Sleek interiors in an empty bar.
With sky high ambitions, and a creative team to back them up, Laurel Bar is a few short straws away from something truly great. The cocktail list is a bit on the over-ambitious side, and sadly it doesn't allow the bartenders to shine. Also, the place was dead empty, so we'll see how long management puts up the money to keep it running.
It is located in the newly inaugurated Caesars Palace Dubai, on Bluewaters just a stone throw from Dubai Marina. It may have been an ominous sign that the Careem driver didn’t know how to get to Bluewaters, because to be honest, not a lot of people seem to have made their way here yet. While the Havana Social Club on the ground floor at least have a few guests, Laurel Bar were in desperate need of guests the Thursday night in June I visited.
The focus here is innovation and creativity, and no expenses have been spared in fitting out the bar with all the necessary gadgets and extras, and behind the scenes, in the testing kitchen, sharp minds are working long hours to come up with the next inventive menu. But is it enough? The drinks tested during the visit were all good, but even I - a weathered amateur bartender - had problems figuring out what they were aiming for with the cocktails in their menu. While the staff is friendly, forthcoming and always ready to assist with any query, it would be welcome with a bit more traditional taste notes in the cocktail menu.
When the cocktails are served though, they are multi faceted in their taste, much thanks to the hours and hours of research and creativity process put into the menu on beforehand. While this gives the bartenders the chance to shine from a taste perspective, I miss the beauty of being able to look at the craftsmanship of good bartenders in action.
Potential and creativity should go a long way. Even so, not in this case.
Atmosphere: 4/8
To be alone in a bar in Dubai on a Thursday night is not a good sign.
Cocktails: 6/8
There is some proper craftsmanship and inventiveness going on here.
Bartender: 6/8
The staff is classically trained, but the cocktails don't let them show it.
Ice: 6/8
Clear ice in big chunks, but no ice stamp.