Cosmopolitan Dubai has an ever-increasingt range of bars and pubs to suit all tastes and place to place, as do ladies' nights. Check out Mumtazz or the monthly entertainment mags for details.

AGENCY :
This smart wine bar is one of the most popular and a favourite after-work spot, for good reason. There's an extensive list of Old and New World wines, a good range of quality wines by the glass, themed tasting selections (Dh75 for four wines), and a variety of tasty snacks and 'wine teasers'. Try the chicken liver pSte with apricot chutney (Dh30), basil-marinated Gorgonzola and Roma tomatoes (Dh28), mari­nated Manchega cheese with garlic-cured ol­ives (Dh28), fried squid and chips with alioli (Dh24) or the cheese selection (Dh58).

APARTMENT
Although it's better known as a sophisticated fine-dining restaurant, the Apart­ment consists of several luxuriously furnished rooms, one of which resembles a comfortable living room while another is more like a cellar bar. If you have a dinner booking, go early for the complementary wine and cheese, other­wise enjoy a quiet glass of champagne before the beautiful people hit the bar around 1am.

BAHRI BAR
There's no better place to unwind than the vast veranda of this colonial Arabian-style bar, complete with comfy sofas, Persian car­pets and candlelight. From the balcony of the Bahri Bar you can sip a chilled glass of white, eat Arabian tapas, enjoy the balmy breeze and take in breathtaking views of the harbour and sea. Or you can admire the best architecture Dubai has to offer with the magnificent Burj Al Arab in front of you and the magical Mina A'Salam all around you. The interior of the bar is equally atmospheric.

BALCONY BAR
In one of the most elegant and tastefully styled hotels in the city, you can enjoy coffee, cigars and cognac in a dark-wood designer bar.

Ladies' Nights
Every night is ladies' night in Dubai. It's just a matter of choosing the right bar or club for cheap or free drinks... Here's a sampler.

 ▪ Saturday - at Harry Ghatto's (below) the girls get 40% off the bill

 ▪ Sunday - free cocktails at Tangerine or two free drinks at Oxygen

 ▪ Tuesday - a big night in Dubai - two-for-one cocktails before 10pm at Ginseng , two free drinks at Zinc between 6pm and 11 pm, or, better yet, free flowing champagne at Boudoir
 ▪    Wednesday - women get two free drinks from 8.30pm to 11.30pm at Long's and two free drinks before lam at Planetarium

 ▪ Friday - Seville's offers two free drinks between 6pm and 8pm, free paella at sundown

BAR :
Spectrum on One, Fairmont, Sheikh ZayedRd; 7pm-1am

In addition to an array of dining areas and interactive kitchens, there's a stylish bar at the back of Spectrum on One, overlooking Sheikh Zayed Rd. With a long bar, moody wood, a few comfortable seating areas, an enormous glassed-in wine cellar and an innovative cock­tail menu (try the Bikini Martini), this is a bar for people who take their drinking seriously.

THE BAR
Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Rd; 6.30pm-lam

This very dusky but fashionable bar, just off the hotel lobby, has changed its identity a few times. Adjoining the Rib Room, it's the perfect place for a pre- or postdinner drink. If the TV inside is too annoying, take up a position on the voguish white leather seats out front and enjoy the people-watching.

BARASTI BAR
399 3333; Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Resort; 6pm-2am

This laid-back outdoor restaurant and seaside bar is the spot to sip a drink and watch the sun go down on a balmy afternoon. The big night here is Friday, when a DJ pulls in a funky young crowd for the Mina Moon Beach Party. On other nights of the week it's more of a peaceful place to watch the waves roll in.

BOLLYWOOD CAFE Regal Plaza Hotel, Bur Dubai; 7pm-3am

The Bollywood Cafe is most definitely a bars not a cafe, and can be rather sleazy at that. 1 is the place to go for the bizarre experiefl of seeing a live Bollywood performance beautiful Indian women miming to the mo hits. You probably won't want to stay too lor) especially if you're a single woman, as the la shows can get spicier than the curries.

