Whether you love margaritas, martinis or whisky cocktails, these Abu Dhabi spots are a must-visit this World Cocktail Day
Abu Dhabi has fully entered its cocktail era, and the city does sophisticated bars, rooftop lounges and golden hour drinks exceptionally well, making it the perfect destination to celebrate World Cocktail Day.
My favourite thing to do at a bar is hand over the menu and say, “Surprise me.” Most times, it works out beautifully. Sometimes you end up with a drink so good you spend the next week trying to remember what was actually in it. And honestly, that is usually how you know you have found a good bar.
These are the Abu Dhabi spots that have mastered the surprise-me test. The ones that nail the classics, but also know how to have fun with unexpected flavours, clever twists and signature creations that feel entirely their own. Whether you want a dramatic speakeasy-style serve, a perfect margarita by the beach or a negroni in a dimly lit room with jazz in the background, these are the places to consider visiting this World Cocktail Day.
Library Bar
What’s On archive
Cocktails here feel theatrical in the best possible way. One arrives in a sculpted hand, another inside a shell, and every drink comes with a story attached to it. Tucked inside The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Library Bar has the moodiness of a modern speakeasy without trying too hard. Dim lighting, polished interiors and inventive drinks make this one of the city’s best bars for a proper cocktail night.
Location: The Abu Dhabi EDITION, Al Bateen Marina
Time: Sunday to Thursday, 5pm to 1am. Friday and Saturday, 5pm to 2am
Contact: 02 208 0000
Flamingo Room by tashas
Image supplied
This is the kind of place where one cocktail casually turns into dinner and somehow ends with dessert too. The interiors are gorgeous, the crowd is polished, and the drinks menu leans glamorous without feeling overdone. Order something pretty, settle into one of the velvet-lined corners and stay awhile.
Location: The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Time: Sunday to Thursday, 12pm to 12.30am. Friday and Saturday, 12pm to 1am
Contact: 02 675 9301
LPM
Image supplied
There is something about cocktails at LPM that instantly makes you feel like you should be on the French Riviera instead of Al Maryah Island. The drinks are crisp, elegant and citrus-heavy in the best way. Sit at the bar, order slowly and let the evening unfold properly.
Location: The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Time: Bar open daily from 12pm to 1am
Contact: 02 692 9600
Strawfire by Ross Shonhan
Image supplied
At Strawfire, cocktails become part of the experience. Guests can work alongside the mixologist to create something custom or hand over control completely and be surprised. Add the open-fire kitchen, sweeping terrace and Emirates Palace setting, and this easily becomes one of Abu Dhabi’s most memorable cocktail nights.
Location: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, West Corniche
Time: Daily, 6pm to 11pm
Contact: 02 690 7999
Hidden Bar
Image supplied
Tucked away inside Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Hidden Bar has mastered the art of making a night out feel effortlessly cool. The terrace overlooks the water, the music is always good and the cocktails arrive beautifully balanced without any unnecessary theatrics. It is the kind of place where conversations stretch longer than planned and one drink quietly becomes three. Go around sunset, order something citrusy and settle in properly.
Location: Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island
Time: Daily, 5pm to 2am
Contact: 02 813 5550
L’ETO Restaurant
L’ETO Restaurant feels softer and slower than most cocktail spots in the city, which is exactly its charm. Sit at the bar, order something from the siesta drinks menu and let the evening unfold naturally. The cocktails here lean light, elegant and easy to drink, making this the sort of place that quietly turns one round into several.
Location: The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Time: Daily, 10am to midnight
Contact: 02 677 0281
Lexx
What’s On archive
Few places in Abu Dhabi do sunset quite like Lexx. Set inside Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi, the bar overlooks the water and somehow makes time slow down a little once golden hour hits. Go early for the view, stay for the cocktails and settle into one of the city’s most polished lounge bars, where the atmosphere always feels relaxed but refined.
Location: Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl
Time: Daily, 5pm to 1am
Contact: 02 510 1234
W Lounge
Image supplied
If you want cocktails with energy, this is the move. Go early enough for sunset over Yas Marina Circuit, then stay for the music, crowd and atmosphere that slowly ramps up as the night goes on. The drinks are strong, the views are unbeatable and the vibe rarely misses.
