When I first visited Zero Gravity Beach Club back in April of last year the, then recently opened, venue was still marketing itself as 'Dubai's best kept secret.'
They weren’t lying either. I lived round the corner and was up until that day was blissfully unaware of this gem of a beach/restaurant/club mash up right next to Skydive Dubai. I didn’t appear to be alone either, as we had almost the whole beach and restaurant to ourselves for the day, which was great for us, but maybe not for balancing the books.
Things move on however, and just over 12 months later the venue is one of Dubai’s undisputed hotspots, helped in no small part I suspect by a list of visiting djs including the likes of Paul van Dyke, and playing host to exclusive events such as December’s closing night party for the Dubai International Film Festival.
We popped down for the final Sun:Sets session with resident Chicane before the summer kicks in. The best thing about the venue though is that we didn’t just pop down for that. Zero Gravity’s USP is that it allows you to essentially have three days out without leaving the venue. We arrived in casual mode at lunchtime and enjoyed a tasty lunch at the restaurant (succulent steak and a crisp, fresh Greek salad along with some prawn and salmon nibbles to start), slipped into beach mode for the rest of the afternoon (though these days you need to get down earlier to find the best spots), then after a quick shower and change back in the main building were ready to dance the night away to Chicane, alongside vocalists Christian Burns and Natasha Andrews.
The music began early (around 4.30) with chilled sounds that drifted gently to the customers relaxing on the beach, picking up pace with Latino rhythms as the sun began to set and the beachgoers drifted either home or to the beachside stage and terrace, finally moving into full on dancefloor territory as darkness set in.
The packed terrace, along with the sizeable stage, lighting and sound systems were new developments since our last visit, as were the heaving (though manageable) crowds, and although there’s a tinge of sadness that this secret is no more, it’s great that a place like this exists in the Marina.
It may have been the final Sun:Sets Session for this season, but there’s plenty more to come before the heat really kicks in – Judge Jules takes the decks this Thursday (14 May - moved due to the occasion of The Prophet’s Ascension falling on Friday evening), Amnesia resident Markus Schultz takes the stage on Friday 21 May, and there’s a final session of breakbeat goodness from Krafty Kutz and A-Skillz on Thursday 28 May.
• For full listings and prices visit www.0-gravity.ae