REVIEW: EDEN Beach Club Grand Opening: RIP Blue Marlin?

EDEN, the hotly anticipated new Beach Club at Rixos, The Palm opened its doors last week. It's Kevin Pietersen, the English Cricketer's, new venture - sunbathing paradise by day, Mediterranean style bar and party palace by night. Hence the name, Every Day Every Night.

Emma Haylan Hall EDEN Beach Club Rixos The Palm
EDEN Beach Club, Rixos The Palm


My partner in crime, Miss B, picks me up in her 4x4 and we head to The Palm. EDEN is located at the far end of the East Crescent so once you land on The Palm you still have a good 20 minutes of driving to go. We approach our destination – turns out the road to Eden is lined with super cars. The pumping music can already be heard from outside. We valet the car and head in.

The Crowd....
The tabled areas are already full with people sipping glasses of wine and popping bottles of champagne. The comparisons with Blue Marlin is evident. However, the crowd is slightly older and better dressed.. I'm liking it already. I head to the bar and order a glass of red wine and a coke for Miss B (responsible driver, I can already see her regretting this decision) The bill comes to 70 AED which I was pleasantly surprised at. The wine glasses are still plastic, but elegantly white, long stemmed and branded with the logo. The Merlot is also very nice. (EDEN 1 – Blue Marlin 0)

Emma Haylan Hall, EDEN, Rixos The Palm
Wine time = Party time

The music: Sasha
The base of the music is pretty heavy for early evening. Perhaps this is the key energy lift to keep the party going from day to night. We've all enjoyed day parties but left, as once the sun has set, all there is on offer is an empty bar that hasn't acquired its night time clientele. The 'resort wear over swimwear' is a tell-tale sign who has been here all day - it's a significant amount. Fireworks explode across The Palm and light up the skyline signalling the arrival of Sasha in the DJ box. The Dude can still kill it.

Fireworks from EDEN, Rixos The Palm
Fireworks

Sasha, EDEN, Rixos The Palm
Sasha in the DJ Box
EDEN could spell big problems for Blue Marlin. Especially if they keep attracting big names like Sasha. I love BM but the long drive from Dubai, overpriced average drinks, and a few bad experiences with other guests have tainted my opinion.

View of the club from the beach

I have a dinner date down town at Cle so Miss B and myself say our good byes and head out.
Oh. Lord. The traffic is backed up The Palm further than we can see. Our valeted car will be joining this monstrosity. (I'm already running late) We haul ass down The Palm on foot and manage to intercept the car and get the driver to do a U Turn. We may have just saved ourselves a 45 minute wait. I can see this traffic situation being the thorn in EDEN's foot.

Eden, Rixos The Palm
Miss B and the queue for our car :-(
I wish I could have stayed longer which is a testament to the well thought out concept. My favourite way to spend a weekend is lounging by the pool or with a nice glass of wine, good music and my gorgeous friends. It's why the Dubai Beach Clubs have always been my favourite haunts (Puro Beach, Nasimi, One & Only) What EDEN has, is the potential to provide a party atmosphere for the day time sun bathers, that doesn't disappear once the sun goes down.

A good friend is celebrating his 30th birthday at EDEN next weekend. I cannot wait to return and spend the day and night, at what I feel, is Dubai's newest gem.

EDEN, Rixos The Palm by day
EDEN by day. Photos courtesy of my sun worshipping friends
…....It's your move Blue Marlin.

EHH xxx

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