Armani makes Dubai the perfect city break

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  Armani Hotel Dubai

  © Armani Hotels

Downtown Dubai is fast becoming the most fashionable area of this remarkable city, with four top class hotels, the Dubai Mall, a souk and residential buildings surrounding the lagoon which houses the impressive Dubai Fountain.

The focal point is of course the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building which spears into the sky – and is about to become home to the world’s tallest restaurant, Atmosphere, on the 122nd storey.



Of course, also inside the Burj Khalifa is the Armani Hotel, the world’s first hotel interior-designed by the famous Italian.



Before one’s arrival as a guest at the hotel, you are called by a “Lifestyle Manager”, who seeks to get to know you and your preferences before greeting you personally when you arrive. In our case, the lovely Natasha was at the door clad in black to welcome us inside.



First impressions of the Armani Hotel, as one looks up at the arched tube structure in the large atrium, are of the muted colours – something of an antithesis to many other hotel lobbies in Dubai. Whisked to your room for check-in formalities, the natural and neutral colours continue on the floors and curved internal walls. 

Every colour and material in the rooms, from the marble and leather to all the textiles used, have been personally selected by Giorgio Armani, along with the Armani Privé toiletries in the large bathrooms, which are also his own creations.



The most desirable rooms overlook the lagoon and the mesmerising fountains – the largest in the world, naturally – which are lit and dance to different music every thirty minutes from 6pm. Some executive suites have huge decked balconies giving an excellent view over Downtown Dubai.



The undeniable quality and style of the Armani Hotel’s rooms are matched by its restaurants. 

Armani Ristorante offers fine Italian cuisine, cooked in the open central kitchen and served at large round booths while the chef regularly pops out to talk to diners. Armani Amal offers excellent Indian cuisine, both inside as you watch the chefs prepare your meal and on a terrace overlooking the bustling scene below. Also in the hotel is Armani Peck, which has bought Milan’s 125-year-old Peck Deli concept to Dubai. There is a great mix of outdoor dining spaces and intimate areas great for after-dark drinks, and there is even Dolci in the lobby selling sweet treats, as well as an Armani florist.

The hotel also makes sure guests can be pampered even more, with the addition of the world’s first Armani spa, which continues the sleek and calm aesthetic, and there is an outdoor pool area too.



A large part of the hotel is also given over to the sought-after Prive loungebar-cum-nightclub, which doesn’t hold back in its use of black mixed with sparkle and has become one of the city’s coolest hang-outs.



Guests at the Armani Hotel are a very short walk from the Fashion Avenue area of the huge Dubai Mall – a two-storey circular Bond Street or Rodeo Drive. Large as the mall is, it is easy to navigate, with an underwater zoo, countless casual restaurants and a lift that shoots passengers to At The Top, the summit of the Burj Khalifa.

You would be forgiven for thinking that an area which houses the world’s tallest building, the world’s biggest mall and the world largest fountains might be more about size than quality – but that is far from the truth. The Armani Hotel – plus its three sister hotels in Downtown Dubai – provides a very classy alternative to Dubai’s famous beach hotels.

It seems Dubai has arrived as a city break destination.

By Nick Perry

Location: Dubai