When chic style meets effortless luxury in one of the globe’s hottest beach and pool club havens, you know you’re at DRIFT Beach Dubai.
Founded by the ultra-luxe Sunset Hospitality Group in 2017, this sun soaked adults-only jamboree flaunts a dose of swagger in its stature as a glamour clad, award-winning ‘see and be seen’ poolside destination, tucked away inside the lush, Arabian splendour of the One&Only Royal Mirage in the boujee bling sanctum of Dubai.
Marking its territory in a tranquil shoreline quarter, DRIFT Beach Dubai takes great glee in showing off the powdery golden sands of the private beach settings of Jumeirah Beach, facing a pristine aquamarine oasis to give to their sun devotees a sense of VIP exclusivity whilst also in close proximity of the vibrance of the marina.
Courtesy of Dubai’s interior magnifico WA International, the club embodies a revitalising fusion of understated yet arresting elan, inspired by the poised beauty of the French Riviera. The space stretches across sixty five acres dotted with lush with emerald green botanicals, alongside native intricate embellishments far flung from the city’s unabashed prettifying routine of gold leaf trimmings, and crystal frills in every nook and corner.
A witty tribute to their paradisiacal sandy habitat, fabrics and smooth marble tiled flooring come sheathed in a pale, flaxen shade, whereas the accents of parasols, DRIFT embossed towels and furnishings reflected the serene haven of the Gulf waters, dipped in multi blue hues of turquoise and navy, all set against drape curtain cabanas of the purest snow white. The true magnum opus of DRIFT Beach Dubai, however, rested with the balmy lagoon retreat of the central sweeping infinity pool. Designed to unlock those skip-a-beat birds-eye vistas of the city’s wondrous skyline, the pool was exquisitely garnished with the towering trappings of a timber archway, all intricately adorned in a quintessential Arabic lattice embroidery, also featured many a times throughout the ritzy tract.
No strangers to the Dubai style appetite of fast-living decadence, DRIFT Beach Dubai has ardently welcomed into their seafront realm many a glossed up sun loungers, airy cabanas, and plush island beds to cocoon their in-crowd sunlight visitors on a bed of velvet. These choices do not, of course, neglect the paramount of unparalleled poolside hedonism of their exclusive private villa. Kitted out for up to eight guests with its own soothing rain shower, slick lounge and secluded garden terrace, the setup is fashioned to spill out to the ethereal horizon of the shimmering Marina skyline, snugly nestled within this glitzy Emirati metropolis.
Ever the decorous DRIFT clique, the team thought it perfectly proper to shun the plush prospect of the gazebos, and have yours truly residing for the day’s sun-soaked hours in nothing else but the suave luxe habitation of the island beds. Posing right before the very soothing eyes of the club’s rippling azure harbour, colossal white sun loungers were exquisitely adorned in an intricate mesh beautification, and blanketed in a rich sapphire patterned covering to make for a luxuriant lie and lounge encounter.
Hankering after an ice cold glass of rosé, the DRIFT team telepathically in sync with my parched desires, spared not a second in sashaying over with a chilled bottle of pale Minuty Rosé – light and delicately smooth, with a summer fruit burst of floral tinted raspberries and strawberries – before relishing the warm sun-soaked pool ripples in a lap or three to trigger the luncheon appetite as the DJ revved up his high-voltage beats a notch or three.
Keeping to the soft-hued tones with a sultry yet demure aura, a luminous, caramel wood floor and furnishings had set the stage for the restaurant’s recent renaissance. Labyrinthine lacework chandeliers in antique bronze and silver hung suspended in the air, as miniature twinkling lights radiated the spotlight on the curvaceous milieu of the cocktail bar attired in sheeny white marble slabs. Housing a catalogue of elite spirits and tipples to shake or stir for their cocktail connoisseurs to indulge in a pre-dining aperitif or two, the cocktail menu is courtesy of mixology maestro, Ruslan Svezhenko.
Spotting an invigorating twist on the traditional salted margarita, the DRIFT concoction edition saw the fresh candied relish of real watermelon, mingling with caramelised honeyed and buttered vanilla touches from the El Jimador Tequila, finished with the fruity botanical burst brought out by the splash of crème de pastèque.
A gourmet affair, the menu at DRIFT Beach Dubai sits scrupulously chaperoned under the sharp hawk-eyes of Parisian born executive chef Sylvain Noël, engrossed in a creative French epicurean odyssey by the sea which showcases fetching style, entwined with saporous substance. A decadently artful showcase of organic produce and garden-fresh ingredients, paper-thin carvings of mild wafer thin sea bass brought about a solid meaty quality, lavishing in a sea of zesty lime bustling with finely chopped herbs and sweet tomatoes. This was perfectly paired with Loire Valley’s citrus tinged blanc offering, of bold grassy Domaine Doudeau-Léger Sancerre.
Not one to neglect my fondness for prime prawns, the appetiser course of the les crevettes saw solid king prawns brought to life by a smoky spiced sauce, abundant with fine garlic and chilli, whilst the moreish helping of golden crisp fried Les éperlans, aka whitebait, came served with a silken creamed of aioli, dabbed with a touch of blackened squid ink.
Recognised for its top-tier meat produce, it was les côtelettes d’agneau which had championed the ‘From the Land’ array. Cooked to medium excellence as lean yet tender lamb chops oozed with piping hot juices, the course was accompanied by the starlet side accompaniment of the divine potato mille-feuille, revealing meticulously layered potatoes of wafer thin proportions. All was savoured with a clean, refreshing flute of Drappier Rose de Saignee, flowing with hints of ripe red fruits and a tinge of sweet liquorice.
No DRIFT Beach Dubai rendezvous should ever be concluded sans a sundowner escapade. Retreating to the grandiose refuge of my island bed, the dusky skies showcased a colourful sketch in deep pinks and orange, and the underlit pool radiated with ardent fervour as I sipped and savoured away on my favoured cosmopolitan cocktail, and the DJ’s infectious mashups pulsated through the ambience until the clock struck 7pm, signalling for me to make my exit from this café society lido shelter.
In a nutshell
As a proud, pivotal beach club institution, DRIFT Beach Dubai relishes in pampering their daytime jet-set residents with a deluxe series of glossy weekly encounters, from Ladies Who Drift every Tuesdays and Thursdays for courtly belles to receive a complimentary glass of rosé wine from Provence or Champagne Perrier-Jouët, to Chic Wednesday where guests are invited to dine on an AM breakfast banquet from 9am to 11am, and receive a complimentary lounger in aid of their appreciation.
As it continues to revel in its glittering prestige for the UAE’s haute-monde circles, DRIFT Beach Dubai chooses to echo a more humble sense of decorum and savoir-fare, which has proven to be equally ravishing to the eyes as well as the senses and tastes of their glitterati invitees.
Factbox
Sun lounger experiences start from approximately AED 150 – 250 (£30 – £60) per guest excluding food and beverages. With cabanas starting from AED 800 – 1,000 (£160 – £200) for two guests and island beds from AED 1,500 (£300) for three guests. Rates may vary during peak seasons.
Address: One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 315 2200
Website: driftbeachdubai.com
All imagery credit: DRIFT Beach Dubai
