< Previous60 November 2023 timeoutabudhabi.com Getting your friends to head out on a weekday can often prove to be a challenge. But if there’s one event that will get the gang together quicker than you can say “Àngers on buzzers”, it’s a pub quiz. There’s just something about battling it out as a group of friends, and there’s no greater feeling than seeing your hilarious team name begin to climb the rankings. In the mood to put your knowledge to the test? Here’s where you need to be heading. ATLON What’s better than a pub quiz night? A pub quiz night paired with a roast dinner, of course, and you can get just that at Atlon Nightlife Thinking caps on Whether you prefer traditional pen-on-paper or have embraced the app revolution, here are Abu Dhabi’s best quiz nightstimeoutabudhabi.com November 2023 61 Blu Sky Lounge & Grill all the specials on offer here, you’ll feel like a winner even if you don’t get the answer right. O Wed 8pm-10pm. Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Al Zahiya, southernsun.com (02 818 4888). FADO Head along to this Irish pub and you can enjoy the craic while testing out the capabilities of your grey matter. Taking place every Monday, you’ll feel the pressure with just 10 seconds to answer each question via the SpeedQuizzing app. Given Fado was Highly Commended for Best Pub Food at our latest Restaurant Awards, everyone’s a winner here if they grab a bite (especially if you order Àsh and chips). O Mon 8pm onwards. Oryx Hotel, Khalidiya, fadoirishpub.com (02 692 2218). LOCA This Tuesday quiz night is appropriately rather loca as it’s paired with a super night brunch offer. For Dhs125, you’ll enjoy food and unlimited soft drinks between 7pm and 10pm, or with unlimited bottled hops and Mexican mixed drinks for Dhs195. The quiz, hosted by Sonya Mac, runs between 8pm and 10pm, and also uses the SpeedQuizzing app. O Dhs125 (soft drinks), Dhs195 (house beverages). Tue 7pm-10pm (quiz 8pm-10pm). The Galleria Al Maryah Island, locauae.com (02 582 3639). MCCAFFERTY’S Newly launched last month, McCafferty’s pub quiz kicks off at 8pm every Monday. Hosted by Lorna, you can expect great prizes and plenty of funny moments. Until 10pm, you can take advantage of the steak and house beverage offer for Dhs129. And if you settle in before the quiz, you can enjoy happy hour until 8pm. O Mon 8pm onwards. Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, mccaffertysyas.com (058 598 3623). MCGETTIGAN’S Settle in with some mates for this fun quiz night hosted by Chalkie at McGettigan’s every every Sunday. The roast dinner offer, which is priced at Dhs99 and can be enjoyed with unlimited house beverages for three hours for an additional Dhs99, runs from 2pm until 8pm, with the quiz running from 4pm. O Dhs25 (happy hour house beverages), Dhs99 (roast dinner), Dhs198 (roast dinner with three hours of unlimited house beverages), Dhs59 (kids roast). Sun 2pm-8pm (quiz 4pm-6pm). The Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Al Rabdan, @atlonabudhabi (058 575 3414). BLU SKY LOUNGE & GRILL It’s all blue skies here until you get a few questions wrong and you start to feel like you’re caught up in a storm. Quiz master Mike Paterson hosts a unique quiz night every Wednesday at Blu Sky Lounge & Grill. And with Wednesday. Apart from the chance to pick up some new fun facts, there are great drink and food specials, so grab your friends and head on over for a fun night out. O Wed 8pm onwards. Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, mcgettigans.com (02 698 8137). ROOTS Another option for those craving a quiz and a roast, Roots has an afternoon quiz sesh on Sundays between 1pm and 3pm. You can grab a vegetarian Sunday roast with a house beverage for Dhs115, or opt for a meaty version with chicken for Dhs125, lamb for Dhs135 and beef for Dhs145. Happy hour runs all day, with prices from Dhs35, so that is bound to take the sting out of losing by just a few points. O Dhs115 (vegetarian roast with a house beverage), Dhs125 (chicken roast with a house beverage), Dhs135 (lamb roast with a house