Defined by a blend of grand designs and the best Burj Khalifa views in Dubai, Shangri-La Dubai offers guests luxury accommodation complemented by exceptional service. I discovered the magnificence, beauty and luxury of a world-class hotel, all at a surprisingly affordable rate.
Hotel
Just a fifteen-minute taxi ride got me to this enviable location along Sheikh Zayed Road where its closeness to all of the exhilarating attractions makes it perfect for both the business and the leisure guest alike. It is barely a few minutes to Dubai Mall and World Trade Centre and DIFC, while the nearby metro is a few metres away.
It isn’t a wonder that the Shangri-La Dubai has already become a milestone within a city of landmarks. The hotel is open to visitors with its open house vibe for a quick coffee grab; a quiet corner to use as a hot desk; an unbelievable dinner with a side of views; a table full of classic cocktails or DJs on the decks; or to admire the stunning sunrises and sunsets.
Room
Each of the three hundred and two rooms and suites, offer breath-taking views of either the Burj Khalifa, with its stunning skyline, or the Arabian Gulf. Additionally, interconnecting rooms and apartments are available if you are travelling with the family or in larger groups.
Since I was travelling with my daughter, I booked the Picture-Perfect room which is a blend of soft grey and gold tones and lavish interiors. Interesting subtle, adjustable lighting is on offer here, and the ambience conveys luxury, solitude and novelty galore.
The marble bathroom is an additional luxury I most definitely enjoyed with all I could ever want and we enjoyed revelling in the beauty of the Burj Khalifa view, as we descended into the cosiness of our day bed. There was hardly any reason to leave the room!
Food and drink
Each experience at the dining spaces is top drawer and offers a great variety of both drinking and dining experiences. The Dunes Café, with its elegant ambience, makes quite an imprint and was my preferred spot for breakfast, while the Sunday Brunch was a highlight.
Dinner at Shang Palace is perfect with Cantonese cuisine elevated to a truly grand degree. Hoi An is the best place in Dubai for Vietnamese and offers the perfect balance of the finest and freshest of ingredients, soulful broths, scrumptious dipping sauces and dishes.
Lobby Lounge offers a blend of Asian and Arabic hospitality in elegant surroundings. A peaceful setting makes this a perfect place to have a business meeting, enjoy tea, coffee or an aperitif as one attends to the calming sounds of the in-house band. As the sun sets, it makes for the perfect location to relax to the DJ’s beats, besides enjoying unbelievable views of the Burj Khalifa at the ‘ikandy’ ultra-lounge. Furthermore, there’s Balcony Bar with the hotel’s stylish lobby as your stage, where you can settle in a leather armchair and treasure every moment.
Spa and wellness
To help you recharge, Shangri-La’s own-brand CHI Spa, with Arabian-inspired treatments, offers invigorating expending ingredients like dates, coffee and rhassoul mud, as well as relaxing treatments so you leave the property refreshed and renewed. The pool zone, on the fourth floor, is hip with white sunbeds, hot pink driers and overwhelming Burj Khalifa views.
If you have booked into a Horizon Club room or a presidential suite you have special access to a quirky reserved health club on level 42 which boasts a sheltered pool and suntrap terrace offering premium views of the city, from one of the most charming spots in Dubai. With a never-ending list of activities and things to see across town, there is never a gloomy instant in Dubai.
In a nutshell
We loved the uniquely Asian-inspired Arabic kind of luxury hotel service. The staff seems aware that guests at the world’s grand hotels not only expect exquisite and impeccable service, but also an exceptional cultural identity.
Factbox
A Picture-Perfect room would cost approximately £257.
Address: Sheikh Zayed Road, P.O. Box 75880 United Arab Emirates
Phone: (971 4 ) 343 8888
Email: sldb@shangri-la.com
Website: shangri-la.com/dubai
Photography courtesy of Shangri-La.
