An opulent baroque palace on the Arabian Gulf
Isabella Craddock
Raffles The Palm Dubai review: 9/10
Why stay at Raffles The Palm Dubai
Every guest of Raffles The Palm Dubai remembers the first time they saw the property. In person, it’s spectacular: a ginormous pastel pink, 18th-century-style palace on the shores of Palm Jumeirah. This is as opulent and OTT as it gets, even for Dubai: chandeliers weighed down with thousands of crystals, antique-style furniture, grand pianos and gilded gold touches everywhere. The hotel is reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles, that is, until you step outside, where it’s pure Palm Jumeirah with manicured grounds, beautiful sea, a private beach, one of the biggest swimming pools in the country and views back over almost the entire skyline, including the Burj Khalifa on a clear day. This is not the hotel for minimalists, so lie back, on your chaise lounge, and enjoy the unashamed maximalism.
Location: 8/10
Raffles The Palm Dubai is one of the many luxury resorts to line the outer crescent of the Palm Jumeirah – a scenic and peaceful stretch surrounded by the Arabian Gulf. This striking location means that, though the views and vibes are great, it’s a good 15-minute drive to the Palm Gateway and a 15 to 20-minute drive to Downtown Dubai (though retail and dining destinations Nakheel Mall and the Palm West Beach development are nearby). This isn’t the hotel for those who want to spend their days out and about exploring, but for those wanting to relax, unwind and enjoy the sunshine, beach, spa and sumptuous surroundings.
Rooms and suites: 9/10
A real treat with Raffles The Palm Dubai is that the theme carries through to the bedrooms. They’re extremely spacious (the biggest on Palm Jumeirah) and decked out like mini baroque palaces – regardless of room category – plus all come with sea-view balconies or terraces. Designer Francesco Molon used plenty of gold, antique-inspired furniture, patterned wallpaper, heavy drapes and fittings hand-brushed with real gold and silver leaf to create the 18th-century feeling. Bathrooms, however, are brilliantly modern, decked out in Portuguese marble with rainfall showers and tubs. Larger suites could easily pass for palace state rooms – and come with their own terraces with sunbeds. A handful of stand-alone villas pepper the garden with multiple floors, up to four bedrooms and private rooftop pools.
What really sets the hotel apart, especially for large families and those in search of total privacy, are the pastel-pink villas – four-bedroom stand-alone properties sleeping up to eight people with the same palatial interiors, rooftop pools, private spas with hammams, fully kitted kitchens, maid’s room, driver’s room, private driveway, 24-hour in-room dining and a private garden with jacuzzi. The villas have hosted many A-list celebrities and are one of the best ultra-luxury hotel accommodations in the city.
Restaurants and bars: 7/10
Raffles The Palm Dubai’s dining offering is diverse, eclectic and full of surprises. True to the opulent theme is Blüthner Hall, the magnificent lobby lounge with a crystal chandelier and Blüthner Louis XIV Grand Piano, and the setting for afternoon tea. Down the spiral staircase is Le Jardin, the hotel’s grand, collonaded dining room serving breakfast (a lavish buffet spread with fantastic vegan and free-from options) and lunch – both inside and on its sun-soaked garden terrace. Another option for al fresco dining is Piatti – a Mediterranean-inspired beach restaurant serving fresh seafood and magnums of Minuty.
Raffles’ nighttime options are decidedly off-theme, however. There’s sultry Matagi, a Japanese fine-dining restaurant serving great sushi platters and grills, and cavernous jazz bar Sola – with killer live music and comedy nights. The latter is one of the city’s best-kept secrets and brings the vibe of a New York City jazz bar to Dubai. Suite guests also have access to the Raffles Club Lounge – an exclusive area on the top floor with sweeping outdoor terrace offering some of the best views over the property. Guests can enjoy breakfast here, alongside complimentary afternoon tea and drinks and nibbles.
Spa and facilities: 10/10
The hotel’s 3,000-square metre Cinq Mondes spa is a palace in itself – stripped back, ultra-modern and occupying the lower floors of the hotel. Guests can enjoy a sauna, steam, wellness areas, salt room, hammam, treatment rooms and the largest indoor swimming pool in the Middle East – which is usually peaceful and ideal for getting in some laps. Cinq Mondes products are inspired by the brand’s owners’ travels around the world and treatments are also internationally inspired. A 24-hour modern fitness centre and kids’ club complete the offering – making this one of the best spa offerings in the region.
Service: 8/10
Guests are greeted by gracious lobby hosts in attractive white suits and gowns, before being whisked up to their room or suite (suite check In happens with a glass of something cold in the Raffles Club Lounge). Everyone is pleasant, smiley and attentive – but the Raffles signature butler service hasn’t really cut through yet – so expect general concierge service rather than a dedicated attendant.
The verdict
Raffles The Palm Dubai is a hotel that is unashamedly ostentatious but equally modern, homely, friendly and inviting. Its grandiose exterior is guaranteed to impress everyone, while its 500-metre private beach and facilities make it one of the most well-equipped hotels in Dubai. For something special, there are few hotels like it.
Doubles from AED2,000; raffles.com