Location: W Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
Time: Daily, 5pm to late
Contact: 02 656 0000
Villa Sélène
Image supplied
There is something quietly cinematic about cocktails at Villa Sélène. Perched above Yas Links with sweeping sea views, the restaurant feels calm, refined and transportive at sunset. Think elegant spritzes, sea breeze and one of the prettiest terraces in the city.
Location: Yas Links, Yas Island
Time: Daily, 12pm to 12am
Contact: 054 990 4246
Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri
Image supplied
Shangri-La has elevated happy hour into “golden hour” with a signature cocktail called The Welcome Ritual. Made with jasmine, lychee, lime and Malfy Gin, then topped with mint foam, it is light, elegant and perfectly suited to sunset by the water.
Location: Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri
Time: Daily, 4pm to 7pm
Contact: 02 509 8888
25 Minutes to Tulum
Image supplied
Come for the margaritas, stay for the tacos and accidentally spend your entire afternoon here. Set on Hudayriyat Island, this beachside spot brings easy-going Tulum energy to Abu Dhabi with frozen cocktails, colourful plates and relaxed coastal vibes.
Location: Bab Al Nojoum, Hudayriyat Island
Time: Daily, 12pm to 12am
Contact: 02 691 0250
Barbossa
Image supplied
Barbossa does cocktails loudly and proudly. Margaritas are the main character here, whether you go classic or opt for smoky mezcal blends rimmed with Tajín. Add marina views, live Latin music and an atmosphere that slowly shifts from dinner into dancing, and you have one of Yas Bay’s liveliest nights out.
Location: Yas Bay Waterfront
Time: Daily, 4pm to 2am
Contact: 050 185 8068
Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar
Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar
Grown, polished and effortlessly stylish, Siddharta Lounge is made for dressing up and ordering another round. The rooftop setting overlooks Yas Bay, while the cocktails lean sophisticated and beautifully balanced. It feels glamorous without feeling intimidating.
Location: Yas Bay Waterfront
Time: Daily, 5pm to 2am
Contact: 050 601 1194
Catch at St. Regis
Image supplied
For something moodier and more refined on World Cocktail Day, Catch at St. Regis is currently serving a trio of Macallan whisky cocktails designed for slow sipping. Expect rich flavours, elegant presentation and the kind of polished waterfront atmosphere that suits a long evening.
Location: The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Corniche
Time: Daily, 7pm to midnight
Contact: 02 694 4553
Niri Restaurant & Bar
Image supplied
Minimalist, quietly cool and one of the city’s most stylish after-dark addresses, Niri does Japanese-inspired cocktails exceptionally well. Expect flavours like yuzu, lychee, sake and cherry blossom woven into drinks that feel refined without being overly serious.
Location: Mamsha Al Saadiyat
Time: Tuesday to Sunday, 6pm to 11pm
Contact: 02 546 8886
Taparelle
Image supplied
Part restaurant, part creative hangout, Taparelle brings a softer European energy to Saadiyat Cultural District. Cocktails lean floral, citrusy and Mediterranean-inspired, matching the artistic, relaxed mood of the venue itself.
Location: Manarat Al Saadiyat
Time: Daily, 9am to 11pm
Contact: 02 657 5832
Saikindō
Image supplied
Saikindō is the sort of bar Abu Dhabi has needed for a while. Hidden inside Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, the Japanese-inspired listening bar revolves around good music, sharp cocktails and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay for another round. Vinyl spins throughout the evening while bartenders turn out beautifully crafted drinks that feel thoughtful without being overly complicated. It is intimate, stylish and refreshingly grown-up without trying too hard and the perfect spot for World Cocktail Day.
Location: Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island
Time: Daily, 6pm to 2am
Contact: 058 521 7775
The St. Regis Bar
Image supplied
Dark wood, low lighting and old-school glamour make The St. Regis Bar feel timeless. The cocktails here are classic and expertly made, while the famous Bloody Mary remains one of the city’s best-known signature serves. This World Cocktail Day this is where you go when you want martinis and elegance.
Location: The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Corniche
Time: Daily, 6pm to 2am
Contact: 02 694 4553