beverage), Dhs145 (beef roast with a house beverage). Sun 1pm-3pm. Yas Acres Golf & Country Club, Yas Island, viyagolf.com (050 757 4808). STARS ‘N’ BARS With creative bonus rounds like guess what’s in the can and a fun music bingo at the end, the pub quiz at Stars ‘N’ Bars is one of our favourites. Also using the SpeedQuizzing app, you’ll have to be fast to get your name on the top of the leaderboard after putting your general knowledge and memory to the test. O Mon 8pm onwards. Yas Marina, Yas Island, starsnbars.ae (02 565 0101). VICTOR’S Even if you’re not a big pub quizzer, we don’t see how you can say no to 10 house beverages for Dhs169 on a Friday evening at Victor’s. The quiz runs from 8.30pm until 11pm, so settle in for a fun evening as you battle it out to take home the top prize of a Dhs500 bar tab. O Fri 8.30pm-11pm. Millennium Al Rawdah Hotel (050 393 5529). Stars ‘N’ Bars62 November 2023 timeoutabudhabi.com WITH A HUGE outdoor terrace, a very generous happy hour and friendly service, in our books, Ramsa should be packed to the rafters. It’s a crying shame that it isn’t – but for those in the know, this is one of the best mixed drinks bars in town. Ramsa, which means “chitchat” in Arabic, Àrst opened at Erth Hotel in November last year. Better known as the Armed Forces OfÀcers Club & Hotel, the hotel began its rebrand and renovation in 2021, with the East Wing now decked out in sandy tones and minimalist décor. You’ll Ànd this spot in the central part of the hotel, which has yet to be renovated. In contrast with the marble and gold outside, Ramsa is all neon lights and retro touches, with old school boomboxes and telephones lining the walls, bringing a real sense of nostalgia for the ‘70s and ‘80s. While the interiors are gorgeous (and we imagine you’ll take more than a few pictures of the “stop thinking start drinking” sign), it’s the outdoor area where you should be heading. There are a number of cabanas for large groups, plus sofas and bar seating, with string lighting overhead. There are two large outdoor screens for watching the football, but you can just as easily avoid them and tune into the chilled-out playlist. Ramsa’s beverage menu covers a mix of classic and signature mixed drinks, as well as draught hops, short drinks, and glasses of grape. There’s a lot to love on the mocktail menu, with a number of options that go beyond the typical sugary sweet juices. That generous happy hour runs between 4pm and 9pm daily, with two-for-one on selected beverages, including classic WHAT IS IT... Retro-style mixed drinks bar at Erth WHY GO... For elevated mixed drinks and mocktails mixed drinks. Perfect for getting the conversation Áowing, like the name of this bar suggests. Street food is Ramsa’s bread and butter (or should we say Àsh and chips), with eats from around the globe covered, from croquetas and fried plantain to bao buns and pani puri. As eclectic as it is tasty, it’s deÀnitely a conversation-starter. Erth’s rebrand and new openings may have passed you by, but we think a visit to Ramsa will have you waxing lyrical about it in no time at all. BAR OF THE MONTH “For those in the know, this is one of the best mixed drink bars in town” Time Out reviews anonymously and pays for its meals Ramsa O Open Mon-Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri-Sun 4pm-1am. Erth, Khor Al Maqta, erth.ae (02 497 5832).timeoutabudhabi.com November 2023 63 STRONG BRAND NAME recognition is something many companies dream of. With The Irish Vicker’s, we think of good grub, a lively atmosphere, and Irish hospitality. But if you’re expecting Culann Aries to be a twin to its older sibling, prepare to be disappointed. We’re sure we’re not the only ones who thought Water’s Edge was getting a pub when Culann Aries opened in November 2022, particularly given the link has been emphasised in all of the branding. But in reality, Culann Aries is more Mediterranean than Irish, with Grecian blues and plenty of greenery, and you’ll “The space feels as though it’s caught between two concepts” WHAT IS IT... A Mediterranean