Exploring Manama's Best Drinking Spots In Bahrain

Manama, Bahrain's capital, offers a wide range of drinking spots, from plush lounges to sports bars. Here is a list of some of the best places to drink in Manama:

- Bushido: An Asian restaurant with a unique design, featuring a small ditch, Japanese samurai statues, and luxurious furniture.

- Blue Moon Lounge by Wolfgang Puck: A top-notch establishment with exquisite cuisine and stunning views of the Bahrain skyline.

- Club Wrangler Bahrain: A popular night club with music from DJs and live performers, often called the best club in Bahrain.

- CUT by Wolfgang Puck: A steak house offering Michelin-starred cuisine and chic furnishings.

- Masso Restaurant: A European-focused health-conscious restaurant with a laid-back southern European motif, featuring shared plates and individually-made dishes.

- Elements Pool & Lounge: A hedonistic lounge with a superb selection of cocktails and light bites, regarded as one of the finest bars in Bahrain.

- Sherlock Holmes: A well-established expat pub with cigar chairs, pool tables, and live sports matches, creating a perfect spot to relax.

- JJ's Irish Restaurant: A popular sports bar with live music and good food, especially known for its karaoke nights.

- Gallery 21: A restaurant offering a variety of dining options, from casual Mediterranean fare to upscale fine dining, featuring six different outlets.

- Lanterns Adliya: A popular Indian restaurant known for its vibrant decor and abundance of Indian pop culture artifacts, offering both indoor and outdoor dining.

- McGettigan's: A spacious and centrally located restaurant and bar with indoor and outdoor areas, popular for its Friday brunch.

- Big Texas Barbeque & Waffle House: A spot known for its rich and typical American breakfast options and lunch buffet, offering a good selection of beers at reasonable prices.

- Bahrain Bay Kitchen: An upscale hotel restaurant with a unique dining experience, featuring sophisticated cocktails and a cozy chic decor.

- Hazel Rooftop Lounge: A place to enjoy live music and delicious food, with a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere, making it great for hanging out with friends.

- Indigo Terrace: A rooftop restaurant offering 360-degree views of the city, featuring delicious food and fresh ingredients, and known for its breakfast options.

- Old Beams Restaurant: A vintage pub with black beams and music memorabilia on the wall, offering excellent drinks at lower prices and cheap, delicious food.

- Viola: A restaurant known for its outstanding service, live jazz music, and lively vibe, serving expertly crafted cocktails and delicious food.

- Grand Yard House Bahrain: A sports bar with a spacious layout, offering nonstop music, delicious bar food, and generous discounts on drinks.

- Social Monkey Bahrain: A restaurant offering a 40% discount on food and drinks, known for its tasty appetizers and expertly crafted cocktails, creating a relaxing atmosphere.

- Coda Jazz Lounge: A live music venue with an upmarket atmosphere, featuring ladies' night on Wednesdays and a dance floor for guests.

- Joker Night Club: A luxurious Arabic night spot with amazing ambiance, excellent service, and delicious drinks, considered one of the best clubs in Manama.

- Z LOUNGE CLUB: A popular place to enjoy the nightlife, with live music, plenty of couches, and an international restaurant on the first floor.

Hotel bars

Wyndham Garden Manama

Wyndham Garden Manama is located in the heart of Manama, close to the city centre, Diplomatic Area, and Al Fateh Grand Mosque. The hotel features world-class dining and entertainment options, including Jashan, which serves authentic Indian cuisine, and Café Mosaic, which is perfect for business lunches or relaxed dining with friends and family. The open-air rooftop, Terrasse @ 28, is dedicated to serving the best Belgian and German food and drinks in a relaxed, friendly environment.

The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel Residence & Spa

The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel Residence & Spa is a newly renovated 5-star hotel located in Manama’s prestigious diplomatic area, just a 5-minute drive from Bahrain International Airport. Guests can enjoy a drink at the Pool Bar or the Irish Fiddlers Green pub. Dining options include the Mondo Italian restaurant, the Bo.Sabi Asian restaurant, and the Olivos buffet restaurant. The hotel also offers a luxurious spa and wellness centre, a hair and beauty salon, and a shopping arcade.

Gulf Hotel Bahrain

The Gulf Hotel Bahrain, established in 1969, offers Bahraini hospitality and unrivalled luxury facilities. The hotel boasts 15 restaurants and cafes, including China Gardens, which offers Asian specialties such as Peking Duck, and La Pergola, which presents a selection of Italian delicacies. Guests can also enjoy the well-equipped gym, hot tub, and fitness classes such as yoga and aerobics.

