TRIED & TESTED

La Ville Hotel & Suites, City Walk Dubai; Dukes Dubai; Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square; The Ritz-Carlton Astana

BACKGROUND A welcome addition to the city’s underserved boutique hotel sector, La Ville opened in March and is part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? The fifth-floor property, containing 77 rooms, 11 suites and 68 apartments, is a distinctive low-rise – certainly on a different scale to the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel and other prominent high-rise hotels. The designs are sharp and complemented by plenty of natural light, in line with the Collection’s ‘like-nowhere-else’ ethos.

WHERE IS IT? In the heart of trendy City Walk, not far from Downtown Dubai and Sheikh Zayed Road. It’s safe to say City Walk from Meraas has made the transition from construction project to lived-in retail and residential community – I was amazed by the crowds on the path next to the hotel on the night we stayed. New restaurants such as Galvin Dubai, Lima Dubai and Toro + Ko are helping draw footfall.

ROOMS We stayed in a one-bedroom residence on the fourth floor (#449, residences are to the right), which overlooked the main entrance and offered a partial City Walk view. The apartment was fully equipped for long stays with kitchen area, washing machine, fridge, espresso machine, and lounge with pull-out sofa bed, adjoining the bedroom. Above the bed is an eye-catching black-and-white Dubai design and the en-suite bathroom is large enough for a stand-alone oval bath, two sinks, walk-in shower and toilet around the corner (circular amenities from Moooi). Wifi was easy to connect to, and decent speed, while the large flatscreen TVs in both rooms give you the opportunity to connect your device.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS Quality rather than quantity, as befits the boutique premise. We enjoyed dinner at Graze gastro grill (pictured) which had an al fresco continental feel with the shutters pulled back, and it’s a clever double draw – providing an appetising atmosphere for diners while targeting passing trade. Following a shared ceviche, I opted for Welsh Lamb Chops with mash potato, my partner went for the 12hour slow cooked ribs (very tender) and son demolished the mini burger. Next door, Chival is an attractive space – we had breakfast on the terrace and alongside wholesome dishes are novel water flavours and healthy shots – and Grapeskin winebar on the corner is proving popular (beverages to suit your mood, and the upstairs area is ideal for corporate get-togethers). Other options include the bar at the LookUp rooftop venue – one for your instagram tallest tower photos – and Lobby Café.

MEETING FACILITIES Three venues are available, Boardroom 1 (525sq ft), Boardroom 2 (241sq ft) and The X Lounge (1,676sq ft).

LEISURE FACILITIES A small spa containing two treatment rooms and gym are on the fourth floor and LookUp features a linear pool. Dominic Ellis

VERDICT La Ville gets three large ticks for its boutique novelty, decent F&B and communityoriented access

PRICE Online rates for a one-bedroom residence in mid-November are priced AED2,000 a night, hotel Deluxe Rooms from AED1,150

CONTACT La Ville Hotel & Suites City Walk, Dubai, Al Multaqa Street, PO Box 414433, Dubai, UAE. Tel: +9714 4033111, marriott.com/ hotels/travel/dxblv-la-ville-hotel-and-suites-citywalk-dubai-autograph-collection, livelaville.com