eatery-slash-Irish pub WHY GO... For the Irish breakfast on the weekends Culann Aries O Open Mon-Fri noon-11.30pm; Sat-Sun 9.30am-11.30pm. Water’s Edge, Yas Island, @ culannaries (02 632 9252). Ànd waterfront views at the small outdoor area. In a move we’re not sure you’d Ànd in many classic European restaurants, there are a number of screens dotted throughout, leaving the space feeling like it’s caught between two concepts. That translates to the menu, too. While there is a large wood- Àred oven dishing out pizzas, and a number of pastas and typical starters such as calamari and bruschetta on the menu, it also branches out into Middle Eastern fare, with hot and cold mezze plates such as manakish and hummus. Confusingly, there’s also Irish pub grub, like Àsh It’s a mash-up we’re not sure helps with giving the bar a strong identity (or any identity at all). For those heading here for just a drink, there are draught hops (including pints of the black stuff), short drinks, grape and mixed drinks. Weekly deals keep Culann Aries competitive, with a daily happy hour, buy-one-get-one free on selected food and house beverages on Tuesdays, grape Wednesdays with buy-one-get- one free for ladies, and a sharing platter with two house beverages for Dhs99 on Thursdays. Weekdays prove a lot quieter than weekends, but on our latest visit, service is lacking. We’re left with the sense that Culann Aries wants to merge the look, and Áavours, of a Mediterranean restaurant with the community feel of an Irish pub. Admirable, but the venue could well fair better by choosing one or the other. and chips, plus beef stew. On Sundays, you’ll be able to grab a roast dinner for Dhs99, and Culann Aries is perhaps best known for its weekend fry-ups, where you can get a full Irish plus a house beverage for Dhs79. 64 November 2023 timeoutabudhabi.com With the Bike Abu Dhabi Gran Fondo taking place later this month, we’ve deÀnitely got cycling on the brain. While we don’t think we’re quite ready to take on the 154km route ourselves, we are taking the opportunity to get on two wheels. And if you’re equally inspired, here are eight cycling tracks to take on this November. ABU DHABI CORNICHE Love strolling along the Corniche, but are yet to use the cycle path? We think it’s time to change that. The full length of the bike route is 12km, and along the way you’ll be able to admire the city skyline as well as the beach and Arabian Gulf. O From Dhow Monument, Al Kasir to Mina Zayed. AL AIN CYCLE TRACK The heart of the cycling community in Al Ain, works to upgrade the 23km Al Ain Cycle Track were completed back in August, and you can take on the loop 24/7 as it is lit at night. Take it on by yourself, or keep an eye on the @alaincycletrack page on Instagram, where cycling events are posted regularly O Al Bateen, Al Ain, @alaincycletrack. AL AIN OASIS Part of the UNESCO Cultural Sites of Al Ain, Al Ain Oasis is a must-visit on any trip to the Garden City. Open 24/7, you can walk, jog, run or cycle through the paths around the 147,000 palm trees and admire the greenery. If you don’t have your own bike, there is a rental shop at the entrance where you’ll be able to rent bikes from Dhs20 per hour. O Central District, Al Ain. Sport & Outdoor AL RAHA BEACH The canals around Al Raha Beach have proven popular among joggers and cyclists. If you’re looking to avoid using bridges, you can either complete a loop from Al Zeina bridge down to Al Hadeel and back again, or from the other side of the bridge from Al Hadeel down to Lamar Residence. O Various locations including Al Bandar and Al Zeina. AL WATHBA CYCLE TRACK Perhaps the most popular track in this round- up, Al Wathba Cycle Track cuts through the desert dunes, making the route very scenic. For beginners, you can take on eight or 16km routes, while those with more time in the saddle can take on 20, 22 or the full 30km route. Routes are signposted, and the best time to visit is at sunrise or sunset, but the track is also lit up at night. O Near Al Wathba Lake, Al Wathba. HUDAYRIAT ISLAND For those who don’t want to