anexpatabroad

“You can’t change everything in one night but one night can change everything.” Unknown

Be prepared to be wowed, there’s a new dining and nightlife hotspot in Abu Dhabi called The Hub at World Trade Center Mall and one particular venue is top notch, I had to pinch myself that I was still in Abu Dhabi and that I was at the top of a mall.

Don’t get me wrong all the four venues at The Hub located across floors four to six are notable in their own right. Joining Jazz@Pizza Express and Original Fusion, both of which have been open for a while, is the swanky Indian restaurant, Tamba and the creme de la creme BU Trinity serving Pan Latin cuisine which is sure to become the hottest new address in town.

We all know I’m a big fan of pizza and Pizza Express is my go to venue of choice especially when it has a live band and a selection of premium beverages. It’s simple, it’s fun and the food is down right delicious, add in the smooth sound of Uptown and you can’t go wrong (read more about Pizza Express Abu Dhabi here and here). Original Fusion is a huge brightly lit venue offering a journey for all your senses, where cooking is culinary art blending regional flavours with European dishes, a distinct experience that I’m yet to try in full.

Combine a stylish venue and Indian inspired fine dining and you have Tamba.The interior design certainly has the wow factor, the dimly lit loft-style venue is decorated with oversized bells and an array of eclectic lights, a centralised bar area serving spicy cocktails in copper pots, a show kitchen complete with Tandoor ovens, an outdoor roof terrace and a resident DJ to set the mood. The food is innovative and tasty, from chicken 65 and soft shell crab pakora to watermelon with spicy goats cheese crumbs, this menu has been designed to take Indian food to the next level, in their words ‘breathing new life into old traditions’. This new concept was impressive and I’m looking forward to trying the full dinner experience very soon, the London location is already in the pipeline for next year so keep an eye out all you Brits reading.

My favourite new place award based on first impressions goes to BU Trinity or simply BU for short. Pan Latin what? I hear you say, we said the same. BU offers sharing style South American cuisine (think meat, seafood and flavours of Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Mexico etc), an interesting drinks menu and vibe to match. This venue is off the scale, two bars, a ginormous restaurant area and lounge as well as a massive contemporary terrace area which wouldn’t look out of place on a New York rooftop.

So why all the excitement you might ask? It’s just sooooo cool, like ridiculously trendy with a wide-ranging interior style from swinging chairs, neon signs, every type of seating arrangement you can possibly imagine, an extensive glass wine cellar and a menu that’s offering something new for this city with a side of Latino carnival spirit. And cocktails, there’s lots of Latin inspired cocktails! You will find yourself saying repeatedly (ok maybe that was just me), ‘Am I still in Abu Dhabi? Are you sure we are not in Dubai, London or New York?” Beyond excited to try this place in all its glory but trying to reign it in as high expectations and all that……..but the anticipation is killing me!

Looking for somewhere new to go in the city? Do you like your pizza jazzy, your fusion original, your Indian with bells on or maybe your pisco sour with a side of Brazilian beer then The Hub has got you covered. Four great venues, four fanciful cuisines, four different reasons for a night out, sorted!

The Hub

Location: World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Street

Restaurants: BU Trinity (Level 4), Jazz@Pizza Express (Level 5), Tamba and Original Fusion (both Level 6) – click on each individual restaurant for all their details.

I was invited to attend the opening of The Hub. All views are my own. Unless otherwise stated, all photos on this page © Jo Brett 2016. All rights reserved.