Swiss-Belsuites Admiral Juffair

Swiss-Belsuites Admiral Juffair is a hotel with a terrace bar that opened in April 2021. Located in Manama, it offers an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness centre, and a restaurant. The hotel features a business centre, a 24-hour front desk, and currency exchange services.

InterContinental Bahrain

The InterContinental Regency Bahrain is a 5-star hotel located in the heart of Manama, offering an outdoor pool and a luxury spa centre. The modern rooms feature a flat-screen LED TV and free Wi-Fi. The hotel provides guests with a choice of 6 different food and beverage outlets, including Legendz Steak House and Medzo, the hotel's popular Italian restaurant. Recreational facilities include a sauna and squash court, as well as a fitness centre.

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa is a 5-star luxury hotel located on Bahrain's west coast, offering an exclusive private beach and the only Thalassa Sea and Spa in the GCC countries. Guests can linger in the three bars and lobby lounge, each perfect for a nightcap, business meeting, or gathering with friends. The hotel also features a manicured garden with swaying palm trees and an inviting outdoor pool.

Crowne Plaza Bahrain

The Crowne Plaza Hotel Bahrain is conveniently located in central Manama, close to popular attractions like the Avenues Mall. The hotel offers spacious rooms, including newly renovated connecting rooms for families. The foyer provides an ideal setting for cocktail receptions, and the VIP lounge offers a comfortable environment for pre-function receptions. The hotel also boasts a ballroom that can be divided into four individual rooms, accommodating up to 1,200 guests for a banquet and 1,700 guests for a theatre-style event.

Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain

Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain is just a 2-minute walk from Bahrain International Airport and overlooks the Arad Bay Lagoon on Muharraq Island. The hotel features modern accommodations, a luxurious spa, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, an infinity pool, and two floodlit tennis courts. Award-winning restaurants offer a wide array of international cuisine, and live cooking, music, and entertainment ensure an enjoyable time for everyone.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain

The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain is a luxury hotel located on the Manama seafront, offering an air-conditioned squash court and floodlit tennis courts on the beach. It has an on-site shopping section with six designer boutiques and a well-stocked cigar collection, as well as vintage wines and cognacs. Each room boasts 600-thread-count linen and interactive flat-screen TVs with access to multilingual satellite channels. The spa offers a variety of beauty treatments, including signature massages.

Rooftop bars

Manama, Bahrain, is known for its vibrant nightlife and offers a variety of rooftop bars to enjoy. Here are some popular spots to consider:

The Terrace

The Terrace is a well-known rooftop bar located in the heart of Manama. It offers a charming ambiance and exceptional services. Patrons can enjoy a diverse range of drinks while soaking in the breathtaking views of the city. The Terrace is typically open only during the winter months, adding an element of exclusivity to the experience.

The Terrasse @ 28

The Terrasse @ 28 is another excellent rooftop lounge in Manama. It provides a versatile space, perfect for hosting events or simply hanging out and enjoying the weather. They offer a wide variety of food and drinks, with both indoor and outdoor seating options. The city views from the rooftop are truly remarkable, and the competitive pricing makes it an even more appealing choice.

Blue Moon Lounge

For a unique and intimate experience, the Blue Moon Lounge by Wolfgang Puck is an excellent choice. This lounge offers a mix of lounge music and traditional Japanese house sounds, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Patrons can relax in four distinct areas, each with its own distinct charm, and enjoy their drinks in peace.

Rotana Hotel Rooftop Bar

The rooftop bar at the Rotana Hotel is renowned for its breathtaking views of Bahrain Harbour from the 25th floor. The warm and friendly staff enhance the experience, and the combination of good food, drinks, and live music on Thursdays makes it a popular choice for locals and tourists alike.

Other Notable Mentions

Manama boasts several other notable rooftop bars and lounges, including the Polynesian-themed Trader Vic's at the Ritz-Carlton and the modern sports bar with a lively atmosphere, especially during football matches and live music events.

