At.mosphere: Cocktails at 442 Meters

122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa. World's highest restaurant and lounge. Every other rooftop bar is a compromise. The city below looks like a circuit board designed by someone with opinions about geometry. Palm Jumeirah west, desert south, Gulf north.

Book the lounge (no minimum spend) rather than the restaurant for the view without the prix fixe. Window table at sunset — the transition from daylight to city light happens over the course of your drink. When the Burj Khalifa's LED light show starts on the building's exterior below you, the surrealism peaks. Smart casual, emphasis on smart. This is Dubai.