When you think of DIFC, it conjures up thoughts of corporate chatter, busy boardrooms and suited and booted business folk brokering deals. But DIFC has so much more to it than meets the eye, from stunning contemporary architecture to a sea of art and culinary hot-spots that deserve attention when in town.
Those-in-the-know stay at The Ritz-Carlton DIFC, Dubai, a central five-star hotel that keeps DIFC in easy reach, yet creates a luxury lifestyle haven built on relaxation and laid-back experiences, allowing you to remove yourself from the urban revelry as and when you want.
With an Art Deco design that holds onto its Arabic placing with traditional Middle Eastern accents, the hotel is home to 341 rooms and suites. For just the right amount of space, set up shop in the hotel’s Executive Suite, with 936 ample square metres to call your own. The suite sleeps three adults, but also provides cribs and rollaway beds for any mini travellers in tow.
Most striking are the views from the suite’s large balcony, which will cast your eye over DIFC – a particularly beautiful spot to unwind in the evenings, as the city just sparkles differently at night.
Inside, it’s all chic furnishings and finishes, with cream leather padded walls, light-toned soft furnishings and colourful injections from armchairs to artworks. The room is basked in natural light, with floor-to-ceiling windows creating a cinematic masterpiece to watch as the city bustles by. Whether you’re here for business or pleasure, there’s plenty of room for all, with a separate living room with desk and dining area, along with a powder room and beautiful marble bathroom.
Whilst the suite is all kinds of comfy, it’s the service and the little touches that make the difference, and what Ritz-Carlton aficionados have come to expect from this 40-year-old brand. You can bathe in delicious smelling Asprey products in the bathroom or indulge in Patchi chocolates, macarons and The Ritz-Carlton embossed sweet treats. For everything else, there’s 24-hour room service.
When you’re ready to explore, you’ll discover why the hotel is the preferred des-res amongst Dubai’s business, pleasure and leisure seekers. There’s a picturesque rooftop pool where laps play out to epic views over the city, and when the Middle East sun requires you to retreat inside, you can sip and dip by the indoor pool, or head to the gym where health-conscious travellers can pound the treadmill. You can also bring a little health and harmony to your stay at The Spa, a beautiful contemporary space that integrates restorative traditions from around the world with rituals native to the Middle East. Give your body some TLC across the continents with the East Meets West treatment, which blends cultural techniques from Bali, Mexico, India and the Philippines. Or for a mind-bending approach to wellbeing, try the Awakening Bamboo Massage, which uses free-flowing bamboo massage movements to alleviate deep tension from head to toe. It’s also worth spending some time in the steam room and sauna to make the most of The Spa’s holistic experience.
From the sense of touch to the sense of taste, and when it’s time to eat you can trust your tastebuds to be well and truly piqued across the hotel’s six restaurants and bars. Flair 5 steals the most laid-back and relaxed setting, reclaiming its spot on the terrace after a summer season inside. The alfresco location is a verdurous oasis in the city, where good food meets good vibes. More than just a shisha and cocktail hotspot, the restaurant serves botanical cocktails, herb-infused drinks and floral-inspired sharing plates, all making you feel like you’re a million miles from a metropolis. Try the seabass ceviche, soft-crab tacos and grilled prawns. To wash it all down, Flair 5 heroes a different spirit each month, allowing the bar’s green-thumbed mixologists to create some pretty and inspired floral alchemy.
If the bright lights of Dubai beckon after sunset, you’re just a short walk to DIFC’s Gate Village, the beating heart of the city’s five-star culinary scene. To walk off the indulgence, you can then wind through the walkways to discover DIFC’s art galleries, where international heavyweights, such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s, share floorspace with regional galleries like Tabari Art Space and Art Sawa.
Naturally, all roads lead back to The Ritz-Carlton DIFC, where your 400 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets gentle wink at you from your Executive Suite bedroom. But before you turn out the light, make one last visit to your balcony to drink in the dazzling sights of Dubai after dark. It’ll be worth the extra seconds docked off your sleep – we promise…
Stay:
WHAT: One-Bedroom Executive Suite
WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton DIFC, Dubai
TEL: +971 4 372 2222