It has been a decent past 12 months or so for those of us in Abu Dhabi who enjoy catching live sport in locations that don’t involve sinking into the depths of dingy depravity and do feature food menus that go beyond deep-fried greasy gubbins.
The Sportsman’s Arms at Zayed Sports City and Blu Sky at the Southern Sun hotel have added considerable depth to the capital’s sports-bar options. Velocity is the latest spot to throw its proverbial hat into the ring, at the newly opened Marriott Hotel Downtown, on Airport Road, near Al Wahda Mall.
The first thing we noticed when we walked in on a Sunday evening actually weren’t Velocity’s two enormous HD projector screens, broadcasting on two walls of the bar, because of their lofty positioning. Instead, we took in the variety of seating options, which includes an upstairs balcony, and eventually settled on a place at the central bar island. It was a perfect vantage spot for those aforementioned monster screens, which Velocity claims are each the size of football goals (if they’re going by standard Fifa regulations, fellow sports nerds, that makes them 7.32 metres by 2.44 metres) and the largest indoor screens in Abu Dhabi.
In case you’re in any doubt of Velocity’s intentions to position itself as a cut above the rest, the food menu soon confirms it, with sections for not only lobster (whole for Dh125 or half for Dh70), but also lobster snacks (the croquettes were the pick; Dh65).
Elsewhere, it’s more-traditional pub grub given a dose of culinary invention: the Moroccan spiced chicken wings, courtesy of a recipe by the chef’s mother, are a real standout. Although if you’re feeling braver, the super-spicy Holy Hot wings will, if nothing else, ensure you add some water to your order (wings cost Dh35 for six, Dh50 for nine or Dh65 for 12). There’s also a variety of burgers, sandwiches and sides, and finally, a choice of four desserts collectively dubbed “The Finish Line” (Dh30 each).
Note: if you’re planning on catching a midweek match in the evening, you might be hampered by Velocity’s transformation into a hip, DJ-soundtracked urban space, with music taking precedence from Tuesday to Friday, although its another string to the bow of a bar that positively adds to the city’s scene.
• Velocity is open Saturday to Wednesday noon to 2am and Thursday and Fridays noon to 3am. For more information, visit www.marriott.com or call 02 304 7777.
aworkman@thenational.ae
