DRINK

MEET THE BARTENDER

LEVIE MANGILIT

Head mixologist at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island

Each W Lounge has its own identity and has surprises at every

corner. No two W Lounges are the same which makes for a great conversation starter and inspiration for beverages.

W Lounge’s signature drink is

called “Rum’pkin”. It is spiced rum based with a homemade sweet pumpkin paste. We top it off with a blaster bubble pop and our secret ingredient.

Working at one of the most iconic hotels in the world

definitely has its perks. With so many events taking place from Formula One to UFC, I’ve been lucky enough to rub shoulders with some A-listers. I’d say the most memorable celebrities I’ve served are Rafael Nadal, Russel Peters and Dana White.

The trick to getting served

quickly at the bar? Honestly, just find a way to catch our eye, but don’t be obnoxious. Just flash a smile and be polite and we’ll get to you over the person yelling for attention.

There is no drink I don’t like to

make. I’m always trying something new and modifying all drinks. I always like to also make all the classics because they take me back to my old bartender days and makes me nostalgic. W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. @wabudhabi

Siddharta Lounge

We’ve found our new sundowner bar crush

Yas Bay Waterfront neatly replicates the sort of entertainment district that you’d typically find in the emirate next door. And its focal point, Pier 71, comes with some considerable restaurant clout, but where do you go if you fancy sophisticated sundowners? Or a cheeky little after-dinner night cap?

Siddharta Lounge, part of the Trilogy By Buddha Bar ensemble, certainly puts together a strong candidacy on paper. It sits right at the crowning tip of the pier’s promenade and we’ve heard they offer a pretty good selection of promotional specials.

Ingress to the venue is made via a dedicated lift service, which already makes it feel a little more exclusive than your average soiree spot (if a tad lazy, it’s only one floor up).

It is essentially an alfesco venue which, with the Al Raha riviera views, is an elemental part of its appeal – but during peak humid, face sweat, frizz season, it does pose an additional logistical challenge. They’ve met this conundrum head on with an armada of portable, camouflaged aircon units, whose combined choral hum is hidden well below the atmospheric ethnicelectro beats.

Siddharta Lounge offers a sundowner deal available from 6pm to 8pm between Monday to Thursday – you can get one of a select range of drinks, including cocktails with a side nibble for just Dhs35. The mixology is sound, and the nibbles are way beyond the sort of assorted nut bowl you’d expect to accompany a Dhs35 sip. We plough through patatas bravas and prawn tempura with a ponzu dipping sauce and whilst dainty on the plate, they’re a heavyweight palate punch. Appetites suitably teased, we order some salmon maki furai (eight pieces for Dhs110), guacamole with plantain chips (Dhs60) and grilled lamb chops (Dhs220). Light, elegant, perfectly prepped and absolutely faultless in flavour, it turns out this lounge is also a pretty decent restaurant. Siddharta Lounge, Yas Bay, Yas Island, open daily 6pm to 2am. Tel: (0)50 601 1194. WHAT’S ON VERDICT When we visited (7pm on a Tuesday), the venue was quiet – but we can borderline guarantee the place will be rammed come winter.