Trip report. Sea View Hotel
Sights firmly fixed on SV Hotel to find a semi-pro Pinay, Friday night. Partly to kill sometime and warm-up hit Panorama first. This place would improve immeasurably if they installed some half decent means of eradicating the smoke. Without doubt the smokiest place ever been and a big turn off to a non-smoker. Place was busy enough and I guess on usual form. Typically would only be here max half dozen times a year so by no means authority but standard was fair to good IMO. Moved on to SVH about 11:30. Steep enough entrance charge of 125. First surprise was to see the original band back from the 12 month stint in Doha. Well I say the original lady lead guitarist who is heart beat of the band. Anyways this band almost make this place visiting for that alone but if you listen to them more than once in any sort of quick succession the song book is pretty limited although stacked with favorites of most +40 Brits / Americans. Anyway place was well stacked with good talent. Pinay waitress was all too happy to lock me into my quarry for the night. Hind sight that was bit of a mistake as spent the next few hours with a couple of great fun Pinays. But the talent really ramped up about 1 am. And for sure there were better pickings to be had but I have shred of decency and don't like to bail out like that. Got what I was looking for and she was obliging but far from spectacular. The point of this post is that this place seems to receive very little commentary in this forum. Maybe its so well known amongst the rank and file of Dubai. I returned few days later, mid-week and kept powder dry. Ended up with a v. Cute Viet. Great fun and very accommodating. Bottom line is that this place is comfortably my favorite place in Dubai. Will not be everyone cup of tea but in my experience it delivers on the core product and backed by a really good augmented product of music, easy going atmosphere, good layout and professionally run.
Other spare night ventured to Moscow Hotel. A lot of posting traffic on this place so thought would give it a try. Entry even steeper than SVH and this was firmly mid week. The F. M ratio was colossal. Some real top talent on display. But layout of the place is lousy bunch of tightly packed tables fronting up to a long bar. Almost impossible to cruise this place in a relaxing or covert way. Must have been approached by + 20 "sellers". Has a kind of bordello feel to the place, way too many staff pouncing on you and so on. Not really enjoying so much and just about to pull the pin when very cute Khazak lady sidled up to me. Real Daenerys Targaryen look a like. Exchanged pleasantry and so on then she makes an offer to good to refuse. $100 all night. Thinking she might have some FX delusion asked what that was in local and sure enough she gave the spot rate of 365. So the deal was sealed. Absolute doll start to finish. But did giver more than asking price as she deserved it. She was a student taking last few weeks out before term starts up again to pay tuition. Having heard that story I re-assessed the market and I reckon that there were 5-10 girls same as her in the place. Kind of all had a less hard face look and suppose looked more like students. Flat shoes, ready to walk somewhere less experienced in the ways of these places. Maybe I am being overly analytical but my MO is always to have an angle. And if there is a next time this will be it in this joint.
The moral of this tale is that I started out with a clear angle in SVH and though not disappointed as such the night was moderate. In Moscow Hotel had no angle, curiosity took me there. Struck gold.
Islamic new year. All closed?
Any hints where to hang out tonight during new year? Jules, Citimaxx, Karama seems to be either closed or no entertainment at all. Thanks for any nice hints.