< Previous40 January 2025 timeoutdubai.com WHAT IS IT... A neighbourhood gastropub with a cracking roast dinner WHY GO... For British food done right in a stylishly homey setting The Bolt Hole O Open Mon-Fri 3pm-11.30pm, Sat-Sun 11.30am-11.30pm. Licensed. Villa Nova, Al Ain Road, @theboltholedubai (800 666 353). STRAIGHT FROM A from a very ‘Cotswolds chic’ Pinterest board, The Bolt Hole is a beautiful space that’s all flagstone floors, exposed brick and a warmly lit open kitchen. It’s giving homey and all the feels. There’s an abundance of foliage surrounding comfy yellow velvet booths indoors and a sun-kissed pub garden outdoors, transporting you to the British countryside feels (sans the dreary weather). Located in Villanova Dubai, the cute community gastro pub is everything you could want for post-work drinks or dinner with friends (don’t miss the decent happy hour). Oh, and for family- dominated weekend outings, it’s bound to be a hit, with sprawling lawns for the kids to run wild on. The Bolt Hole features many British classics (read fish and chips, roast, pie of the week) as well as a selection of culture- clashing dishes (adobo spring rolls, green curry bowls and nasi goreng), for those who want to take a walk on the wild side. But if there’s one unmissable dish to get your chops around – it’s the roast beef, which uses 250 days of grain-fed beef cooked three ways. Slow-roasted topside, slow-roasted cube roll and pulled beef brisket served with maple roasted parsnips, carrots, broccolini, duck fat roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, horse radish cream and a special gravy you’ll want to dip every single ingredient in. The highlight (other than that gravy)? The impossibly pillowy Yorkshire pudding. Crispy on the outside and softening up right at the perfect moment. Opt for another quintessential classic, the fish and chips, which delivers nostalgia on a plate. As you dine, take your pick from 15 different taps, with 13 of those for hops and two for grape. Service is slick and the setting is comfy for all the fam. If you love great elevated pub food, a super weekend roast and a wide selection of hops, The Bolt Hole will remind expats of Sunday dinners back home. FITNESS RESOLUTIONS O Go beyond the routine at Gate Avenue—run with passion, swing with precision, or find balance in serene yoga sessions —all designed to inspire. #VisitDIFC difc.ae 42 January 2025 timeoutdubai.com Sagra Italian Pastificio O Open Tue-Sun, noon-11pm. Unlicensed. Jumeirah, @sagra.dubai (058 545 2690). IT’S NO SECRET that a good bowl of pasta is a universal comfort food. Slurping down that first strand of spaghetti or twirling a forkful of fettucine gives us all those warm and fuzzies. Though pasta is simple in its form, done wrong and it becomes a bowl of soggy starch, but done right, you’ve suddenly got a reservation to remember for all the right reasons. Say ciao to Sagra, an artisanal (and affordable) pastificio, “Twirling a forkful of fettucine gives us all those warm and fuzzies” standing humbly on the side of Jumeirah Street. Priding itself on making fresh pasta in-house, diners flock here when they crave a true little taste of Italy. The owner comes from an Italian family after all, so you can understand why. The Mediterranean charm is in Sagra’s interiors, too. Think mismatched wooden chairs and walls brimming with basic proverbs you can only smile at. Ordering is a fun affair here. Although there’s an existing menu to choose from, those in the mood for pick-and-mix can choose from everything from tagliatelle, gnocchi and ravioli and more, ready to be smothered in truffle, bolognese ragu, butter and sage, white lamb ragu, green pesto, parmigiano or butter and three tomatoes. There’s no judgment on your preferred combo either: macaroni with ragu? No problem (just don’t tell your Italian pals). While waiting for your flour and eggs mix to be freshly pressed, order the tagliere mix of cheese and meats and the zesty panzanella salad, a classic Tuscan and Umbrian chopped salad of soaked stale bread, onions and tomatoes. While service could be a tad more urgent, all is forgiven once your steaming hot bowl arrives, filled with al-dente goodness and dollops of vibrant sauce. Our advice? Ask for some focaccia to mop up the excess and buon appetito. Feast in the early evening and you’ll notice Sagra’s workshop next door being prepped for its popular pasta-making sessions, every Wednesday and Sunday, arguably the best part of this Jumeirah spot. Besides, nothing tastes better than something you created (well, almost). If you don’t have time to stick around, be sure to pick up a Sagra box with raw ingredients that you can cook at home. This wholesome gem delivers on all the warming vibes, wrapped up in one delicious meal. Now that’s Italian comfort food (in Dubai) at its finest. WHAT IS IT... A rustic Italian restaurant in Jumeirah WHY GO... For comforting