Good Vibes Only: Saikindō Japanese Hi-Fi Bar is a Cut Above The Rest

Saikindō’s home turf is Four Seasons Abu Dhabi on Al Maryah Island - walk straight through the lobby and you’ll come to the almost hidden entry. It opens at 5PM daily - just in time for a post-work catch up or pre-dinner drink - and would be one of our top picks for an effortlessly cool date night in Abu Dhabi. The interiors are very chic, and the staff are equally cool - but friendly - and nail the brief perfectly.

Emerging from postwar café culture in Japan, Saikindō’s inspiration is drawn from these intimate rooms that were built for deep listening, with the bar’s DJs playing rare vinyl on high-fidelity systems tuned for warmth and clarity. It’s a proper music spot - things start out quieter but the tunes build. Thursdays are listening nights, while Friday and Saturday DJs are in house - and music isn’t an afterthought or background noise, it’s a main attraction.

The other main event? Saikindō’s menu. Both food and drink offerings are creative, with plenty of attention to detail: innovative cocktails are a standout, with Japanese whiskey, sake and shōchū all in starring roles. Yakitori and robata plates are designed to complement the cocktails, and the drinks themselves are inspired by songs from 90s hip hop to soul and R&B - it’s quite the symbiosis. Non-drinkers aren’t missing out - the mocktails are equally good, and just as carefully crafted.

Want to transplant a small piece of Saikindō’s vibe into your own life? There’s a funky shop - for want of a better word - called The Atelier, which offers Bōsōzoku-inspired fashion and hand-crafted work directly from Japan to Abu Dhabi - it’s small batch, artisan, and very on-brand for the venue. Prepare yourself for an auditory and dining trip at one of the coolest spots in Abu Dhabi. 

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Saikindō

Four Seasons Abu Dhabi Al Maryah Island

Open: daily | 5PM - 2AM

Contact: 02 333 2222

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