02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
The Jazz Club by QC in Abu Dhabi
Not every night out in Abu Dhabi needs to be a high-energy affair. Sometimes, the best evenings are the ones spent tucked away in a cosy corner, sipping a well-made mocktail while jazz music softly fills the airwaves.
The Jazz Club by QC, hidden behind a curtain in Al Raha Beach, offers just that. Consider it a secret little world where music, coffee and delicious desserts take centre stage.
Step inside and it feels like you've travelled to a different era – the 70s, to be exact. The maroon-draped curtains give way to an intimate space bathed in a warm, moody light, where plush velvet couches invite you to sink in and stay awhile.
(Credit: The Jazz Club by QC)
The walls pay homage to jazz greats, their portraits watching over the room as a traditional record player crackles in the background. It's a space built for just around 20 people – a small but intentional crowd, creating an atmosphere that's cosy, exclusive and effortlessly cool.
The story behind it? It all started when The Jazz Club's founder, Sulaiman Alalawi, was brewing coffee for his future in-laws, filling his home with the scent of oud and, almost by accident, stumbling upon Miles Davis' Kind of Blue record.
That first encounter with jazz was unexpected, even a little strange, but the emotional connection stuck. Now, years later, that passion for music and coffee shapes this under-the-radar Abu Dhabi spot.
While the venue is known for its impeccable coffee and creative mocktails (the Herbie's funk is a must-try), desserts are where the real magic happens. Take 'the moon' – a stunning grey, cratered sphere that looks like it was plucked straight from the night sky.
(Credit: The Jazz Club by QC)
But cut into it, and you'll find the smoothest mousse-like texture with a peanut buttery finish that lingers long after your last bite. Then there's 'the lady in red' – a striking black pillow with a bold red heart on top. It's impossibly soft, creamy and laced with hints of raspberry.
This isn't just a jazz club, and it's certainly not just a café. It's an all-round experience and one that dallies like the last note of a saxophone solo, smooth, soulful and memorable.
Abu Dhabi might not have been the obvious place for a jazz spot, but The Jazz Club by QC proves that sometimes, the best things are unexpected.
