Cielo Sky Lounge - Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

Cielo is set at the top of the Club House of the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, surrounded by restaurants and overlooking the waters of the Creek. On the rare occurrence that I head that far down town, its always great to try something new, and Cielo had been highly recommended by a bunch of my down town pals. A private, very VIP-esqe lift transports you up to the top floor (its not very high so dont worry if heights put you off a bit..) where you are welcomed by open air, spacious surroundings, bean bag-ish chairs and large white lounge sofas, all spilling out from a central canopy (which resembles a tree almost..) umbrella-ing the bar. Panoramic views across Dubai's cityscape are available from nearly every seat and for some, you even get views of the picturesque Dubai Creek and surroundings.

Once plonked on a extremely comfortable bean bag chair (probably not the most attractive way to sit), a drinks menu was drawn to my attention... An array of fruity and classic cocktails were laid out in front of me as well as a vast selection of wines, beers, soft drinks and small tapas plates - a very Mediterranean style of dining/un-winding. They do a superb cucumber martini and a very strong and not too sweet espresso martini too.

This sophisticated sky lounge is not only a great place to enjoy a few sunny d's and some nibbles, it is also a great place (so i hear..) to party the night away with top DJs who head to the Creek to light up the deck, creating a home for deep house music and performances from both local and international DJs. So escape the city, enjoy the drinks, eat some tapas and be prepared to be transported to the Med...

Bliss Lounge - Sheraton, JBR Dubai

Bliss has been high up on my list of places to visit for a while... Situated in the middle of the grounds of the Sheraton Hotel, Bliss does stand out from its surroundings. Being quite a bit smaller than I expected, this did not dampen the setting of beach and sea which laid out in front of the bar. Pitching itself somewhere between the ultra glamorous and beautiful Jetty Lounge and the heavy beats and booziness of XL, its pleasant with some pumping tunes (meaning a spontaneous boogy could definitely be on the cards) and cocooned by long bamboo looking sticks with a circular bar greeting you at the entrance.

Bliss hosts different levels of decking, featuring booths, low table settings and seats on the beach where one can dig their toes into the sand. Sleek whites, grey and mauve can we found in the furniture with low mood lighting in the form of boxes on tables, spot lights in the floor and white large bulbs leading up to the lounge. 

Even though it is probably a better destination for the cooler months, on the breezy night it is definitely bearable and the Bliss staff come prepared with large industrial fans - these might slightly spoil the setting but at least it keeps you cool whilst still being outdoors.

They offer a variety of finger food, sushi, healthy salads and tapas which come served as perfect sharing plates. Try the Ahi Tuna Tartar - the mix of sesame, tuna and avocado is delicious and light and leaves room to try the scrumptious cocktail and wine variety that they have on offer.

Great spot for sunny d's, dates or just casual dinners. Bliss is there to suit your every mood.