Explorer top 7.

1 Vintage

Vintage is a cheese and wine aficionado's dream, with the menu a veritable telephone directory of all things cheese and grape. Wines range from the most respectable plonk to a dazzling array of costly vintages, burgundies and champagnes but, despite the exclusive list, this feels more like a friendly local than a stuffy wine bar. Don't overlook the food, there are some fantastic cheese and cold meat platters that come with fresh bread. Vintage is a small space, so reservations and smoke-free dining are not an option, and you may need to arrive early or very late to bag a sofa. Pyramids, 04 324 4100

2 Oscar's Vine Society

The most unlikely location for a cosy wine and cheese hideaway, the Crowne Plaza on Sheikh Zayed Road is home to Oscar's - where wine cask tables and dim lighting set the mood. Daily wine specials offer a good excuse to try something new, while dining offers are great value for hearty French dishes.The friendly bar tenders and the cheese master will be happy to explain the selections. 04 331 1111

3 Oeno Wine Bar

Fine wines and excellent service set Oeno apart. The decor is stylish and the wine wall, complete with shelf ladder, adds a sense of decadence. The food is served tapas-style, with charcuterie and antipasti options accompanying a selection of dozens of cheeses. Don't be put off when the platter arrives bearing minute portions of cheese; these tiny, pungent pieces of heaven go a long way. Tuesday nights bring three free glasses of sparkling wine for ladies from 6-9pm. The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, 04 399 4141

4 The Agency

If overwhelmed by the 30-plus page wine menu, try one of the 'wine flights', a selection of four different wines, to get yourself in the swing. The cafe facade and the dark wood and brick interior could be from any great wine-producing region, as could the tasty tapas-style snacks. A great place to warm up for a big night out, it can get a little too cosy. There's another branch at Madinat Jumeirah (04 366 6730). Boulevard at Emirates Towers, 04 319 8088

5 Cin Cin Modish furnishings, warehouse-high wine shelves, and walls fashioned like falling water create a backdrop as bling as Beyonce in a diamond-encrusted catsuit. It's easy to get carried away ordering fine wines, from the selection of over 400 vintages, plus imaginative cocktails and caviar, but brace yourself for the bar bill - this is expense account territory. Fairmont Dubai, 04 311 8559

6 Vantage

We have high hopes for this brand new wine bar at the Pullman Dubai. Set on the fifth floor, the sweeping terrace is a draw in itself. Inside, the dramatic purple, black and white interior and plush couches create an elegant setting. Can't decide what to quaff? Purchase a rechargeable Vantage Wine Card to sample this month's selection of wines from the snazzy Enomatic wine machine. Tastings costs from just dhs5 allowing you to sample some excellent grapes without breaking the bank. Pair with specially selected tapas and enjoy the view. Pullman Dubai Mall Of The Emirates, 04 377 2000

7The Cellar

OK, it's a restaurant, not a wine bar, but it has a great wine list, and as the bar area is completely separate to the dining room, we just had to include it. Choose from a range of new and old world grapes and relax in the intimate, but laidback, curtained bar or outside on the terrace. If you're feeling peckish, look out for the regular wine and dine specials, such as the Wine Bazaar and Chef's Table, in which The Cellar's excellent cuisine is paired with complementing wines. The Aviation Club, 04 282 9333

For reviews of Dubai's latest bar and restaurant openings, check out the November issue of liveworkexplore magazine. Subscribe online at www.explorerpublishing.com and receive dhs99 to spend in our e-shop.

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