If you’ve heard of this catchy-sounding hotel name before, that means you’ve probably visited the Far East. Their parent company, Melco Resorts and Entertainment is one of the most successful integrated entertainment and gaming companies in Asia. With award-winning resorts in Macau and Manila, their latest venture is about bringing this successful concept to the Mediterranean.
Hotel
At 14.8 acres and a rumoured investment of more than 600 million euros by Melco Resorts, it is not an understatement to say this is a transformative destination for the whole island of Cyprus. A tiered 14-storey development with 476 rooms and 24 suites, it delivers on Las Vegas-style glamour and ambition but with local Mediterranean touches. The stone arches, the lattice woodwork, and all the elegant sculpted curves are in keeping with local Cypriot designs.
What makes the hotel so ground-breaking is that the expansive outdoor space is matched by an equally impressive indoor space. It helps to make Cyprus more of a year-round destination, which isn’t weather dependent, however, they have recently launched a sunshine guarantee offer, which offers guests a free stay if they don’t have a sunny holiday.
The spacious interior houses Europe’s largest casino at a 7,500 sqm gaming area, while the high-end shopping promenade houses leading brands such as Cartier, Hublot, and Tumi and has been designed to resemble the streetscape of the old town of Nicosia.
Room
There are seven categories of rooms and suites in the hotel and you will struggle to find an underwhelming view, as the rooms look out to either Akrotiri Salt Lake or the verdant gardens and inviting pools. Being a relatively new hotel, you will find state-of-the-art features in the room including your interactive tablet to control all the features of the room. Smart TV, Nespresso coffee machine, and sumptuous bedding are all provided, too.
The entry-level premier rooms have a very respectable 42sqm of indoor space and seven of balcony space, while the stately presidential suite has 425sqm of indoor space 425sqm and 155sqm of terrace space. It is a duplex with two commodious bedrooms, perfectly polished marble bathrooms and even your fitness room along with a separate dining space, and it is officially the largest presidential suite in Cyprus.
Food and drink
The hotel truly excels on this front with countless restaurants and bars for their guests. For those seeking variety, Aura is just the place for you – their eclectic breakfast and dinner buffets serve up Asian, Western, and Middle-Eastern treats. There is a strong focus on live cooking stations, so plenty of dishes are prepared fresh in front of your eyes. The lunch à la carte menu is by comparison more limited, but I suspect most guests are poolside by then or out exploring the island.
Prime Steakhouse serves up arguably the most diverse steak offering on the island. I’ve only ever seen Snake River Farms Wagyu on Californian menus, but never in Europe – here, they offer well-marbled rib eye and T-bone steaks etc. Snake River Farms famously pioneered the American wagyu beef, if you want an indulgent treat, you can serve it up with lobster or wild tiger prawn.
Amber Dragon is part of the Michelin-starred Dragon family of restaurants in Macau. The restaurant has an open kitchen, where you can observe their wood-fired oven as chefs prepare their signature Peking duck. They use local carob wood, so the smoky notes will be different to dishes served up at their sister restaurants in Macau.
The menu is Pan-Asian, so you can get your sashimi fix with the freshest of seafood to heartier Cantonese-style dishes like roasted honey glazed Iberico pork. Service is absolutely faultless – even if you order a mocktail, it is prepared on a service trolley in front of you. They offer two pairs of chopsticks, so one can be used for picking up food from communal, sharing dishes.
Spa and wellness
With 1,600 sqm of spa and fitness space at Renu spa, there is ample space for you to relax or burn off calories without any intrusions. Treatments are inspired by the programme offered at their sister hotel, Morpheus in Macau, which has won accolades such as ‘Spa of the Year’. You are offered a heated, reclining massage bed and only the very best spa products are used such as Natura Bissé, which is also the same brand of toiletries you will find in your room. The treatments include a vitality massage, which will help to overcome jetlag, using oils infused with sweet marjoram and zesty citrus.
The health club has the latest equipment including state-of-the-art cardio machines, however, it is the pool area that will garner all the attention. Here, you’ll find the largest pool complex in Cyprus with both heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The latter is sculpted to resemble a beach, complete with an in-pool bar and sandy areas. The eye-catcher is their Waverider, which allows you to surf in controlled conditions.
To do
You could be excused for not wanting to leave the resort as there is a plethora of activities available, however, the hotel is also a great base for discovering the rest of the island. You are less than 20 minutes by car from the renowned Kourion Archaeological Site. The magnificent restored Greco-Roman theatre is undoubtedly one of the key highlights, but if you explore the ruins, you will discover incredibly well-preserved mosaics from a bygone era.
Other places to consider include the quaint village of Omodos where you can sample local wines and traditional Arkatena bread, made using the humble chickpea. You can hike to the numerous scenic waterfalls on the island, such as Millomeris Waterfall. It is only a one km trail, so is suitable for all ages. Finally, you have to visit the old port of Limassol with countless upscale, trendy bars. You will understand the hotel and Limassol in general are for the discerning, sophisticated traveller.
Factbox
City of Dreams Mediterranean offers rooms from £280 per night.
Address: Nikou Kavvadia, Limassol 3150, Cyprus
Phone: +357 25 088888
Email: concierge@cod-med.com
Website: cityofdreamsmed.com.cy