CARBON LOUNGE Hilton Dubai Creek, Deira;

A sleek setting, superb cocktails and slight views of Dubai Creek make this a perfect spot for a Bellini before dining at Glasshouse or Verre.

EL MALECON
Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, Jumeirah; 7.30pm-3am

While flavourful Cuban-inspired food is served in this graffiti-walled interior - inspired by Hav-ana's favourite bar the Bodeguita del Media - El Malecon is better known for its live Cuban and Latino music, cocktails and salsa danc-ing. The place hots up around midnight when you'd think you were at Carnivale. Pens are available so you can add your autograph to the walls and salsa lessons are offered some nights.

GINSENG
Wafi City, Bur Dubai;  7pm-2am Fri-Wed, 7pm-3am Thu

Sip the best caiporinhas (drinks made with trad itional Brazilian sugar cane cachaca) in town at this funky East-meets-West bar while admir ing the contemporary orange, red and beige interior and giant wall mirrors. Spicy Asian tapas are on the menu while DJ Stickyfingeis. serves up very cool grooves. Saturday's special is a dozen dim sum and bottle of wine in disounted rates.

HARRY GHATTO'S
Tokyo @ the Towers, Emirates Towers Shopping Boulevard, Sheikh Zayed Rd; 7.30pm-3 am

At the back of Tokyo @ the Towers, this intimate karaoke bar is popular with the after work crowd and gets packed on a Wednesday night after the sake has taken effect.

ISSIMO COCKTAIL BAR
Hilton Dubai Creek, Deira;  9pm-3am ,

cafe by day, cocktail bar by night, late Wednes-day night is the best time to go to Issimo, when it transforms into Jazz Clinic. Sink into the black leather sofas and unwind to the smooth sounds of jazz and trip-hop, or sit yourself on a stool and mingle with the mel-how yet sociable crowd.

JULES
Le Meridien Dubai, Al-Garhoud; 11-3 am

This, American-themed bar has a resident Filipino band and a menu featuring Cajun, Lex- Mex and Filipino food. It attracts a mixed crowd, gay and straight - Filipino expats. Gulf Arabs and businesswomen from the former Soviet Union - Dubai nightlife in a nutshell.

KU BU
Intercontinental Hotel, Deira; 6pm-3am

If this his dark groovy bar with contemporary Afrocool interiors isn't intimate enough, there are tiny secluded corners made all the more cosy by velvet curtains. Get comfy with some cock-tails and your friends, and the slick music will ensure you stay settled for the night.

MARRAKECH
Shangri-La, Sheikh Zayed Rd; 1-3pm, 7.30pnv1am

More of a restaurant than a bar, but the staff will let you stick to drinks and mezzes and watch the lively performance by the magnifi­cent three-piece traditional Moroccan band. In between sets sit back and enjoy the au­thentic Moroccan surroundings to the trickle of the fountain.

ROOFTOP BAR
One&Only Royal Mirage, Jumeirah 5pm-12.45am

Chill out for a while on the cushion-covered banquettes of this exotic The Thousand and One Nigts-styled bar and you'll be heading to the souq the next day to recreate this oriental fantasy palace back home. From the moment you climb the candle-lit stairs, to your first glimpse of the rooftop decked out with Per­sian carpets and Moroccan lanterns, you won't want to leave. Just wait till you get settled in with a glass of wine to watch the sun set over the sea. During the hot summer months, the inside bar is equally atmospheric.

SEVILLE'S
Wafi City, Bur Dubai;  noon-2am  Sat-Wed, noon-3am Thu-Fri

This popular Spanish bar-cum-restaurant has  the best sangria and tastiest tapas in town,  During the cooler months you can settle on  the outdoor terrace overlooking an amazing  swimming pool and allow the Spanish guitarists to entertain you.