pasta plates in a laid-back setting44 January 2025 timeoutdubai.com H appy hours, the clue is in the name. They’re made to cheer us up with cheap and cheerful discounts on our favourite drinks all across the city. Every single day of the week you’ll be able to find a deal catering to you and your mood. If you’re looking to tighten the purse strings post-Christmas, these are officially the top ten in town (as revealed at the Time Out Dubai Nightlife Awards 2024). CROWN & LION Breathe easy. Your pay cheque is about to go that little bit further. British watering hole the Crown & Lion is back and with it comes a load of great value deals for all self- respecting pubgoers. Get a round in any day of the week without feeling the pinch with pints at a steal. O From Dhs27. Daily 3pm-8pm. ibis One Central, Trade Centre, crownandliondubai.com (04 370 6598). Nightlife Crack a smile Happy hours to lighten your mood, not your wallet Lock, Stock & Barrel, JBRtimeoutdubai.com January 2025 45 FIBBER MAGEE’S, SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD As Time Out Dubai’s Pub of the Year 2024, there’s nothing like a chilled-out pint at Fibbers. And the happy hour here is a cracker, being more of a happy day. You’ll get deals on drinks from 1pm until 7pm Sunday through Friday, while on a Saturday happy hour is from 2pm until 8pm. Get it in your diary, now. O From Dhs25. Sun-Fri 1pm-7pm, Sat 2pm-8pm. Saeed Tower One, Sheikh Zayed Road, fibbersdubai.com (04 332 2400). IRIS DUBAI Enjoy the open-air bar as the sun goes down with views of Dubai’s skyline in the distance as you sip on drinks starting from Dhs20, every day of the week (except for Saturdays, from 6pm to 8pm). Hops starts from Dhs20, short measures start at Dhs25, glasses of grape (including sparkling) are Dhs30, while eight different mixed drinks are priced at Dhs35. Sunday is perhaps the best time to visit – a bottle of a popular pink grape brand is just Dhs150 from 6pm to 2am. O From Dhs20. Sun-Fri, 6pm-8pm. Meydan Racecourse, irisdubai.com (04 334 3355) . JB’S GASTROPUB Nestled just off The Walk on JBR, it’s also a popular pub come kick-off time and is a top place to see all your favourite sports live on TV. If you’re looking to take things a bit easier on your wallet, make a beeline here every day from noon until 8pm where you’ll find a range of affordable options. O From Dhs32. Daily noon-8pm, midnight-1.30am. Amwaj Rotana JBR, The Walk, JBR, @jbsgastropub (04 428 3084). LOCK, STOCK & BARREL, JBR We love LSB – live music, large portions and, best of all, cut-price drinks. The happy hour here is long – meaning if you escape work early you’ll be in luck. Monday through Saturday the deals run from 4pm until 8pm, while on a Sunday it’s a whopping six-hour- long affair from 2pm until 8pm. You’ll get buy- one-get-one on grape, hops and mixed drinks. O Buy-one-get-one-free. Mon-Sat 4pm-8pm, Sun 2pm- 8pm. Rixos Premium Dubai, JBR, lsbdubai.com (04 423 8307). SALMON GURU If you want to try the Madrid-born hot spot’s innovative beverages for less, it’s time to make a date at its ‘Guru Hours’. Held from Monday to Thursday, 4pm until 7pm, you can get mixed drinks for Dhs44, which makes it a prime place for a date or a post-work catch-up with your pals. Billing itself as a ‘mixed drinks laboratory’ from world-famous mixologist Diego Cabrera, you won’t want to miss this. O From Dhs45. Mon-Thu 4pm-7pm. The Opus by Omniyat, Business Bay, @salmongurudubai (052 814 9537). ROKA THE BEST IN TOWN GOOSE ISLAND TAP HOUSE, JVC HIGHLY COMMENDED! A brilliant place to head with your pals when you’re after a bargain bevvy. A friendly neighbourhood bar, you’ll get selected beverages priced from Dhs29 Monday to Thursday from noon until 8pm and on weekends from noon until 6pm. O From Dhs29. Mon-Fri noon-8pm, Sat & Sun noon-6pm. FIVE Jumeirah Village, JVC, gooseislanddubai.com (04 455 9989). NOLA EATERY & SOCIAL HOUSE HIGHLY COMMENDED! At the heart of this New Orleans- inspired eatery is a huge marble-topped bar. And it’s a place that gets especially busy come happy hour. From your perch, you’ll be in prime position to make the most of the drinks deals. The daily happy hour runs from 5pm to 7pm, with short measures from Dhs27, house grape from Dhs28 and pints from Dhs35. O From Dhs27. Daily 5pm-7pm. Cluster P, JLT, noladubai.com (04 399 8155). ROKA WINNER! You might be surprised to find out that one of Dubai’s high-end Japanese restaurants also happens to offer a rather generous happy hour. For four hours, from 4pm to 8pm Monday through to Friday, ROKA’s bar turns into a tempting venue for after-work drinks. There’s hops for Dhs20, glasses of Italian bubbly and grape for Dhs35 and a choice of four mixed drinks at Dhs35 each. You’ll also find bites like seared salmon sushi for Dhs35. Winning. O From Dhs20. Mon-Fri 4pm-8pm (bar area only). The Opus by OMNIYAT, Business Bay, rokarestaurant.com (04 439 7171).46 January 