7 Best Nightlife in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Despite Palm Jumeirah's chichi image, there are plenty of casual bars and bistros, particularly on the trunk where the bulk of residential apartment buildings are located. Barrel 12 might be one of the most unappealing (and practically invisible) establishments from the outside, but there's plenty of life past the front door. A sports bar at heart, this modern industrial space pulls a very diverse crowd with a range of happy hours and daily specials. Expect anything from steak nights to kids' afternoons, ladies brunch and "drunch" (a dinnertime fixed-price drinking session). There's an outdoor terrace over the water with palm canal views, making it a lovely sundowner stop. Drinks and food are well made and well priced (for Dubai). Friday brunch is a great value.

An unassuming exterior leads visitors into one of Dubai's most serious drink havens. In this contemporary basement space you might forget you're in a Muslim country, as alcohol is revered and respected with fervor. Bearded bartenders in leather aprons carve ice off the block, don't shy away from using kitchen ingredients in cocktails, and tend to tell you what you want to drink rather than the other way around. Background music is contemporary. The menu is worth checking out, but the wait tends to be long for dining.

Styled by Heineken bar designer Ferry Tabeling, Loca is an industrial-styled, Tex-Mex themed beer haven. Apart from having a stack of options on draft or in bottle, it's the only place in Dubai where you actually pour from a beer tap on your own table. The venue is very casual; T-shirts and shorts won't cause an issue here (as they do in many other venues in the city).

Eight thousand square meters of retro-garage-industrial space spread over two floors make up one of Dubai residents' favorite music venues. Local bands and acoustic sets occur at least three times a week, usually until late. Sometimes it's fairly relaxed—think sports on TV screens, pool tables, the roast of the day with a glass of red, or IPAs and buffalo wings. Most other times it's packed, either during their messy Friday brunch, riotous ladies night, or raucous game night. Service is not known to be the most attentive in Dubai, but just go with the vibe and you'll have a good time.

This might be a Lebanese import, but most would never know; teeming with multicultural excess, this place screams Dubai. It's modeled after a traditional theatre, complete with tiered seating (in booths) and red velvet drapes. From around 10 pm on, the curtains begin to part, and short acts progress through the evening. Anything from folk music, acrobatics, Arabic pop, tango, opera, Italian lounge music, and magic might be involved. You never know what to expect, but by midnight the whole venue will be jumping, even the skeptics. A night out here can be expensive, but worth it for those who want a kooky experience they won't find anywhere else (except perhaps Beirut).

A spin-off of the club in NYC, Provocateur keeps things classy. Music is always electronic, acts are international, the crowd is elegant, and reservations are always necessary. Interiors are decked in open booths, with steel and neon highlights and just a splash of greenery. The club is known for good service and happy party people. Be prepared to wear a hole through the soles of your Louboutins, but a hole in your wallet at the same time (some table reservations have a minimum spend of 5000 dirhams).

This place is exactly what it says on the cover, no pretense or broken promises. It's a laid-back venue, full of grunge princesses and old rockers from all nationalities. There is a menu, but most come later for the music. Rather than being mainstream, the lineup usually consists of the best artists from their respective cities, and loyal fans will fill the room.