A SARTORIAL STAY
Winter in Italy is a magical thing. It’s easy to picture svelte couples effortlessly carve through fresh powder in the mountains; while in the city, fashionable students huddle in coffee shops and sip espressos wearing Versace scarves. Winter in Dubai, on the other hand, is a balmy wonderland, lined with palm trees and fuelled by every flavour of cuisine under the sun – with an Italian escape that adds a Mediterranean flavour to the emirate.

The city got a lot more fashionable exactly two years ago when Palazzo Versace Dubai arrived. The Italian infusion lies in the Al Jadaf area of the city, peering over the tranquil Creek with its muscular, low-rise frame. Styled after a 16th-century palace, the hotel is seemingly timeless, integrating Neoclassical aesthetics with Arabian flourishes – a Versace falcon perch in the lobby, for example – all the while integrating cutting edge hotel tech and gourmet influences from around the globe. Expect uplifting colours of turquoise, blue, beige, gold, and salmon, with some serious rouge in the main foyer’s Mosaico venue.

Stepping into the lobby is a bit like being transported back in time, with bellboys doffing their caps as you enter the marbled paradise. The shimmering modern chandeliers juxtapose the Versaille-esque lounge furniture of Mosaico, the lobby lounge café that’s described as a personal reflection of Gianni Versace’s ornate compositions. If you’re fortunate enough to saunter through on a Friday evening (between 5 and 8pm) you’ll be treated to the dulcet tones of opera singer Paul Bester, testing the acoustics of the palatial setting. Let’s hope the falcon is a fan of the music.

FASHION AND FLAVOURS
Literally nothing here is “off the rack”. Each and every item of furniture and fabric used to dress the 215 rooms and suites, as well as the 169 residences, were first conceived in the sketchbooks of Versace HQ in Milan – and made exclusively for this ultra-chic destination. The bespoke approach clearly extends to the hotel’s eight culinary gems, which offer al fresco terraces that are ‘perfecto’ for Dubai’s mild winters. The design is said to be reminiscent of an Italian palazzo, where the internal court was the informal space to mingle and play.

The staple dining venue, dishing up buffet breakfasts and dinner, is Giardino, with a leafy green theme extending from the wallpaper to the dapper uniforms of the waiting staff. The space provides a hearty brunch menu on Fridays and adjoins Gazebo, an outdoor shisha haven with its own menu of light bites – from juicy slider trios to succulent Lebanese salads, stuffed vines and other mezze options. Tucked on the outskirts of the east wing, the venue sits next to the Ischia pool (one of three outdoor swimming venues), and is now coming into its own during the more clement winter climes.

For a true gourmet journey, however, experience a ‘Taste of Persia’ at Enigma, backed by Michelin-starred Exec Chef Mansour Memarian, dishing up his modern take on Iranian cuisine for lunch and dinner. The chef will always prepare an amazing array of amuse bouche items, including fresh olives, homemade cheese with oil, warm breads and a bed of lush green herbs presented on a palette with dry ice – and that’s before your starters arrive. To really kick things off, opt for the “Salad Chupan”, watermelon salad with candied olives, walnuts and more ultra-soft white cheese with golden olive oil.

For a hot starter, chef prepared a Kashke Bademjan, with charcoal-grilled aubergines and kashk (a sort of drained yoghurt), fried mint and roasted onions – the perfect consistency to heap onto your warm flat bread with a sprinkle of rock salt. For the main event, I asked for some guidance and the maître d’ zeroed in on one of a dozen options without a moment of hesitation. The most popular choice, I’m told is the slow (emphasis on *slow*) roasted lamb stewed with veggies, referred to as Khoresht Gheime, with traditional fava bean rice and dill rice on the side.