SHO CHO'S
Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa,

Jumeirah Rd;  7.30pm-12.30am Sat-Wed, 7.30pm-2.30am Thu-Fri

The interior of this glossy sushi bar (with in-house DJ) is way sharp - futuristic white eather chairs, neon-blue light and fish tanks in the walls. During the winter months, the bar swells to an outdoor deck where you can enjoy the balmy beach breezes and music -from 1 Opm to 2am kick back to deep house on Wednesday and Thursday, tribal and progres­sive house on Friday.

SKYVIEW BAR
Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah; 11-2am

The boldly coloured ceilings and carpets and over-the-top decor may make your stomach churn, but the head-turning views of Dubai make it all worthwhile. Phone ahead to make sure the hotel isn't at full capacity, then pay Dh200 at the security entrance, which can be redeemed at any of the outlets inside. Unfor­tunately for most, who can only afford to stay for the one quick drink, saying you've been to the world's first seven-star hotel is what it's all about. The wines are superb, the complete mentary snacks are continually replenished and the hors d'oeuvre are rather delicious, so ask for a window seat and settle in for some time.

UP ON THE TENTH Intercontinental Dubai; noon-3am Not as sophisticated as we all once thought when it was one of the few upmarket bars in the city, but the floor to ceiling windows of this five-star piano bar still provide superb views of Dubai Creek. There's good champagne and live jazz some nights.

UPTOWN
24th fl, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Rd;   . 7pm-2am

Sit inside in this elegant bar or outside the terrace - from either position you'll vour spectacular views of the turquoise the magnificent Burj Al Arab and the sublin sandy coast towards the centre of Dubai.

VINTAGE Map Wafi City, Bur Dubai; 6pm-1.30 am

Wine aficionados nor only love the awesome wine list, sophisticated atmosphere and wide range of grape by the glass, the delicious cheese selections also tempt the tasters in Particularly popular is the Monday and Friday promotion - cheese fondue for two with a bottle of wine.

VU'S BAR
51st fl, Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Rd; 6 pm, am

At 220m above Dubai, Vu's has amazing vievs over the city. Most of the drinks also have equally amazing prices, although there are some delicious and more reasonably priced wines by the glass. The super stylish decor starry sky and views down Sheikh Zayed Rd will compensate.

Top Ye Old Pubs
The old English-style pubs in Dubai were the lifeblood of the expat, an informal social club where one could meet others who shared a love of bad food and warm beer. Given the expat scene today where no-one talks to people outside their clique unless they've been sampling a two-for-one vodka promotion, the pubs are still a good place to meet for conversation and a few ales.

So, for your drinking and socialising pleasure, here are some of the better ones. But don't blame us if you get stuck talking to an oil engineer who's been in the Gulf on and off since the 70s and is reminiscing through his beer goggles...

•  Aussie Legends Bar (Rydges Plaza Hotel, Satwa; 3pm-3am Fri-Wed, noon-3am Thu) The pride and joy of Dubai's first Aussie bar is the telly pumping out footy and cricket.

•  Carters (Pyramids, Wafi City;  noon-2am) This kitsch pub and restaurant is a Dubai institution. Overlook, or find humour in, the colonial Egyptian theme, or head to the outdoor terrace instead.

•   Dubliners ( behind Le Meridien Dubai, Al-Garhoud; 11-3am) This smoky, boozy Irish bar serves pub grub and stays open late.

 ▪  Irish Village (Aviation Club, Dubai Tennis Stadium, off Al-Garhoud Rd, Deira; 11-1.15am) Popular with British expats, this casual watering hole, with its large outdoor area, is the best of the Irish pubs.

•   Long's Bar (Tower Rotana Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Rd; noon-3am) This American-style pub is renowned for having the longest bar, live bands and staying open late. On Friday happy hour lasts all day with drinks.

•   Rock Bottom Cafe (Regent Palace Hotel, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Rd, Bur Dubai; 10-3am) Another Dubai institution, this is the pub/pick-up joint people end up at when common sense should tell them to go home. Eat free fish and chips from 3pm to 7pm on Sunday.