Dubai is a city that is completely Arabian yet has incorporated the best of everything from around the world. It is also a city steeped in opulence and you’ll see the top names in luxury automobiles on the roads, women donning couture designer fashions, and the wealthy living the high life in the most lavishly designed homes.
When it comes to hospitality, that aspect of Dubai is no different. Every name from the highest echelons of the hotel industry are there showcasing their brand’s finest properties unlike any in the world. To make a statement there is not easy but already one of Dubai’s recent hotel additions has made its mark on the Dubai’s and global tourism scene. That hotel is the Palazzo Versace and its salute to the finest of Italian accommodation in the heart of Dubai.
From the outside, it resembles an ancient opera house in Rome with each detail carefully created as only Italians can do. It is designed as a neoclassical 16th century grand Italian palace with manicured gardens, reflection pools, courtyards and terraces. To say it is a masterpiece would not be a stretch as the property was created to impress the most jaded of travellers.
As you arrive on the cobble stone driveway, passing the Rolls Royce’s, Lamborghinis and Ferraris at the valet, you’ll enter the grand salon where the emblem of the house of Versace greets you in a massive tile mosaic on the floor. The salon is a grand hall with cathedral height ceilings with full length windows filling the room with natural light.
Fine Italian furnishing with bold colourful Italian Versace patterns under delicate crystal chandeliers fill the space. Local women in elegant abayas and the resort’s well-to-do guests gather in the afternoon for an elaborate high tea service.
The floor in the main salon is a work of art created from millions of mosaic tiles and which took over a year and half to complete. This is just one example of the supreme Italian workmanship found in each corner of this hotel. True creations cannot be rushed; it is the artisan that takes the time he needs to create this work of art.
The influence of Donatella Versace is apparent throughout the hotel. From her couture dress drawings on the wall to the Versace home décor furnishings, you feel that you are in the home of Versace. The Versace brand was founded in 1978 and has evolved from fashion to a lifestyle brand with the Palazzo Versace as the ultimate manifestation of the revered designer brand.
Each of the 215 rooms and suites are deliciously opulent with a Versace print design in the silk bedding and bold turquoise, blue, beige, gold, or salmon pastel colours. Every element oozes the highest level of detail and Italian craftsmanship from the parquet floors, furniture and décor along with a state of the art television and sound system.
Seldom are bathrooms unforgettable but in this case its different. The bathroom is white Carrara marble with a striking mosaic tile of the Versace medusa head inlaid over the bath tub. The top of the line amenities are provided for use in the decadent walk in rainforest shower. The outdoor balconies are striking as well with plenty of room to relax while taking in the panoramic views of the Dubai Creek.
The suites are even larger at 214 sqm and have all that any VVIP would need to stay for a week or month with an impeccably furnished living room, dining area, full kitchen, and second television room.
The dining experience of the Versace Dubai is as opulent as the hotel itself. There are several dining and entertainment options from all day dining to their two signature restaurants. The Vanitas restaurant serves haute Italian cuisine in a lavish setting that oozes romance with candelabras flickering as couples talk in hushed tones. Each dish is as sumptuous as the next – fresh classic Italian dishes created with fresh ingredients.
The Enigma restaurant has become a destination dining experience as Dubai locals dine alongside the hotel guests. It is also the perfect place for romantic couples to dine by candlelight while other guests choose to dine alfresco on the terrace.
The reason why critics are raving about Enigma is that the cuisine is completely Turkish but creatively fused with high end European cooking techniques and presentation. Chef Yunus Aydin, the young and passionate Turkish chef behind the creations has worked for some of the top chefs from around the world.
He is as creative and playful as he is a master of technique and presentation while each dish is a testament to his love of the craft. Not to be missed are the slow roasted octopus and the thyme flavoured ice cream.
When it’s time to work off a bit of steam and calories, the hotel has state of the art work out facilities and personal trainers as well as a spa and three swimming pools. The spa experience should not be missed, with state of the art equipment and innovative treatments.
The hotel could not be more centrally located to enjoy all that Dubai has to offer. It is just minutes away from the largest mall in the world, the Dubai Mall and convenient to the airport and other nearby attractions.
Italians are known for their sense of style, passion and detailed high quality craftsmanship. The Palazzo Versace has brought this ethic in its highest form and created a masterpiece of luxury, style and elegant accommodations in the heart of Dubai.
It is a hotel experience that is not easily forgotten from the first step inside, to the pools, spa, the dining experience and of course the accommodations. For those looking for somewhere special to stay while in Dubai, the Palazzo Versace is sure to please.
Address: Culture Village, Al Jadaf – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 556 8888
