Locker Room
You’ll struggle to find the Golden Tulip. Hidden away behind a raft of roadworks and obscured from the road by a barrage of buildings, the just-finished hotel hardly leaps out at you. And lacking the usual hotel flourishes that distinguish most others – the gushing waterfalls and gold-plated caravan of camels, for example – it’s difficult to spot among the rapidly rising residential buildings, something the obscured entrance does little to alleviate. But once ensconced in the hotel, there’s no denying where you are thanks to the spotless interior and, beyond the whooshing lifts, the low din of a busy sports bar.
Despite being open just five days when we visited, the cosy and compact Locker Room boasted a healthy crowd, giving those watching the international matches screened on the five screens an impressive and lively atmosphere. This was helped by the rowdy Scottish fans who had gathered to watch their team scrape past a lackluster France, and also by the flickering spotlights above us that threatened to black out at any minute.
The service was attentive – apart from a frustrating 25-minute wait for the bill at the end – and there are plenty of tables and chairs to perch on. A word of warning: the taller chairs are alarmingly flexible so try to keep any celebrating to a minimum otherwise you might find yourself prostrate on the floor.
Location: Golden Tulip Al Barsha, Barsha, Dubai
Tel: 04 341 7750
Travel: Sheikh Zayed Road
Website: www.goldentulipalbarsha.com
e-mail: food-beverage@goldentulipalbarsha.com
Type: Sports bar
Experiences: DJs, Eating, Ladies night, Quiz night
Times: 1pm-1am daily
Credit Cards Accepted: Yes