Sports bars

• Grand Yard House Bahrain: Located in the Diva Hotel in Juffair, this sports bar offers a wide range of sports to watch, with football being the main focus. The bar area is spacious, and there are plenty of seating options available. The menu features delicious bar food such as wings, nachos, and fries, along with good burgers and a mouthwatering rib eye steak.
• Wembley: Named after the famous stadium, this quintessentially British sports bar offers a welcoming atmosphere, live sporting action on big screens, and delicious pub grub. The spacious layout includes a terrace-style seating area where the popular brunch is served. Named after the famous stadium, it aims to provide Brits with a taste of home. With friendly staff and generous discounts on drinks, it's an ideal spot for sports enthusiasts looking for an authentic British experience.
• Fiddlers Green Irish Pub: The Fiddlers Green Irish Pub is the perfect place to relax with friends and watch all your favourite sporting events on the big screen. With a wide range of beer selection and top-quality draft beer, it's also the perfect place to unwind after a busy day. The friendly staff are always happy to help, making this one pub you won't want to miss when in Bahrain.
• Players' Lounge: Located on the rooftop of the Wyndham Garden Manama, this sports bar offers a splendid view, but unfortunately, the service is quite slow. While they have an extensive selection of alcoholic beverages such as cocktails, wines, and beers, there is no food available. Additionally, shisha is only offered on certain days and requires prior confirmation. For drinks, it's recommended to approach Mahdi, a young Moroccan who can take care of your needs. Abo Sayem is the go-to person for room service requests.
• Sports Bay Bahrain: This sports bar is popular for hosting football matches and live music, as well as DJs. It has a range of menu items, including both classic and modern choices, at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is friendly and disciplined, providing an ideal place to socialise while enjoying excellent food and drinks.

Lounges

• Blue Moon Lounge by Wolfgang Puck – This top-notch establishment boasts exquisite cuisine and stunning views of the Bahrain skyline. It's the perfect spot for an evening out, with excellent service and a cozy bar.
• Elements Pool & Lounge – This hedonistic lounge offers a superb selection of cocktails and light bites, attracting both locals and tourists. It's regarded as one of the finest bars in Bahrain, with live music and a superb atmosphere.
• The Sherlock Holmes Pub – This well-known expat pub has been a staple in Bahrain since 1999, offering a great atmosphere with pool tables, live sports matches, and cigar chairs. It's the perfect spot to relax after a long day.
• JJ's Irish Restaurant – This popular sports bar is known for its live music and good food. It's especially popular for its karaoke nights and Friday brunches, and Guinness is also recommended!
• Gallery 21 – This restaurant in Block 338 offers a variety of dining options, from casual Mediterranean fare to upscale fine dining. It features six different outlets, each with its own unique atmosphere and menu, making it perfect for social functions.
• Hazel Rooftop Lounge – This lounge offers live music and delicious food in a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. The drinks are excellent, and the service is good, making it a great place to hang out with friends.
• Bay View Lounge – This lounge, located within the hotel lobby, offers a warm and relaxing atmosphere. It's the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy treats like the molten cake and Yellow Bourbon Iced V60 coffee.
• The Cigar Lounge – This centrally located spot offers a sophisticated and relaxed atmosphere for cigar enthusiasts, with comfortable leather couches and a well-stocked bar. It's known for its themed nights and enticing drink specials, making it a top choice for visitors.

Pubs

Bahrain has a wide range of pubs, from traditional English pubs to sports bars and Irish pubs. Here are some of the best pubs in Manama:

• Sherlock Holmes Pub Bar: Located within the Gulf Hotel Bahrain, this traditional English pub features cigar chairs, pool tables, and live sports matches on TV. It's the perfect spot to relax after a long day.
• The British Club: This well-established expat club has a rich history dating back to 1935 and offers various amenities such as a garden, pool, restaurant, lounge, and sports bars. It's known for its friendly and sociable atmosphere.
• Diggers: This popular bar, located in the Delmon International Hotel, is known for its live rock band performances and vibrant atmosphere. It offers bottled and draught beer promotions and is a favorite spot for rock music enthusiasts.
• Fiddlers Green Irish Pub: With a spacious layout and a range of beer selections, this Irish pub is the perfect place to unwind and watch your favorite sports. The friendly staff will make you feel right at home.
• Wembley: Named after the famous stadium, this quintessentially British sports bar offers a welcoming atmosphere and live sporting action on big screens. It's a great place to enjoy pub grub and generous discounts on drinks.
• Player's Lounge: Located on the 28th floor, this rooftop lounge and bar offers a splendid view. While they don't serve food, they have an extensive selection of alcoholic beverages, and Mahdi, a young Moroccan bartender, can take care of your drink needs.

Frequently asked questions