Hotel of the Week: An A-List Roster of Creatives Makes Dubai’s Newest Hotel a Must-Visit Destination

For the posh Dorchester Collection’s first hotel outside of Europe or the United States, the Paris-based designers Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier devised an indigenously inspired color scheme of sand, cream, driftwood, desert rose, and dove gray, and also offer visual nods at the Dorchester pedigree from the moment guests step inside the pleasantly understated lobby. A huge bouquet of lilies, Dorchester roses—a special variety created for the company by Meijer Roses of Holland—and eucalyptus fill a huge urn that refer to the pair found in the lobby of the Dorchester in London. The reception desk is tucked away into an alcove area so as not to distract from an intricate mosaic that fills a whole wall with dozens of shades of pink and another wall installation by British artist Sophie Coryndon that is inspired by the interior of a honeycomb.

Upstairs, the spacious rooms come with mocha wood paneling, white-marble door frames and taupe-colored carpets that are framed by bands of mocha-hued stone and white marble. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow stunning views of the Burj Khalifa, the elegant spire that is the world’s tallest building, and a plethora of perfect details show off the Dorchester Group’s vocation for impeccable and original creature comforts. Beds by Vispring, supplier to Buckingham Palace, come with goose-down duvets and Frette bed lines, and white-marble clad baths feature Wildsmith amenities and Dyson hair dryers. There’s even an automatic in-room watch winder for anyone loathe to take of this task themselves.

An infinity pool on the 20th floor offers stunning views of Dubai, and The Lana is building a beach club that will be reached by private boat from the marina in front of the hotel. The destination competes deliciously well in a city that’s become the new global arena for the world’s great chefs. Globe-trotting Frenchman Jean Imbert, head chef at the Plaza Athenee hotel in Paris, delivers one of his very best menus anywhere at Riviera, The Lana’s main restaurant, ranging from a superb Arabian breakfast, a huge meal that’s enough for two, to gorgeous carpaccio and tartare, and an epic risotto, while brilliant pâtissier Angelo Musa supplies the spectacularly good pastries served here, including the excellent sandwiches, scones, and desserts served at The Lana’s deservedly popular afternoon tea.

The hotel’s headliner spot, however, is Jara, a grill restaurant by Basque chef Martín Berasategui, who has three Michelin stars at his namesake location in Lasarte, Spain, and nine elsewhere in the world, including the Canary Islands and the Dominican Republic. It specializes in open-fire-grilled Spanish seafood and meats.

All told, The Lana is the hotel Dubai didn’t know that it was waiting for. See more photos below: