The Atrium at Al Habtoor City: What to expect when it opens

Just in: The hotels are almost open and there will also be a dining venue in the middle of Al Habtoor City featuring seven distinct bars and restaurants.

First the Metropolitan Hotel and the beloved baseball pitch were demolished, and then Al Habtoor City started rising from the ground.

We’ve all seen the buildings slowly come together as we whizz pass them on Sheikh Zayed Road. It’s hard to imagine how much that area is about to change considering that is where the Dubai Canal will pass through from Business Bay to Jumeirah.

Well, it’s all starting to take shape, as the St Regis Dubai has opened, the W hotel is very close to opening and The Westin is in the final stages of construction. We’ve now also discovered that there will be a dining complex in the centre of the new ‘city’ called The Atrium (which we’re imagining will be kind of like Pier 7).

*MORE: Dubai Canal 80 per cent complete: here’s what to expect*

The Atrium will be in the centre of the three new hotels and will have seven different restaurants and bars spread across five levels.

Here’s a rendering showing a bit of what it will look like: 

What we know will be opening there soon…

Blind Dragon – a plush, Asian-themed cocktail lounge – will be opening in The Atrium this summer. There’s already a Blind Dragon on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood and so we know we can expect private karaoke rooms and a cosy and intimate feel. Here’s what the Stateside Blind Dragon looks like:

And here’s a rendering that shows what Blind Dragon Dubai will look like:

Another opening we know about is ZOCO, which will be a Mexican and Latin American lounge serving refined food (zoco translates from Spanish to souk). Here’s a glimpse of what the food at Zoco will look like:

And the other spot we know is definitely opening at The Atrium is classic English pub The Rose & Crown. Here’s what that will look like:

In total, Al Habtoor City will be spread across 10 million square feet and will have over 40 restaurants and bars. Ooh, and the W Dubai hotel – which we’ve been told is due to open very soon – and The Westin will have a whopping 10 restaurants and bars between them.

MORE PICS OF AL HABTOOR CITY

The Marina Promenade will line the waterfront of the Canal and feature shopping, al fresco dining and a Bentley Café:

This is the Boulevard. It will be an open air (but covered) walkway between two of the tall buildings in Al Habtoor City with shops and greenery:

We’ll keep you posted on any more updates!