Commanding a regal and statuesque presence over the iridescent Dubai Water Canal, The St. Regis Downtown Dubai is the newest jewel in the city’s highly sought-after Business Bay area. The St. Regis - Marriott’s most refined and sophisticated brand - opened its fifth UAE property last month, bringing a new interpretation of avant-garde style and hospitality to the city, neatly wrapped up in an elegant St. Regis’ bow.
Having opened its first property in New York in 1904 - the brainchild of American business magnate and property developer John Jacob Astor IV - threads of the St. Regis’ over one-hundred-year history are stitched into the fabric of each hotel, connecting the dots between a sense of old-world glamour and bespoke service, with the evolving, nuanced needs of a well-travelled 21st-century guest.
The St. Regis Downtown manages to straddle these worlds - the bold exterior silhouette, all modern and mirrored, playing into the hands of cool and contempo interiors, but with a toe still dipped firmly in St. Regis’ gilded era, where old-fashion service sensibilities were essential markers of both taste and distinction. Here, a doorman in tail-coat gestures you inside, as Caroline Astor’s signature perfume scents the air, and modern jazz music soundtracks your arrival... Stylish yet subtle, storied not stuffy, refined yet relevant.
Those who know the St. Regis brand may note the absence of the signature staircase that usually curls its way round each lobby. This time, the design team got creative, using the overhead gold, tubular glass chandeliers to mimic the sweeping curves of the iconic staircase. Chains cascading down behind the brushed-concrete reception desks nod to the jewellery and gold chains found at Dubai Gold Souq, while artworks by the likes of Emirati artist, Fatma Lootah, are chosen by WA International to cement the hotel’s sense of place.
Other locale reference points are found in the lobby’s St. Regis Mural that shows the reflection of the city on the canal; in the skyline drawing of the city’s skyscrapers found above the entrance; in the alcoves dotted around The Library bar that house art pieces celebrating the Emirati culture’s love of horses and polo; and in the undulant golden arches that lead to the lifts inspired by the patterns made in the sand when the wind blows in the desert.
Once in your room, there’s no escaping your sense of place, with views of Dubai Water Canal tumbling from floor-to-ceiling windows, some featuring an indoor ‘balcony’ with chaise lounge that invites a long, languid book read or sunset snooze. The 233 rooms and 65 suites champion The St. Regis Downtown’s refined-yet-contemporary vision, with softly-spoken colour palettes, crisp white linens contrasting against striking long wood desks, textured coral-inspired resin artworks that reference Dubai’s natural world, and accents of gold that hint at whispered luxury. The 305sqm Royal Suite is the pinnacle of modern grandeur, with its own bar, dining area, lounge and kitchenette.
A brand synonymous with a sense of escapism, urban detachment can be found here at The St. Regis Spa - the first of its kind in the Middle East. Based around the six senses, its six treatment suites offer an innovative and deeply personalised approach to wellbeing; each comes with their own facilities and relaxation space. Treatments include singing bowl meditation, a 24-karat gold age-defying facial and a hammam, while the Sound Suite has a projector that beams out soporific images of waterfalls and rain to induce relaxation and sleep.
Further escapism plays out at the hotel’s outdoor infinity pool, with its sculpture installation inspired by the boats navigating through the Dubai Water Canal that sits below. Views of sunset are something of legend here, with the pool terrace sunbeds positioned at just the right angle for when the sun dips beneath the horizon.
Swim, sunbathe, then watch the sun sink over business bay, with a signature St. Regis Bloody Mary in hand
As with many St. Regis properties, food sits at the heart of this one, its eclectic offering taking guests on experiential culinary encounters. Basta! is a slick ode to contemporary design and modern Italian cooking, where exposed brickwork, wood and marble share space with a floor-to-ceiling mural of Sophia Loren, with its lively ambience spilling out onto the newly-designed Canal-front terrace. The food will take you from a Roman trattoria to a Florentine steakhouse by way of a Neapolitan pizzeria.
At Basta! The food will take you from a Roman trattoria to a Florentine steakhouse by way of a Neapolitan pizzeria
Wander up the Grand Staircase, designed to represent the historical journey of the St. Regis brand, to find the dark and mysterious The St. Regis Bar. An astrolabe guides your way inside, paying tribute to Arab sailors, whereupon a ceiling speckled with stars help conjure images of desert skies and the stories in Arabian Nights. Here, you’ll be served another taste of St. Regis’ legacy - a signature Bloody Mary cocktail, with Dubai’s ode, entitled Marasi Mary, infused with Arabic spices.
At night, Bleu Blanc comes into its own - an airy palette of neutral colours so pretty when all lit up. There’s a living wall with tumbling greenery, an open kitchen that invites you to feel part of the action, vintage-inspired cutlery and crockery, an al fresco terrace and a huge grill that, when fired up, permeates the room with a sultry, smokey scent. French flavours and easy-going Continental vibes stir up plates of Kaviari Caviar pillows with crème fraîche and yuzu, pink Tarbouriech oysters, dry-aged beef tartare with smoked eggplants and aioli, and homemade potato gnocchi with black truffle and Parmesan, all from the immensely creative brain of head chef, Paolo Lostia, who has worked in myriad Michelin-starred kitchens.
Amidst all these contemporary proclamations, the hotel hasn’t lost any of its signature St. Regis charm... To honour the same traditions found at other St. Regis properties around the world, there’s the 24/7 indulgence of the Butler Service, celebratory champagne sabering at seven o’clock each evening, and afternoon tea served at The Library, a locally-inspired take on the acclaimed St. Regis ritual originally inspired by Caroline Astor, the matriarch of the Astor family.
Few places are able to straddle the past and present as well as The St. Regis Downtown. As it deftly blends the old-world, storied past of the brand with the avant-garde vibrancy and vision of its location, it lets guests relive old memories whilst giving them room to make new ones. Past, present, future perfect.
HOTEL:
WHAT: The St. Regis Downtown, Dubai
WHERE: Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
TEL: +971 4 512 5555