Gold On 27

There are few places in the world where the setting does as much work as the cocktail, and Gold On 27 is one of them. Perched on the 27th floor of the Burj Al Arab — arguably the most recognisable hotel building on earth — the bar looks out across a panorama of the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai coastline that no photograph does justice. The interior matches the ambition: gold leaf panels, custom lighting, and a bar programme built around rare and theatrical serves.

Head bartender Giulia Cuccato and her team construct cocktails with layers of theatre that match the surroundings — ice spheres, smoking presentations, aromatics released table-side — without ever letting the performance outrun the substance. This is a bar for a specific kind of occasion: an anniversary, a proposal, a first date you want to absolutely guarantee. It is expensive. It is worth it. Book the earliest evening reservation to catch the sunset over the Gulf. Order the Saffron Martini first. Then surrender to wherever the menu takes you.