Four Dubai bars for four different kinds of night

A useful bar guide should begin with the mood, not with a list of the city's most expensive rooms. These four addresses solve four different evening problems, from a music-led night that does not become a club to a polished cocktail before dinner. All are premium, but the reason to choose each one is distinct.

For music: Honeycomb Hi-Fi

Choose Honeycomb Hi-Fi when the sound system and the selector matter more than a skyline. The Japanese-inspired listening-bar format gives the night a point of view, while its Business Bay location makes it easy to use as the main plan rather than a prelude. Check the programme first: the right night is defined by who is playing.

For discretion: Blind Tiger

Blind Tiger is the Madinat Jumeirah option for low light, smart dress and a sense of separation from the resort outside. It works for a date or an after-dinner round when conversation is important. Book ahead and allow enough time to find the entrance without turning the search into the evening's story.

For one excellent drink: Bitter Honey

Bitter Honey is small, adults-only and focused. Go early, sit at the counter and let the room's restraint do the work. It is the best choice here for a solo cocktail or a composed start to the night, especially if you do not want a pool, a view or a long entertainment programme attached.

For full glamour: Galaxy Bar

Galaxy Bar is the dressed-up DIFC finale. The celestial interior and late hours make it the most overtly occasion-led of the four, but its scale keeps the experience from feeling anonymous. Choose it when the evening calls for ceremony and the group is happy to commit to the dress code.