travel to get their bike on, Hudayriat Island is the perfect option. There are 28km of designated cycle tracks, and you can also pay a visit to BMX Park at Circuit X where you can practice all kinds of tricks. There are big plans for Hudayriat Island on the cycling front: Velodome Abu Dhabi is due to open here in 2025. It will be home to the Àrst UCI Category 1 indoor cycling track in the region, and you’ll also be able to take on a track winding around the outside of the building which leads up to the rooftop track. In the near future, there will also be 220km of tracks throughout the island. On two wheels The best cycling tracks in the city and beyond now that the weather is perfect for getting back on the saddle Hudayriat Island NO BIKE? If you don’t have your own bike, the easiest way to rent one will be through Careem. Download the app, purchase a pass (one day is Dhs20, one week Dhs50, and one month Dhs75), and you’ll be ready to go. Once you’ve paid, use the map to Ànd docking stations and use the QR code to unlock your wheels. You get unlimited 45-minute rides for the duration of your pass, and if you want to ride for longer, you can pay Dhs10 for every extra 30 minutes, O iOS and Android. Various locations including Abu Dhabi Corniche and Al Raha Beach.timeoutabudhabi.com November 2023 65 O Circuit X: Dhs25 (helmet and 30-minute access), Dhs40 (helmet and one-hour access), Dhs80 (helmet, bike and one-hour access). Open Mon-Thu 2pm-10pm; Fri 2pm-11pm; Sat-Sun 9am-11pm. Hudayriat Island, circuitxuae.com (050 195 2214). YAS MARINA CIRCUIT On Mondays and Wednesdays, Yas Marina Circuit opens its doors to Àtness fanatics who can walk, run or cycle around the 5.5 km track. While you certainly won’t hit the speeds of Formula One cars, we do think the Áoodlights make us go faster (but maybe that’s just us?). The event is hosted in partnership with Abu Dhabi Cycling Club, and you can borrow a bike and a helmet for free at the ComYas village. Just make sure you register for TrainYAS in advance through the Yas Marina Circuit in advance. O Mon, Wed 6pm-10pm. yasmarinacircuit.com. Yas Marina Circuit66 November 2023 timeoutabudhabi.com Dhs65 WHILE WE’RE SERIOUS about telling you the best places to dine in the city, eating out doesn’t have to be that deep at all. In fact, for this month’s Hype Dish, we thought we’d share one of the most whimsical plates we’ve seen in our time in the capital. Restaurant-slash-bar-slash-arcade Central has long been known as a brilliantly fun night out, with a mix of classics, VR experiences HYPE DISH DISSECTION What goes into the Abu Dhabi plates that everyone bangs on about and modern games for you to take on. And now that playful character is being expressed through its new menu. Central is all about the burgers, and you can now try the Central Burger, a macaron burger dessert, complete with biscuit fries and a jammy dip, all served atop a skateboard. Completely unique, and totally Instagrammable, we knew we needed to chat to chef Karen Joy to Ànd out more. She notes, “By placing it on a skateboard, we’re not just delivering a dessert; We’re offering a mini spectacle that combines taste, aesthetics, and a touch of whimsy, embodying the essence of Central’s dining philosophy.” Let’s dive in further... O Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island, central-uae.com (04 423 8311). THE INSPIRATION “We wanted to blur the lines between sweet and savoury, challenging the traditional notion of what a burger can be. We want to leave a lasting impression on our diners.” THE PATTY “The sweet burger’s patty is a harmonious blend of Áavours and textures, and consists of a coconut mousse patty.” Sounds good to us. THE BUN “Crafted from crunchy, chewy, and sweet macarons, it’s designed to mimic the feel of a toasted bun. Each macaron layer offers a contrast to the soft and creamy patty.” THE SAUCES “To infuse a fruity and slightly tangy contrast, and to add a pop of colour, we’ve introduced cranberry and strawberry sauces, akin to ketchup in a regular burger.” Central burger at CentralNext >