A taste of 007th heaven
KATHERINE BAINBRIDGE discovers that Dubai is perfect for a short break – but watch out for those James Bond martinis
WHERE in the world can you get guaranteed sunshine, beautiful sandy beaches – and totally authentic fish and chips?
The answer is Dukes Dubai, the sister establishment to Dukes Hotel in London, which aims to bring a bit of British refinement to one of the world’s ritziest cities.
Situated on the famous Palm Jumeirah, the hotel is small by Dubai standards with 279 rooms and 227 serviced apartments, giving it a relaxing, calm and almost homely feel.
Forget covering everything in gold leaf – at Dukes you can expect dark wood, leather sofas and furnishings by Liberty Fabrics that give the comfortable bedrooms a pop of colour.
Mind you, the lobby does feature a huge – and I mean HUGE – Swavorski crystal chandelier that took six men three days to hang. Just so you don’t completely forget where you are.
Among the hotel’s many amenities are an infinity pool, private beach (the only one on the Palm so we’re told), kids club, afternoon tea lounge, cigar and whiskey room, mezzanine bar, and three restaurants.
It also has some great quirky elements, such as the Duchess Floor which only takes female guests, and is only serviced by female staff. As an all-girl party, this was where we stayed. And yes, I did feel a bit like a duchess.
Dukes Dubai opened at the end of March and some of the hotel was still under construction while we were there. Once finished, it will also boast a floating swimming pool, spa and fitness centre.
One of the main focuses of the hotel is, of course, eating and drinking, and we had a great time sampling a good proportion of what was on offer.
The three restaurant offerings are GBR (Great British Restaurant), New York-style steak house West 14th, and Indian restaurant Khyber. All operate under the watchful eye of executive chef Martin Cahill, who grew up in Bolton and has hand-picked his team from all over the world.
Khyber is a sister establishment to the famous Mumbai restaurant of the same name, so is as authentic as it gets, and is on the 15th floor with breathtaking views of the city.
Among the dishes we sampled were tandoori murgh, murgh kagani, nalli nihari and maa ki dal, and all were completely delicious.
Authentic fish and chips came from GBR, as did one of the most varied and exciting breakfast buffets I have ever seen. We also sampled an excellent afternoon tea in the aforementioned lounge, and a famous Dubai brunch at West 14th.
Brunch in Dubai is a huge thing – it takes place on a Friday, the main weekend day – and people pay a set price to eat and drink for hours.
And I can see why: the desert buffet alone would have kept me going for days. Plus it’s very – and I mean very – expensive to drink in Dubai, so an all-you-can-drink deal is something to be taken advantage of.
One of the things Dukes London is famous for is its bar and more specifically its martinis, which are said to have inspired Ian Fleming to write James Bond’s famous ‘shaken not stirred’ line. They’ve also made the trip to the UAE.
The Vesper martini – I can’t fully recall the ingredients – is almost worth the trip alone. Just don’t try to operate any machinery afterwards.
Assuming you can drag yourself away from the hotel, the pool, the beach, the food and the martinis, Dubai offers plenty of diversions.
If you like shopping, you’ll be in seventh heaven, with the Mall of Dubai and the Mall of the Emirates offering thousands of square feet of high-end retail (plus the chance to spot the supercars cruising by outside – I ticked ‘gold Ferrari’ off the Dubai bingo list), while the souks in the old town peddle everything from spices and dates to gold and silver jewellery.
I’d recommend a trip to the top of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, which dwarfs the massive skyscrapers that surround it.
Assuming you have a head for heights, standing right up against the glass and looking down is quite an experience.
If you can, go at dusk to watch the city go dark and the lights come on, and then descend to see the dancing fountains give their famous Las Vegas counterparts a run for their money.
If you’re looking for a break from city life, a desert safari experience is a great way to go.
We got the opportunity to go dune driving (quite a lot like being on a rollercoaster – best not to eat too much beforehand – sand boarding, shisha smoking, and enjoyed a delicious barbecue under the stars.
Dubai is only a seven-hour flight away, and the time difference is just three hours, so it’s perfect for short breaks as well as longer holidays.
Just take it easy with those martinis.