There is a point in the evening when Dubai Marina turns golden; sunset. Reflections ripple across the towers and the water as the lights begin to flicker on. The best way to take it in is from high above with a drink in hand. That is when Rex Bar starts to feel like the only place you should be.
(Image: sunset view from the terrace)
Perched high above the promenade within the lavish Intercontinental Hotel, 39 floors up to be exact, the doors open onto a room washed in blue and white, trimmed with bursts of lemon yellow and patterned tiles that feel hand chosen. The space is open, airy and calm. Soft ribbons of fabric drift overhead, catching the light like sails in a coastal breeze. The tables sit loosely across the wooden floor, leaving space to wander and enjoy the view.
(Image: Saxophonist on the terrace, overlooking Marina and Jbr)
On entering Rex Bar, the first moments are about taking it all in. The blue and white chairs set the tone, the kind you expect to see on a Mediterranean terrace rather than in the middle of Dubai. Baskets of lemons are tucked into the corners, small details that give the space its Italian edge. Then the view comes into focus. Wide stretches of Dubai Marina open up in front of you, with the Palm and the open sea beyond, jet skis cutting across the water and yachts gliding past far below.
(Images: top: view as you arrive, bottom: seating overlooking the terrace)
The drinks menu sets the direction for the night, built around Italian-leaning spritzes, sharp martinis and cocktails that stay light even as the evening moves on. Aperol runs through much of the list, paired with coconut, plum, rooibos, yuzu and jasmine, mandarine and orange blossom. There are cleaner classics too, negroni, old fashioned, margarita, whisky sour, alongside signatures like Dolce Far Niente with grappa, roasted pineapple and cardamom, or Amalfi With View built on bourbon, ginger and mandarine. A yuzu and jasmine spritz arrives cold and citrus-led, the kind of drink you come back to without needing to think twice.
Low ABV cocktails – Reimagined
REX Bar’s cocktail program is built around low-ABV drinking, lighter, longer, and more social by design. Rooted in the Italian aperitivo tradition and elevated through modern technique, each drink is created to feel familiar yet quietly unexpected, encouraging guests to explore without leaving their comfort zone.
(Images: bites and drinks)
The live DJ mixes house beats that keep the mood on point as the sun slips into night, with a saxophone player moving through the room between tables. Tuesdays carry a more music-led feel, Thursdays come with Ladies Night and three drinks included, and Saturdays open out into longer sunset sessions with free-flow spritz. The sound stays smooth across the week, with each night holding its own tone.
As the night settles in, Dolce Far Niente becomes the natural flow of the room. Social hour without urgency. Rex Bar is built for the full arc of the evening rather than a single peak moment.
There is something distinctive about seeing Dubai Marina from this height. Rex Bar sits in that rare space between hotel bar and hidden address, carrying an Italian coastal influence 39 floors above the promenade. Open-air seating, fresh evening air and a cocktail-led menu turn the marina skyline into part of the venue’s identity rather than just a backdrop.
Experiences at Rex Bar
- Dolce Far Niente Social Hour
Daily, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM - Ladies Night, Italo Festa
Thursday, 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM - House Beats, Sunset Sessions
Tuesday, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM - Sunset Spritz with Live Sax
Saturday, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Contact Information
- Location: Rex Bar, 39th floor, InterContinental Dubai Marina
- Reservations: +971 4 446 6788
- Email: res.icdubaimarina@ihg.com
- Instagram: @rexbardubai