2025 timeoutdubai.com NOT ALL SPEAKEASIES are created equal and Moonshine is the epitome of the genre. No, this isn’t your usual inside- a-fancy restaurant situation, which you probably expect from the sort in Dubai (because let’s be honest, most of them are). This enigmatic venue, which opened its unassuming door in late 2023, Moonshine is very much a IYKYK kind of place. A little shrouded in mystery, definitely hiding in plain sight. You would never think that Wise Guys, the popular DIFC sandwich shop, serves as a front to this secret bar (while also serving up some incredibly stacked sandwiches). Make your way down the Marble Walk in DIFC’s Gate District and head straight to the deli counter. When facing it, look toward the right to find a light green mid-century-style fridge door, which you wouldn’t normally give a second glance to. It’s just a fridge, right? Wrong. It’s your way into Moonshine. Open the door and step into a dimly lit corridor featuring warped mirrors, leading you to the celestial-themed bar. It’s a small space with just a handful of tables. It’s intimate and moody in the best way. Interiors are all dark grey and black hues with a couple of full moon-shaped backlit wall features that shine like the moon, of course. At the heart of Moonshine is the bar, serving up classic disco-era-inspired mixed drinks. There’s also a small menu of thoughtfully curated bites if you’re a little peckish. The best part? On weekdays, there’s no minimum spend to book a table. Happy wallet, happy you. Weekends get hyped for bottle service, complete with prices that WHAT IS IT... The king of Dubai speakeasies can be found in DIFC, shrouded in mystery yet hiding in plain sight WHY GO... To visit Time Out Dubai’s Best Speakeasy 2024 are more accessible than most Dubai lounges. Head here for after-work drinks with a small (read small) group of friends and expect a more laid-back vibe, but as the night unfolds, Moonshine transforms. The lively hot spot has beats pulsing through the airwaves from a stellar line-up of DJs. An insider tip? Head down before 10pm and you’re likely to beat the crowd. After you’ve partied the night away, you’ll leave feeling like you know about one of the best-kept secrets in town. And you know what, you do. “It’s just a fridge, right? Wrong. It’s your way into Moonshine” Time Out reviews anonymously and pays for its meals Moonshine O Open Tue-Sat 6pm-3am. The Marble Walk Dubai, DIFC, @moonshinedubai (052 450 7795). 48 January 2025 timeoutdubai.com NOWADAYS THE CITY’S shoreline is pretty abuzz with beach clubs, but as new pools pop up, it’s clear that the old-timers still know what they’re doing. They say third time’s a charm (and they might be right), because COVEBEACH is back in a cool new location and it’s sizzling. With a prime spot on JBR comes a big expectation, there’s no room for disappointment. Thankfully, we don’t find any letdowns with COVE 3.0. But first, let’s recap. Oldtimers will remember COVEBEACH 1.0, housed in the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. This was pre-2018. Then, “The raised beds in the pool are the best spot to keep cool with a drink in hand” COVEBEACH O Dhs200 (Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri, Dhs100 redeemable), Dhs300 (Wed, Sat-Sun, Dhs150 redeemable). Open daily 10am-1am. La Vie, JBR, covebeach.com (050 454 6920). it made its move to Bluewaters. For six years, the beach club resided at Caesars Palace (now Banyan Tree). This most recent reopening? JBR’s La Vie – and it might be the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous location yet. Upon arrival step onto the lush terrace, which looks down on the pristine day beds and infinity pool. It’s Insta-worthy, trust us. Behind that, you have the prime lookout onto Ain Dubai. Now that you’ve got your best pose, it’s time for luxury lounging. Beds start at Dhs200 (and are partly redeemable), but note that the menu isn’t cheap either. The party doesn’t get going until later in the day, so head along earlier if you fancy a chill vibe when soaking up some rays. There’s also a Wednesday ladies’ day deal for sips and sunshine, with free-flowing pink grape for Dhs199 from noon until 5pm. Just like the venue, the menu’s had an upgrade and the seafood is where it’s at. Make room on the day bed for a plate of spider maki and, if you’re going all out, there’s a fish bar inside you can browse. Don’t stay on your lounger for too long though. The raised beds in the pool are the best spot to keep cool with a drink in hand as the DJ blasts beats over the water for an upbeat vibe. A cool seaside spot for a party (dress code: swimwear), COVEBEACH is definitely in its post-break-up era. It’s dressed to impress, living large and always up for a good time. WHAT IS IT... The popular Dubai beach club is back (again) and this time, it’s giving glow-up WHY GO... To enjoy a chic day by the shore, with stellar viewsNext >