W Lounge

W Lounge is the main bar at W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island, the hotel that straddles Yas Marina Circuit. It is an international-style lounge with views of the marina and the racetrack, and it is built around crafted drinks at the bar and a resident DJ who sets the tone as the evening goes on. For many people staying on Yas Island, it is the obvious place to start or end a night out.

The setting is what makes it different. The hotel was designed by Asymptote Architecture to sit over the Formula One track, and from the lounge you look out over the circuit and the yachts of Yas Marina. On race weekends, the atmosphere and the views are very different from a quiet weekday, so check the calendar if you want to see the track in action.

W Lounge opens at weekends only: on Fridays from 18:00 until 02:00 and on Saturdays from 16:30 until 02:00, and it is closed from Sunday to Thursday. It is adults only, and the dress code is smart casual, so leave beachwear and sportswear in your room. If you prefer daytime drinks, WET Deck, the hotel's adults-only rooftop pool, has resident DJs and cocktails from morning until late, while Rush Bar is the hotel's sports bar for live matches.

The lounge suits couples, groups of friends and visitors staying on Yas Island who want a stylish night without travelling into the city. It is also a convenient stop after dinner at one of the restaurants around Yas Marina. Prices are in line with a five-star hotel bar, and the minimum legal drinking age in the UAE applies. Reservations can be made through the hotel on its main number.

W Abu Dhabi is on Yas Island, about 8.5 kilometres from Zayed International Airport, and close to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World and Yas Waterworld. Self-parking and valet parking at the hotel are complimentary, though blackout dates apply around race weekend. If you are not staying on the island, a taxi from central Abu Dhabi is the easiest way to get there and back.