Hotels and their restaurants
A string of new five-star properties is set to open this year, and with them they bring plush spas, glitzy lounges and restaurants backed by worldrenowned chefs, from Heston Blumenthal to Ariana Bundy.
The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences
The unique architectural design of The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, which will open later this year, has made international headlines. The UK’s
Daily Mail dubbed it the “wacky, Jenga-style resort”. They’ve got a point, but it also looks like Rome’s Colosseum, Spain’s Aqueduct of Segovia and Alhambra Unesco World Heritage Site in Granada. While its stylings are certainly a talking point, so is the fact that famed British chef Heston Blumenthal, whose restaurants have gained multiple Michelin stars, will open the Middle East’s first Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. It’s the world’s third iteration of the restaurant. Other exciting dining spots set to open at the property include a branch of the world-renowned Spanish spot Jaleo, the famed Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan and Ariana’s Persian Kitchen by the Iranian-American celebrity TV chef and cookbook author, Ariana Bundy. www.theroyalatlantisresidences.com
Five Jumeirah Village Dubai The new Five property features 271 swimming pools on landscaped garden terraces that offer panoramic views of the Dubai skyline. The five-star hotel is scheduled to open in August. “Five Jumeirah Village features a revolutionary design, which was conceptualised inhouse by Five, and has been patented and registered as a trademark in 168 countries,” a spokesperson explains. “This 60-storey hotel and hotel apartments will offer a unique experience that showcases the water and earth elements of our brand.” It will have 247 hotel rooms and suites, as well as 221 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 33 four-bedroom flats. www.fiveglobalholdings.com
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Set to open in the first quarter of 2019, the Jeffrey Wilkes-designed beachfront hotel is imbued with a sense of chic via California-style aesthetics. Among six new restaurants and lounges are Tasca, the first international eatery from Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Jose Avillez, as well as Netsu, the Japanese steakhouse from Nobu-trained chef and restaurateur Ross Shonhan. Meanwhile, a 2,000-square-metre spa will introduce treatments unique to the property, including the Nomadic Sensory Journey, which features Emirati drumming as part of the healing process. This will be the city’s first luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel, with
a second to follow on Sheikh Zayed Road in November 2020. www.mandarinoriental.com/ dubai/jumeira-beach
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa and Taj JLT
We don’t have a specific launch schedule for these hotels – but the Taj team reveal it will be before the year ends. The first to come may be the Middle East’s first Vivanta by Taj in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, with the opening of the 325-room, five-star Taj Exotica Resort & Spa on Palm Jumeirah’s western crescent to follow. The Taj Group, one of India’s largest hospitality companies, already has two properties in Dubai, including the Taj Dubai near the Burj Khalifa, which boasts popular venues such as Eloquent Elephant, Treehouse and Miss Tess. www.tajhotels.com
W Dubai – The Palm
Within mere weeks, The Palm Jumeirah will welcome one of Dubai’s most anticipated – and pet-friendly – hotels. W Dubai – The Palm will have 350 guest rooms and suites over seven floors. SoBe Latin American-inspired rooftop bar will boast 360-degree views, while the Wet Deck will likely become a new hotspot. As if that’s not enough, the hotel will feature two impressive new restaurants: Torno Subito by Italian restaurateur Massimo Bottura, who’s behind Osteria Francescana, the threeMichelin-star restaurant in Modena, Italy, and an offering from Akira Back, of Iron Chef fame, who brings his blend of Japanese cuisine with a Korean twist to the Middle East for the first time. www.wdubaithepalm.com
Grand Plaza Movenpick Media City
This five-star property, slated for a March 1 opening, is located in the heart of Dubai Media and Internet City, offering views of The Palm Jumeirah and Emirates Golf Club. It’ll feature 235 rooms and suites, as well six new food and beverage outlets, which includes all-day dining spot Slice – The Neighborhood Deli and Twenty-Three Rooftop Bar. www.movenpick.com
Radisson Hotel, Dubai Damac Hills
Located in Trump International Golf Club, this hotel is set to welcome its first guests towards the end of 2019. It will feature 481 oneand two-bedroom suites, two restaurants, a spa, kids’ club and an outdoor pool. www.damacproperties.com
Waldorf Astoria DIFC February is when the Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre is scheduled to open its doors on the 18th to 55th floors of the Burj Daman. The decor is inspired by early 1960s New York, with its neutral tones and brass elements seen across the guest rooms. Diverse restaurants and lounges with indoor and outdoor seating will also open, including St. Trop rooftop bar and New York’s famed Bull & Bear prime steakhouse. www.waldorfastoria3.hilton. com
The St Regis Dubai – The Palm and St Regis Beach Club
This luxe new hotel will span 18 floors of the soon-to-open The Palm Tower, which is attached to Nakheel Mall. One of its crowning attractions is the rooftop infinity pool on the 50th floor. One floor up will also be a restaurant complex, as well as a viewing deck on the 52nd level. Guests will enjoy access to the brand-new St Regis Beach Club, located at the nearby Palm West Beach complex. That will include dining, leisure and fitness facilities, as well as an infinity pool and gym. The hotel and beach club are slated to open towards the end of 2019, while the rest of the tower will open in 2020. www.thepalmtower.com