EURO 2020 IS finally upon us, and fans of the beautiful game cannot wait to pull on their colours, fly the flag and get stuck into wall-to-wall coverage of the continent’s biggest football tournament.
But what about those who (gulp) don’t care if football is coming home?
Well, in the interest of fair play, we’ve swapped the football boots for stylish shoes, donned a buttoned shirt instead of our kit and shown the red card to terrace chants to bring you some of the very best venues not streaming the Euros this summer.
No interest in inverted wingers and overlapping full backs? Get yourself to one of these top spots to avoid the cheering masses.
This bar might share its name with one of the great clubs of world football but that’s where its connection with the game ends. And with a menu that’s packed with top drawer dishes, including paella and tapas, you’ll be devouring so much food there won’t be any time to watch the action. Fortunately, there are no screens to distract diners from the tasty grub.
Gate Village 6, DIFC (04 323 1833).
A mega-sized venue that would, in all honesty, be absolutely perfect for a large screen and beer hall benches, is in fact a non-football-friendly establishment. Elegant and refined, Buddha-Bar has no interest in the goings on between 22 men chasing after a football for 90 minutes. Instead, it’s all about good food, good drinks and good times as it serves up tasty pan-Asian plates and beverages.
They don’t know what they’re missing...
Grosvenor House Dubai, Dubai Marina (04 399 8888).
Only a postponed European Championship could be more hotly anticipated than the opening of Koko Bay in late 2020. The
joint has all you would expect from a beachside location in this city. Views of Dubai Marina in the backdrop, a beach (obvs), it even allows guests to bring their pups to chill out and relax. And if you’re looking to escape the fussball, then you must go-go to Koko Bay.
West Palm Beach, Palm Jumeirah (04 572 3444).
The best way to visualise this place if you have never graced it with your presence is to think US east coast beach house. You know the ones that are dotted along Cape Cod and filled with happy families during the summer. And like a sizeable chunk of our American friends, this bar says NOÉPE to the football – in fact all sports.
Park Hyatt Dubai, Deira (04 602 1814).
While the Greeks love their football (who could forget Euro 2004?), Paros is strictly a no-go zone for any sports. Cracking views of JLT, you can take in all the sites of the city including JBR, Dubai Marina and Ain Dubai, as well as the silhouettes of the Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa. During the day, guests can have a dip in the pool while listening to mellow tunes (so much better than football chanting wouldn’t you say?).
Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers, JLT (04 574 1111).
Cool is a word that can be bandied about too often to describe an establishment, but that is exactly what SoBe is. Cool. A cross between heavy metal hideout (the walls’ artwork look like a biker’s tattoos) and a South Beach glam bar, the joint is made for those who need to update their socials with fresh content. It really is the place to be, unless you’re mad about the football.
W Dubai – The Palm, Palm Jumeirah (04 245 5800).
We’re rounding off with a little belter of a spot to get away from the footy. Perched on the 23rd floor of the Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City, this swish rooftop bar has one of the best happy hour deals in town with selected house beverages coming in at Dhs23 and 50 percent lopped off grub every day between 4.23pm and 7.23pm. Tuesday is all about the gals who can receive four drinks and a selected dish for Dhs99 between 8pm and 1am. Views are spectacular with guests being able to see almost everything in Dubai except for one thing – the football.
Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City (04 525 7777).
Extra time out
Gastronomes, party lovers, culture folk and everyone who enjoys a good time should be hitting up Time Out Market Dubai during the Euros – unless the appeal of the big match is too much, that is. We’re talking 17 of the city’s best eateries, hand-picked by local experts who know their salt from their pepper (and paprika). With an unbeatable menu of Dubai’s best plates, you’ll definitely be asking for a huge chunk of stoppage time to be added on to make sure you get to taste everything (or just come back the next day). No football, just some of the best of what the city of Dubai has to offer under one roof. We’ll see you there.
Time Out Market Dubai is open daily from noon, closing at midnight Saturday to Wednesday, and 1am on Thursdays and Fridays. Souk Al Bahar, timeoutmarket.com/dubai.
However, if you are looking to watch Euro 2020 head here to find out everything you need to know.
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