Ladies Night

Last night I went out to dinner at the Crown Plaza Hotel. It was my friend's birthday and her favourite restaurant is the Italian Spaccanapoli Ristorante. Between 4-7pm all food and drink is half price so for cash strapped teachers just home from vacation it seemed a good option. The invitation said 5pm so I duly arrived in a cab on time.

Now, it's the first time I've been to this hotel so after asking where the restaurant was and making my way up the stairs I find no-one else there.Ummm? Wrong night, wrong restaurant, wrong hotel? As I ponder all these options (and as the waitress tells me there is no booking under the names I try) I decide I may as well have a drink so sit in the bar and order one. Half an hour later and there is still no-one. Then the waitress comes to say that my friend has rung and the booking will now be for 6pm. Another couple of ladies arrive so we introduce ourselves and order some wine to keep us going.

Around 6.15pm the party finally arrives so those already there stock up on our half price drinks before heading into the restaurant. The food was delicious. I decided on a mushroom risotto which I couldn't finish. The restaurant is 'famous' for its metre long pizzas and I think I will return to try that (with some friends of course!).The evening ended with my friend's son giving a speech concluded by a haka. This shut up most of the diners as they looked on in awe, horror or whatever!

We managed to order before 7pm so the evening was economical. After eating we decided to head upstairs to the rooftop bar for ladies night. However, a new rule which didn't allow you in without identification meant several of the group had to leave. So after downing a quick G&T, we all left to try another bar.

Arriving at the Hilton Hotel on the Corniche we headed into the Jazz Bar. Now I've heard of this but had never been. The music was good and the free drinks of G&T, vodka or sparkling wine kept us in good form. I haven't danced that much since I've lived here so it was a good night.

The whole concept of Ladies Nights is a big drawcard here in Abu Dhabi with different bars having them each night so, if you choose, you can be out drinking free most nights of the week. Of course, men flock to them also as for the price of a few drinks they can be in a room full of women. They were strict on the guys buying their own drinks and making sure we didn't hand on any freebies.

After waking this morning, I don't know how anyone could do that on a work night and turn up at work!

Oh, I forgot to mention that I'd had the afternoon at the beauty salon on one of my favourite Groupons. For 79 dirhams (around $28 NZ) I got a hair cut, wash, colour, blowdry and my eyebrows shaped. I opted to pay an extra 30 dirham ($10 NZ) to get my eyebrows coloured so was looking in good shape for the night out.