The Penthouse occupies the 16th floor of FIVE Palm Jumeirah, an adults-only rooftop bar that runs as a pool lounge by day and a high-energy room after dark. Two glass-lined pools sit against open views of the Marina skyline on one side and Downtown Dubai on the other.
Who would love it: a visitor who wants the postcard sunset, a name DJ and a long premium drinks list in one place. Who would not: a quiet drinker after a stirred classic and conversation, because this room is built for volume and a crowd.
The space reads as a destination rather than a neighbourhood bar. The kitchen plates contemporary Japanese dishes built on French technique, and the bar runs creative cocktails alongside sake and champagne. Tripadvisor reviewers, where it holds a 4.5 of 5 across more than 1,500 reviews, return most often to the view and the energy after sunset.
The accolades back the reputation. DJ Mag named The Penthouse its number one nightclub and rooftop lounge in the Middle East for 2023 and 2024, and the room was highly commended for Best Rooftop Bar at both the Time Out Dubai and What's On Dubai Nightlife Awards in 2025. That programming, more than the menu, is the draw for most of the crowd.
The drinks list runs long and premium, from champagne by the bottle to signature cocktails built around the sunset service. The kitchen sends sushi, sashimi and robata plates designed for sharing across a table, which makes an early booking the better way to use the room before the floor turns to a club. The two pools anchor the day-club side, so the same address reads as a sun lounge and a nightspot depending on the hour.
Marcus Webb's read for the discerning drinker: arrive for the sundown window rather than the late peak, when the bartenders have time to build a proper cocktail and the pools still catch the light. Order a champagne or a clean highball over anything elaborate once the floor fills, since the room shifts to a club tempo and the bar prioritises speed. Treat the Japanese small plates as the anchor for an early table.
The crowd skews to hotel guests, dressed-up couples and a destination nightlife set, and the dress code is smart casual. It runs calm at sunset and loud after, when the DJ takes over and the energy climbs toward the early hours. The shift is sharp, so the experience depends entirely on when you arrive.
What guests flag, across Tripadvisor and the Dubai nightlife guides, is consistent. The view, the service and the DJ line-up earn the praise, while the only steady caution is the premium pricing and a minimum-spend expectation on prime tables. Come for the setting and the sunset, and budget accordingly.
Best time to go: a weekday sundown, when the skyline turns and the room is full enough to feel alive without the late-night crush. The pool layout means the best seats face west toward the Marina. The Penthouse is a rooftop bar that earns its rank on the view and the booking, not on a quiet drink.
It sits among the most-recommended rooftops in the city for the setting above all. See where it lands among the best rooftop bars in Dubai, and read our wider guide to the best bars in Dubai for the full picture.
Pair this bar with
For a higher, drinks-led rooftop, compare Gold on 27 Dubai. For a beach-club rooftop with a party tempo, try Zero Gravity Dubai. And for a polished poolside sunset spot, Cabana Rooftop Dubai makes the natural second stop.
Sources
The Penthouse: official site · Tripadvisor: The Penthouse · The Rooftop Guide: The Penthouse · Google Maps reviews (2026)
Reviewed by Marcus Webb, barsforKings. Published Nov 19, 2025 · Last reviewed Jun 13, 2026.
