Nightlife in Abu Dhabi tends to be restricted to the hotels, since the country's licensing laws restrict the sale of alcohol.

Bars: Heroes Diner, in the Crowne Plaza, is a sports bar with regular entertainment, while Mai Tai Bar in the Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers is a very friendly place with live music and a good, welcoming atmosphere. The Mardi Gras is a jazz bar and restaurant in the Capitol Hotel and is great for a cocktail or two. For loud music to dance to, the Filipino bar Ratskeys in the Grand Continental Hotel is the place to visit.

Clubs: The popular Tequilana club in the Hilton International has a variety of themed nights, like R&B nights and salsa nights. Zenith is a night club in the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort & Towers that often attracts quite a large crowd to its dance floor.

Live Music: Clubs with live music include the Sax Restaurant Club in Le Royal Meridien hotel and The Jazz Bar in the Hilton, both of which have good jazz bands. Bigger music concerts with international stars are often hosted by the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, Old Airport Road (beside Qasr al-Hosn) (tel: (02) 6215300).