Having lived all over, I've ended up in West Bay, walking distance from City Center and it's by far the best place to live. Most of the main hotels (hence bars and restaurants) are around here and the rest of the city is in easy reach. Massive bonus is that the traffic is almost non existent around here....for now at least!
You have CC Mall (cinemas, restaurants, shopping) and the newly opened Gate Mall (dubai style).
That said, it depends on what you need for accommodation...villa or apartment, and budget. These factors will influence you at the end of the day. Good luck!