternatively, the Wagyu beef chili nachos and Korean chicken wings are just as good for us.
Not only that, but this pub is also close to the metro, so we think this is pretty handy for commuters.
Pro tip:
McGettigans Irish Pub offers various specials throughout the week, but our favorite is its Monday deal: 3 drinks for AED 50 between 6 and 10 pm. Don’t miss it!
Lock, Stock & Barrel
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Website: https://www.solutions-leisure.com/venues/lock-stock-barrel-jbr/
Address: Rixos Premium JBR – The Walk – Dubai Marina
Contact Details: +971 4 423 8307, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 4 PM to 3 AM
- Sunday – 2 PM to 3 AM
Pricing: AED 150 – 200 per person
Lock, Stock & Barrel is a stylish nightspot for a wide array of international dishes and cocktails. It’s also about 5 to 10 minutes away from the heart of Dubai Marina.
We love the tandoori (clay oven-cooked) chicken, roast, nachos, and buffalo wings here. In our book, the finger foods also pair well with the Guinness beer—great for hying the bros!
But the best thing on the menu for us is the sticky toffee pudding! It’s a crowd favorite for a reason, and we think its rich toffee sauce is just too good to pass on.
Pro tip:
Smoking is allowed at Lock, Stock & Barrel, so we say think twice if you’re not a smoker.
Yet if you’re willing to risk getting secondhand smoke, we suggest carrying cologne or perfume at least—we noticed the cigarette smell can really stick in your hair when it gets stuffy here.
JB’s Gastropub
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Address: Amwaj Rotana – Jumeirah Beach – The Walk – Jumeirah Beach Residence
Contact Details: +971 4 428 3084, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 12 PM to 2 AM
Pricing: AED 150 – 200 per person
JB’s Gastropub is for American and British food enthusiasts! This Dubai Marina bar is known for its subtle industrial look with lots of sports screens and hearty portions for hungry folks.
The Angus ribeye, pork ribs, and pork nachos with fries really did it for us here. The “sausage by the meter” is pretty popular here too, so why not have a little eating contest with your pals?
Also, we believe the warm chocolate torte is a delightful treat! For us, this tastes so great with the milkshakes.
Pro tip:
Want some discounts? We recommend visiting JB’s Gastropub during Ramadan to get more affordable cocktails.
Barasti
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Website: https://www.barastibeach.com/
Address: Le Meridien Mina Syahi Beach Resort & Marina – Dubai Marina
Contact Details: +971 4 511 7373, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 3 AM
Pricing: AED 200 – 250 per person
Barasti is a bustling beachfront Dubai Marina bar that provides a great combination of snacks, drinks, and music. The best part for us here is the scenic views—wait for the sunset so you’ll know what we’re on about.
While watching the big screen, we suggest munching on grilled chicken with fresh salad or beef burgers with fries, along with mocktails or beers.
Just note that you can’t bring outside food or beverages here (not even a small water bottle!). So, you might as well make the most of what the bar has on the menu.
Pro tip:
If you plan on taking a dip at the pool, we recommend bringing your own towels—Barasti charges AED 20 for one!
Bar 44
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Website: http://www.bar44-dubai.com/
Address: Grosvenor House Dubai, Al Emreef Street
Contact Details: +971 4 317 6000, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, Sunday – 5 PM to 1 AM
- Friday to Saturday – 5 PM to 2 AM
Pricing: AED 200 – 250 per person
Bar 44 is an upscale bar in Dubai known for gourmet bar snacks and handcrafted cocktails. Being on the 44th floor of the luxury hotel Grosvenor House, this spot boasts 360-degree views of the Arabian Gulf and the Palm Jumeirah!
As for the grub, we like the curated cheese board with onion bread, as well as the prawn volcano (with wasabi) and air-fried chicken with BBQ sauce.
And for the drinks, we recommend the L’Amour cocktail or Little Red Riding Hood mocktail if you’re on a date. But if you’re with friends, we say go for the wild vodka rickey cocktail or the Yeh-Sien tales (Chinese fairytale-inspired) mocktail.
Pro tip:
Check out Bar 44’s dedicated sunset menu, so you can enjoy the golden hour with amazing food from 5 PM to 8 PM daily!
Boom Battle Bar
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Website: https://boombattlebar.com/ae/dubai/
Address: DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai – Jumeirah Beach – The Walk – Dubai Marina
Contact Details: +971 4 585 7357, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 4 PM to 1 AM
- Friday – 4 PM to 2 AM
- Saturday – 1 PM to 2 AM
Pricing: AED 150 – 200 per person
Feeling bored? Boom Battle Bar offers games like golf, darts, and beer pong, which we think can make your bar night more entertaining.
And if you play well enough, you might just have your player name displayed at the high score table for a while—talk about bragging rights!
We also recommend fun drinks like the Zombie or the spicy mango margarita. Don’t skip the braised Wagyu beef sliders, chicken tenders, and nachos too!
Pro tip:
If you want to participate in axe throwing at Boom Battle Bar, keep in mind that you’re required to be alcohol-free—which means NO drinking at all—for obvious safety reasons.