Beirut-born Japanese restaurant CLAP has had the city’s cool young things flock to DIFC for a fun night out. It is after the financial district’s highest and largest rooftop bar and restaurant. And don’t even get us started on the other arresting reception area that deserves a round of applause for just how off-the-wall it is: there’s a toy chandelier made of 2,100 dolls and action figures and blocks of books stacked together to resemble furniture. It is spectacularly deranged.
While these eccentric decor elements are recognisable and set CLAP apart from its peers, what’s probably little-known to even those who’ve frequented the swanky eatery more than once is the existence of a hidden music room within CLAP called Ongaku.
Named after the Japanese word for music, this secret space has its own DJ deck and bar and comes alive in the small hours of the night. You’ll have to find your way to it through a discreet door stashed away at the back of CLAP to get to Ongaku. Once you’re there if you momentarily think you’ve stumbled into Tokyo’s streets, that’s because you’re supposed to.
The goal at Ongakuis to recreate Tokyo’s electric nightlife, specifically the pulsing underground music scene of Shibuya, of the popular Shibuya Crossing with its flashing neon signs and throngs of people. Do they net that goal? Absolutely.
Starting July 13, the secret music room will pull out all the stops every Wednesday night and channel Tokyo’s vibrant essence with dizzying blue neon lights, an open format music policy, and an endless flow of creative cocktails.
Partygoers can let their hair down and let loose to the tunes of Resident DJ Monoi and special guest DJ ESKEi83.
All you have to do is come dressed in your most elegant ‘electric brights’. Interpret that as you will. A chance to experience Tokyo’s nightlife without having to board a flight seems like an opportunity to pounce on pronto!