Koko Bay was a fully-booked the first few months of its opening, so The Insider decided to pop down and see if it lived up to the hype.
For your beach lounge and club wishes Palm Jumeirah West Beach has outdone itself with choices. When this Insider was invited to visit Koko Bay it was by sheer coincidence we had been the week before to visit friends and made a reservation without knowing we would be back for a review. Situated from the trunk of the Palm all the way to the top of Palm Beach, the outlets around here tend to get more serious and a bit louder so there is something for everyone. KoKo Beach is nestled close to the main entrance so easy to get to by foot or even better if you parked underneath the beach
The first thing you notice at 11am is there is already a small queue forming so reservation is essential. Soon after arriving we are led to our sun beds and given Koko Beach beach bags with matching slippers, a nice touch. The decor seems to be full of hammocks, white shades and a strong tone of wood throughout, a neutral and relaxing theme with more than a general nod to far Eastern bohemian. The music is carefully balanced to be in the background and complement conversation. There is an island style bar right in the middle with swings made from rope and high tables for eating should you choose.
Pressing a small small black button on your table will bring someone straight over. At long last outlets are starting to understand we don’t want to squint and scroll through a menu via a QR code before we give up. At Koko Bay large menus with great layout and photography make choosing the day’s drinks and food a pleasure to browse with a bit of back and forth taking in all Koko Bay has to offer. We are no strangers to West Palm Beach lounges but the menu here is well thought out and offers a wide range of dishes and the all important liquid refreshments.
We started with the chicken and basil dim sum and the Gambas Al Ajillo, served hot and neither would have been out of place in a fine dining setting. For dinner the Thai Green Curry and the Norwegian Salmon Poke Bowl and for dessert baked cheesecake and the chocolate ganache. All retained the quality you would expect from a restaurant in any one of Dubai’s flagship hotels yet served to you in a beach setting.
Koko Bay offers a beach experience where everyone can catch up, relax and drift off into the sunset with excellent food selection and wider than most beverage choices are to be found. Most beach venues have an agenda to get the party started as the sun is going down, the crowd swells and you either join the vibe or time to leave. Not with Koko Bay. It’s this flexible approach about Koko Bay we like so much.
Koko Bay lets the vibe build around its guests but doesn’t attempt to lead the agenda. Gather with family at the dinner tables, sit at the bar with friends, enjoy the great food and drinks well into the evening keeping your chilled vibe just where you want it. So impressed, we will certainly be back to experience the dinner setting for a long enjoyable evening.
For more information, please visit www.kokobay.co/ or Instagram @kokobayuae. Sun loungers are AED 150 during the week and AED 250 during the weekend. Guests can also book a Cabana for AED 700 per couple from Monday-Friday and AED 800 per couple on the weekends for a livelier atmosphere with lots of entertainment. All access is fully redeemable on F&B.
