This probably is the best place to hangout on Saturdays. No cover for most of the foreign companies. Usually a mix of expatriate oil workers, local girls and men.
Quite time between and than it starts getting crowded till 3AM. If you are an expatriate, try to leave before AM bar closes at AM and call a cab ahead so you dont have to respond to sometimes hostile cabies outside. Once you are frequent here, you will develop a circle of like minded people. Hookers are available though solicitation is seldom observed. Young local girls visit the bar in groups and usually looking for just a night of fun with paid drinks.
Stay away from confrontation and be carefull who you talk to. Be aware of your drinks and belongings to avoid mischieves by local men. Food and service is okay and staff does understand english. Beautiful interior design, lots of variant spaces to hang out at the bar, in the corridor, in hotel lobby, etc , good live music, reasonable prices, responsive and nice staff, good location, excellent atmosphere!
The formula of this place is one you will have seen everywhere in a world. It is designed as a typical western bar for foreigners but most patrons are understandably! The mix of fat, grey haired foreigners, testosterone fuelled drunken young local men and smattering of local girls looking for fun is a recipe for a sometimes tense atmosphere. Ordering a taxi before entering the foray of revellers outside the entrance to the hotel is a good idea.
The walk to the taxi rank is long and the route involves negotiating numerous men keen and sometimes aggressive for your custom. If you are looking for a bar full of obnoxious drunk Brits, prostitutes and Kazakhs looking for fights then this is the bar for you.
