Dubai is home to almost every hotel brand in the world so it makes it tough when deciding where to book. On this last trip I was fortunate enough to experience the Shangri-La, a perennial favorite of mine. This property boasts all the luxury of any top brand hotel in the world and yet it still maintains an oriental flair which sets it apart from all others.
Located with views of the tallest building in the world the Burj Khalifa, it’s close to the Dubai Mall and the Marina. The Lobby feels like the brand as it faithfully recreates their signature warmth and design cues. Frankly while checking in you feel like you could be in their flagship hotel in Hong Kong. The well-dressed European staff is polished and polite. On the lobby level is Dunes which boasts buffets that make even the best Asian hotels look sparse. One floor up is Shang Palace. This is Shangri-la’s flagship restaurant and it serves authentic Chinese cuisines. Next door is Hoi An, Vietnamese food with delicate opulence. Vietnamese for me is a lighter version of Thai cuisine and Hoi An is spot on.
There is a wonderful health club, spa and outdoor swimming pool on level 4. Also poolside is a bar/lounge called I-Kandy . This is the place to stop into on the way home from work to grab a cocktail and then stay and stay and stay and stay as it’s open until 2am. Once night falls you have amazing views of the Dubai skyline, while the lounge projects runway shows on the building to the tunes of a DJ to get the crowd rocking. You really would not believe that you are in Dubai. The crowd feels more like Ibiza and the atmosphere recounts Miami on a hot night.
Rooms are spacious, clean and luxurious. It has the service level and charm of a five star Asian hotel as staff are always in abundance in the UAE and nothing is ever too much trouble.
On the 41st floor is the Horizon Lounge. This is Shangri-La’s club level. Breakfast is served from 6:30 am and lavish cocktails and canapés are on order from 5:30 to 730 pm. They serve brilliant bite-sized snacks and a far too tempting cheese tray which may end up in a cancelled restaurant reservation if you don’t watch how much you eat.
F&B is fantastic, Chef Dris is able to make food from around the world and F&BMmanager Mr.Conor Handlington knows how to run a polished service; everything works. And this doesn’t surprise me because food is always well thought out at the Shangri-La. They recently launched the concept “Rooted by nature”. This is a global campaign to source organic foods and locally grown produce. Every day is earth day at Shangri-la. And I have to say I was impressed and inspired by the results.
Daniel Green, the Model Cook is a Celebrity Chef known for his healthy approach to food and living well. With TV, books, magazines and live appearances, Daniel spends his time helping fans to cook better, feel better and live better. He’s also an avid traveler and a self-confessed Foodie.
To contact Daniel or learn more visit www.themodelcook.com or follow on Twitter and Facebook
