The Agency

Nicely furnished bar at the Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel. You get delicious snacks and there is a large selection of wines. The service was also excellent.

By the looks of it, this wine bar could actually double down as a cocktail ditto, so a dutiful visit was conducted. The good news is that this place indeed has the potential of both winery and cocktail venue, while the bad news is that it’s far off from any of them as of right now.

???? 5/8: It’s got potential, a small scene for a live jazz band, the elevated bar in the middle and rumor has it there’s even a hidden cigar lounge - but right now, it’s hit-and-miss. The menu is still from the Rib Room, there’s no jazz band (not even a jazz playlist), and the cigar lounge is nowhere to be found.
???? 4/8: In keeping with the theme, a New York Sour was ordered, but even though the (again Rib Room) drinks menu listed Whiskey Sour, the bartender advised that he only had ingredients for a Negroni. And sure, if there is one cocktail you need, that is it - but still.
????u200d???? 4/8: He’s not given much to work with, but pride, effort and politeness doesn’t cost anything - always give your best in those three aspects, and it will show.
???? 4/8: Small ice cubes, and not even a full glass of them.

If you, as a restaurateur, reach out to the likes of What’s On and Time Out to have them promote your opening - can’t you at least make sure that you actually have a menu of your own, and not use the menu from the restaurant previously occupying the space? What in the aforementioned magazines is described as “a team of knowledgeable sommeliers, and an extensive selection of grape-by-the-glass will be available” turns out to be a bartender lacking ambitions, offering a whopping six grape-by-the-glass varieties. Again, the competition in Emirates Towers alone is cut throat, so the team needs to up their game a lot in order to not lose the race before they even started.

Cocktail: Negroni