I made a trip over to the Palm Jumeriah the other weekend to go and check out one of the bars that has recently opened. Bidi Bondi is an Australian themed sports bar situated in the Shoreline appartments. While I as there for a relaxed lunch I would imagine it would be a good venue to watch sports judging by the good number of flat screens scattered around.
There are no shortage of sports bars to hang out in Dubai but the thing that makes this place a little special is that it is basically a pool/beach club and sports bar rolled into one. If one was to bring your swimwear with you it is quite feasible to enjoy a dip and a bit of a sun bathe in between enjoying a couple of cold beverages. I took a few snaps to try and capture the resort feel:
Good of them to include some shade cloth in the kiddies pool:
I left with a sense of distinct sense of “pool deck evny” as my lunch partner commented. Sure I live in a place I could have only dreamed about a year ago. But just minutes down the road there is something even better in some respects. The thought of living on top a world class beach resort with a sports bar is something I did not think possible in Dubai. It would seem that the Palm has made that fantasy a reality. In fact writing this has made me want to go back again – I have visions of me enjoying a lazy brunch on the sun terrace this weekend with fifteen of my closest Dubai mates. Sounds ideal.
Overall – As a bar Bidi Bondi is pretty good. But when you add in the pool and beach that adjoin it, I have to say move over Barasti your time is up. 9/10
Nice
By: Dee on January 19, 2009
at 5:37 am
Looks awesome. Do you have to be a Palm resident or guest of one to get in and are the prices good or are they similar to Atlantis the rip-off?
By: Matt on January 19, 2009
at 11:50 am
You can go in to the bar no problem. Though I am hearing now that they are cracking down on entry to the pool to residents and their guests only.
By: Aaron on January 19, 2009
at 3:13 pm
yeah, they actually have a nasty looking barrier now, that not only blocks access to the pool area, but blocks the nice view of the beach and sea – also, you can’t walk along the promenade and go from one beach club/bar to another – you have to leave and go out the front, and walk / drive to the next one from the street.
Kind of spoilt it for me – as a palm resident, but living in a villa not the shorelines, it made me feel pretty unwelcome.
By: mike on January 21, 2009
at 5:12 pm
just a suggestion,
You might want to add http://linkexpats.com (expatriates social networking website) to your links page. It may benefit your readers as well.
By: kay on April 24, 2009
at 12:46 am