csdf

I've seen the entrance to the Abu Dhabi Marina Club just north of Abu Dhabi mall (http://www.angelfire.com/biz/MARINACLUB/ cracking early 1990s website). I've never seen anyone on here mention it - has anyone been? Seems to have a mixture of restaurants, bars and sports facilities.

Grace O Malley

Not for ages so my info may be outdated

It used to be very popular but it's pretty run down, the toilets are disgusting.

Few restaurants, a couple of clubs. There is a Chinese in there called Bamboo, used to be very popular, run by a brit, one of those all you can eat and drink, so gets very loud...

My son goes there occasionally, says you can get a pint for 15 dhs.

They have a large outside area, which in the winter used to get busy, lots of sheesha smoking. Oh and they have ducks walking around the pool....

soukie

The website IS outdated - it used to be a great place years ago particularly the Alamo mexican. The chinese is still there and it's good value so worth a visit.

ctfc

Bamboo is excellent - unlimited food and drink for about 150 AED

Arkadia can be quite good - filipino bar with live band. They used to have an occasional singer joining them Fri/Sat, an ex-manager there, and superb lead guitar who do awesome Linkin Park/Led Zep etc covers.

Blue Marine (something like that) also has a band, but they're lousy.

African bar in the corner looks interesting, but it reminded me of that scene from Animal House , so I chickened out from actually going in.

busybee2

bamboo is good. the rest of it very run down, fish and chips gone! it was going to be demolished to make way for one of the many bridges that have to be built over from the building site across the road, but now its had a stay of execution!

csdf

Talking of which, are the owners of the Beach Rotana not seriously pissed off about how their beachfront property is now a construction-site-front property? If I were a tourist staying there I'd be well unimpressed.

busybee2

nope doubt it very rich family and they probably will enjoy all the trade from the bridge(s) built right next door. it wasnt really a good beach front hotel anyways looking out to the nice electric pillions and the port traffic

soukie

The Sheikh that owns it also has a stake in the building works in front. A lot of business clients use the hotel so it doesn't suffer. Like you I wouldn't be too impressed if I was a tourist....

Grace O Malley

[QUOTE=Grace O Malley;8832675]Mohamed Al Nowais owns the Rotana brand.

busybee2

[QUOTE=Grace O Malley;8832682] yep one of our sponsors. shame never get any deals tho

soukie

[QUOTE=busybee2;8833217] I was talking about the "owner" of the hotel and not the management company that run it. The Rotana group are the management company. My husband actually worked on the hotel so we know the set up.

busybee2

[QUOTE=soukie;8833322] ok al nowais is our sponsor, but they have a lot of fingers in lots of pies.

Grace O Malley

[QUOTE=soukie;8833322] yes doll you are right... but at the end of the day sheikhy is getting his cut for doing SFA, so he's happy.

But the hotel has suffered, I know that cos I have done some work for Mr. N .... that aside you only have to look at how empty the restaurants are. To get a table at Pregos in the past, you would need to book at least 2 weeks in advance, you can get a table there at any time now. They have resorted to doing deals from the UK for 6000 dhs for 8 nights, room and Brekkie including flight. Now that is a far fall from 1000 plus per night with out brekkie.

Grace O Malley

[QUOTE=busybee2;8833343] Don't they all doll, they have been very generous to BSAK non

busybee2

[QUOTE=Grace O Malley;8833384] "weeee" but different part of the al nowais family tree i believe.