GET IN THE Q
It’s fairly commonplace to pair the Michelin-level dining destination with another feast for the senses at Q’s Bar and Lounge, the hotel’s exclusive jazz saloon. It’s guest list only at the weekend, with a packed house each weekend to witness Rogelio Douglas Jr croon his way through jazz, R&B and soul classics with his trifecta of musicians providing a wall of sound. The lights are low and the cocktails are on point, so make sure you book your spot at least a few days in advance to catch Rogelio and co, booked to perform until the first week of December before being supplanted by another artist, handpicked by the legend Quincy Jones, who lends his first initial to the lounge.

After the show winds down, it’s time to retire to your room – a Grand Suite Creek View, one of six categories that range from Executive Suites for business travelling bon vivants, to the exceedingly capacious two-bedroom duplex 1,200sqm Imperial Suites. Referring to the Grand Suite as “sufficient” might be the understatement of the year so far. We enter the 120sqm abode via the deep purple carpet of the hotel’s fifth floor, opening the door to a hallway and ‘powder room’ and large lounge area, ample enough for a desk, dining table, mini bar, 55-inch TV, bureau and couches, with plenty of room leftover to swing a designer cat. Into the next room, the king-sized bed is dripping in patterned silks and half buried in a carefully arranged pile of cushions.

Both rooms share a private balcony and vantage point over the hotel’s main pool, an elongated oblong that appears to spill over into the Creek, lined with sun loungers and guests basking in the autumn sun. Walking barefoot, the hardwood floor transitions to a cooler Carrara marble tiling; left to the mosaic-laden bathroom, with tropical rain shower, soaking tub and all-Versace-everything when it comes to amenities; and right to the expansive walk-in wardrobe and Hollywood-style vanity table. The closet area is actually so large that you’ve effectively got your own catwalk and full-length mirror to strut and preen ahead of your next outing.

Steeped in classic Italian design, each of the hotel’s 215 luxury accommodations reflect the essence of the Versace brand. The luxury lies in the material, with parquet flooring, a canvas of elaborate white and cream boiseries, and a pastel palette of silk furnishings. The Palazzo Versace’s rooms and suites are furnished with the Versace Home Collection that features the aforementioned of turquoise, blue, beige and gold tones, with deep purple carpets lining the halls. Plenty of natural light illuminates the rooms and suites, and serene views of the Dubai Creek or Culture Village can be enjoyed from a private balcony or terrace. The bathrooms feature handcrafted mosaic and Carrara marble tiling that provide a balance of detail and simplicity.

HAMMAM, SIR
Located on the ground floor west wing, across from the amply stocked gym, The SPA is a must-visit haven with seven treatment rooms, a spa suite, nail studio and two Moroccan Hammams. Both the ladies and gents’ relaxation areas have plunge pools, steam rooms and saunas, spread over almost 1,000 sqm. The marble floors of Granito Nero Assoluto match the grey degrade mosaics and the white birch wood walls with mother-of-pearl details.

The plunge pools exude elegance with motifs that belong to the sea: cornucopias interlaced with small seashells and embellished curlicues. Expect dedicated male and female thermal suites each containing a spa pool, sauna, steam room, relaxation lounge, spacious changing facilities and a luxury Moroccan hammam sanctuary. There’s also an astounding selection of treatments that incorporate high-end luxury brands from across the world. The offerings include result driven facials, luxury holistic massages, softening and energising body treatments, Moroccan hammam, and luxury manicure and pedicure.

For something extra special, opt for the Ultimate Indulgence package. The entire day of pampering is designed around five of The SPA’s most luxurious treatments for you and a loved one. If you’re not staying at the hotel, the package begins with a chauffeur-driven car picking you up from your home in Dubai ensuring you arrive in style for breakfast at Giardino. Your spa treatments begin at 10am, starting with the Signature Hammam ritual followed by the Ceremonial Massage. A delicious two-course lunch is served in either Vanitas or a private cabana by the pool before the Radiance Facial begins in the afternoon followed by a blow-dry and a luxury Manicure and Pedicure with a glass of Champagne or mocktail of your choice to complete your day. To make sure your journey home is as special as your arrival, the chauffeur will be waiting to escort you home. Now that’s the good life.