Monkey Bar

Monkey Bar brings the playful style of the 25hours brand to the sixth floor of its One Central hotel, near the Dubai World Trade Centre. The bar has a terrace looking over the surrounding towers of the Trade Centre district and a menu of Nikkei-inspired dishes, the Japanese-Peruvian fusion that pairs well with cocktails, and it has become a popular after-work spot for people working in the offices nearby.

The space is designed with the same eye for quirky detail as the rest of the hotel, with a mix of lounge seating inside and tables on the terrace. The drinks list focuses on cocktails, with wines and beers alongside, and the food menu is built for sharing: small plates that combine Japanese technique with Peruvian flavours. DJs set the mood in the evenings, building the energy as the night goes on without turning it into a club.

The terrace is the place to be for sundowners in the cooler months, when the heat has gone out of the day and the towers of Sheikh Zayed Road light up. In summer, the air-conditioned interior is the comfortable option. Booking ahead is wise for Thursday and Friday evenings and for groups. Contact the hotel on +971 4 210 2525 or by email for reservations. Guests must be 21 or over to drink alcohol.

The crowd is mixed and sociable, with office workers early in the evening giving way to friends and couples later on. It suits groups of friends, couples and business travellers staying in the area, including visitors in town for exhibitions and conferences at the World Trade Centre, as well as hotel guests looking for a drink without leaving the building.

The bar is in the 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central on Trade Centre Street, off Sheikh Zayed Road. World Trade Centre Metro station on the Red Line is about a nine-minute walk away, making it easy to reach without a car, and taxis are easy to find outside the hotel late at night. The hotel's other venues, including the ERNST biergarten and the Juña rooftop shisha lounge, are on hand if you want to change scene, and Fibber Magee's Irish pub is a short walk away for a pint.