Ray’s Bar

Ray's Bar is one of the highest bars in Abu Dhabi, set on level 62 of Tower 1 of Etihad Towers, the cluster of five skyscrapers that stands directly across from Emirates Palace. The towers were completed in 2011 to designs by DBI Design, and Tower 1 is home to the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, which took over from the original Jumeirah hotel and reopened in October 2020. If the towers look familiar, it may be because they were a filming location for Furious 7, in which a supercar is driven between three of them.

The main reason to come is the view. From the 62nd floor the city and the Gulf spread out below you, and at sunset the panorama is hard to beat. The hotel promotes Ray's Bar for its innovative cocktails and live entertainment, and there is a happy hour, so arriving early in the evening can be both cheaper and the best time for the light. Expect a stylish, upbeat atmosphere rather than a quiet hotel lounge.

The bar suits couples, friends on a night out and visitors who want to see the city from above with a drink in hand. Smart dress is the safe choice for a hotel bar at this level, and the minimum age for drinking alcohol in the UAE applies. If you want a window table, reserve ahead, especially at weekends and around sunset, and check current opening times and happy hour details with the hotel before you go.

The Conrad has plenty of other options for making a full evening of it. SUSHISAMBA Abu Dhabi, José by Pizarro and Li Beirut are all in the complex, the last two listed in the Michelin Guide Abu Dhabi 2026, so dinner and drinks can be combined without moving on. For an even higher viewpoint, the Observation Deck at 300 sits near the top of Tower 2, reached from the hotel through the podium that links the towers.

Etihad Towers is at the western end of the Corniche, close to Emirates Palace and Qasr Al Watan. A taxi is the easiest way to arrive. Pair a sunset drink here with an afternoon at the presidential palace or a walk along the Corniche earlier in the day.