Straight up

Up, up and away we go – to the tenth floor to be precise – off to the opening of Vertical, the new restaurant and bar at the Cristal Salam Hotel.

Stepping out of the elevator we get quite the shock – Vertical is a huge space, tasteful yet slightly edgy and filled with friendly staff busting to show off this stylish destination for lovers of tapas and fine grape beverages. So happily shocked are we that we decide this could become quite the addition to the Abu Dhabi nightlife scene and we already feel like a regular! Clutching a glass of bubbly, we set off to investigate.

Vertical is a sophisticated venue, but lacks that snobbish element that can make those of us not used to the high life feel uncomfortable in similar establishments. Oh no, it’s not like that at Vertical – everyone is welcome! There are plenty of cozy nooks to hunker down in with your friends for an after-work drink or weekend meet-up – we hovered in the open-air area near the rooftop pool and people-watched, relaxing in the calming atmosphere.

The menu tells you all you need to know about the inclusiveness of Vertical  – tapas are for sharing! And then there’s the incredibly wide selection of grape beverages. Nearly every visitor to Vertical will find something from their part of the world.

Sneaking through the crowd we head off for a nosey at the richly appointed private dining rooms and perfectly chilly cellar – we are impressed at how well equipped Vertical is for all kinds of diners. The whole top floor is devoted to delicious dining and swanky supping, with space for small groups, large groups and everything in between.
Thoroughly relaxed and suitably impressed we decide to return to Vertical very soon. We could get used to this!

Sarah Widdup

What? Vertical
Where? Cristal Salam Hotel, 8th Street, Tourist Club Area
We say: Go straight to the top
Contact: 02 659 7666