DRINK

BAR O F TH E MONTH

MEET THE BARTENDER

PAUL BRIAN DUMPA

Bartender at Mood Rooftop Lounge

My first bartending job was in a small pub near my hometown in

the Philippines. I was very excited because I got to mix drinks for customers and to also learn some skills that I have perfected and still use today.

A perfect bar is all about

ambiance. A bar is where friends, colleagues and even business partners go and meet to relax and enjoy, so a bar must create the best ambiance for customers and its employees must love what they do.

Being a bartender has taught

me to be hard working. It’s built my confidence up. I love it when customers appreciate the drinks that I have created for them. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction, which motivates me to excel.

My favourite bartending gadget? Easy, the Boston Shaker.

My favourite cocktail to serve is

Footloose. It’s Japanese whisky, apricot brandy and Aperol, which is one of our signature cocktails at Mood Rooftop Lounge. It’s an amazing drink and also easy to make.

The most overrated cocktail is

the Old Fashioned. It’s a very simple cocktail to make but most bartenders don’t do it right.

Which celebrity would I most

love to serve at Mood? Robert de Niro. a Meydan Hotel, Nad Al Sheba, daily 7pm to 3am. Tel: (054) 400227. @moodrooftopdubai

Soho Beer Garden

Over a dozen drafts on tap, and 60 bottled beers – finally a legit beer garden is here

At first blush, Soho Beer Garden might seem like one of those Instagram-bait bars that have become ubiquitous over the past few years. But beyond the retro lamp lights and wooden swing benches, there are legitimately great things happening here, particularly in terms of the beer selection. The suds are as ample as the patio space: 13 draft lines and more than 60 bottled beers, ciders and speciality brews like Laguinitas, Brooklyn IPA, Hobgoblin, and Delirium Tremens all grace the menu. The backyard is large enough that there’s a strong chance you’ll actually be able to grab a seat without having to jostle for space.

The food menu also elevates typical beer-garden fare. There are two enormous menus to look through: the one specifically for Soho Beer Garden, and another from Foxglove restaurant, which is the new indoor space right next to the beer garden. Highlights from the Beer Garden menu include wood fired pizzas (from Dhs60), the sausage selection, which features veal bratwurst (Dhs75), and beef chorizo (Dhs75), among others. German pretzels (Dhs55), poutine (Dhs55) and chicken sausage rolls (Dhs55) top the bar snacks. We particularly liked the wood-fired Margherita, which was slightly smaller than most pizzas around town, but arrived with a deliciously charred crust. Time your trip right to Soho Beer Garden and you might catch one of its live music sessions. Once the Covid restrictions ease, Monday nights will see resident band Talk of The Town perform at the Garden’s huge stage while you tuck into the burger and pint deal for Dhs99. On Wednesdays it’s ‘80s and ‘90s music, and there’s a brand new Friday brunch from 1pm to 5pm for only Dhs299 with food, beer garden games and more. Well worth a visit any night, we think. a Soho Beer Garden, Soho Garden Dubai, Meydan, daily 12pm to 3am. @sohogardendxb

ART + THEATRE + FILM + MUSIC

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