1927 Abu Dhabi: Inside Marina Mall’s New Private Members Club

There are “places to go”… and then there are places you almost don’t want to tell anyone about because they feel like your own little secret.

Well, Abu Dhabi just got one of those.

Say hello to 1927-a soon-to-open private members’ house tucked inside Cinemacity Starlight at Marina Mall. And no, this isn’t your usual night-out spot with loud music and “let’s just see where the night goes” energy. This is the kind of place where the night is already perfectly planned for you-you just show up and enjoy it.

Not Just a Venue… It’s a Whole Vibe

1927 isn’t trying to be another restaurant, bar, or cinema. It’s aiming higher-think of it as a cultural home where film, music, food, and good conversation all casually exist in the same beautifully designed universe.

It’s for people who care about the details. The lighting. The mood. The kind of place where even the silence feels curated.

In short? If you’ve ever said, “I just want somewhere nice where I can actually hear myself think and still have a great time”-this is it.

A Space That Keeps Unfolding

The best part? 1927 isn’t a one-room wonder. It’s more like a mini world you slowly discover as the evening goes on.

You’ve got:

• A Dining Area that anchors the experience (aka where food meets aesthetic goals)
• A Lounge made for long conversations and “just one more drink” moments
• The Cabaret, bringing live performances into a more intimate, almost cinematic setting
• The Guild, your social corner to meet, mingle, and maybe make new connections
• And then there’s The Vault-a discreet, tucked-away space for when you’re in the mood for privacy and exclusivity

Basically, it’s the kind of place where you start with dinner… and somehow end up three rooms later, deep in conversation, wondering where the time went.

Vibe Check

Dressed like a 1920s film salon and priced for the few – speakeasy energy meets screening room, minus the actual smoke. The real verdict has to wait until proper public reviews land, but the early preview crowd is clearly here for the aesthetic, not the popcorn.

Where 1927 Sits on the UAE Members’ Club Map

The Middle East’s private-members scene has been heating up. The Arts Club opened in Dubai’s DIFC at ICD Brookfield Place in 2020 – 65,000 square feet across five floors, three restaurants, a rooftop terrace and a library. Soho House sits on Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach, leaning creative, design-led and beach-facing. 1927 is Abu Dhabi’s first serious entry into that club tier, and the first regional one with cinema baked into the concept rather than bolted on as an amenity.

It is not trying to compete on rooftop pools or wellness floors. It is leaning into the slower, design-led end of the spectrum – the kind of place where the evening is the product, not a side dish to a pool view.

The 1920s Inspiration Is the Whole Point

The name isn’t just a year. 1927 was the year sound arrived in cinema with The Jazz Singer, and the design language inside the house leans hard into that era. Think dark wood, deep colours, brass detailing, lighting that doesn’t apologise for being moody.

It sits inside Cinemacity Starlight, the newer luxury cinema concept at Marina Mall that already pairs a 500-seat flagship screen with restaurant-style seating. 1927 is the members-only extension of that same idea. Members get reserved access to the cinema next door, which means you can roll from a Cabaret performance into dinner into a film, without ever leaving the building. Not many Abu Dhabi venues are designed for that full-evening flow yet.

The Plot Twist: You Can Actually Go (For Now)

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Before 1927 turns into a members-only hideaway, they’re opening the doors to the public-for a very limited time.

Starting Thursday, April 30, and running through 31 May 2026, anyone can step in and experience what this space is all about. Think of it as a sneak peek before the velvet rope officially goes up.

You can:

• Explore the interiors
• Try the menu
• Watch a film
• Soak in the atmosphere that’s soon going to be reserved for a select few

It’s basically your chance to say, “I knew this place before it got exclusive.”

WOW Expert Tip: Marina Mall has multiple entrances and the closest one to Cinemacity Starlight sits on the eastern side. If you are driving, head to the basement parking near that entrance – it saves a five-minute walk through the entire mall after dinner.

After May? It Gets Selective

Once the preview wraps up, 1927 will shift into full members-only mode. Entry won’t just be about showing up-it’ll be about getting in.

Applications, approvals, and a curated community-that’s the direction this house is heading.

So if you’ve ever wanted to experience a space that feels more like a private club in London or New York than a typical Abu Dhabi night out… this is your moment.

Final Thought

Let’s be honest-Abu Dhabi has no shortage of places to go. But places that make you slow down, stay longer, and actually enjoy the moment? That list is much shorter.

1927 feels like it’s about to land right at the top of that list.

So the real question is:
Are you going to check it out while you still can… or hear about it later when everyone’s saying, “You should’ve gone before it went private”?

Related reads: New to this side of the city? Our guide to Al Bateen and Breakwater maps the whole neighbourhood around Marina Mall – beaches, marina dining and where to stay. Planning a longer evening out? Our Ultimate Night Owl’s Guide to Abu Dhabi covers 21 ways to spend the hours after sunset. And if you are heading to the same building for food before the film, Dave’s Hot Chicken at Marina Mall is the loudest new arrival on the food court side.