VII Dubai

When we arrived at around midnight on a Friday night, the lounge was relatively quiet. A short walk through the tunnel leading outdoors revealed a livelier scene and Vii’s main attraction, with a canopy of leaves sheltering the bar, mirrored walls covered in green pasture and regal gold armchairs upholstered in the faux grass.

Despite the retro-royal furnishings, the bar feels deeply modern thanks to the clever juxtaposition of simple wooden paneling, vibrant lighting and a contemporary bareness throughout. A large DJ booth, where the resident decksmith plays deep tech and soulful house, sits next to the bar, where the staff is eager to show off their mixology skills.