A sea of caramel, warm white and sage, mottled stone floors, exposed blonde woods and gentle bursts of coral and burnt ochre await the arrival of guests at Sofitel Dubai The Palm Signature Collection. A fusion of sophisticated, contemporary design and cultural nuances that cement its place on Palm Jumeirah and usher in a whole new boutique hotel experience.
Most will know the hotel for its French-Polynesian charm and winning family-friendly formula, an urban bolt-hole with island escapism vibes. Few, however, will know of its secluded new haven – until now. Opened just last month, its collection of 42 Signature Palm Suites and four newly-designed Signature Villas breathe new life into the Palm, bringing with it new-found sophistication centred around bespoke, one-of-a-kind stays.
Breaking away from the hotel’s rich French-Polynesian design, the Signature Collection is lighter, more laid-back, but with that new fan-favourite of whispered luxury. Nothing gaudy or garish, more airy, subtle and serene, with travertine stone, percious marble and timeless Crema Marfil marble taking you from a modern inerpretation of French Polynesian design to the elegance of the French Riviera.
Soft, rounded lines, a vast ‘green wall’ of mood-enhancing plants and plays of dappled sunlight take me from the private triple-height lobby up to my second-floor suite, a private butler attentive yet covert at every turn. As he opens the door, it’s as if Aeolus, the Greek god of wind, has arrived, as a gentle offshore breeze billows through the sheer curtains, breathing a sigh of contentment.
The breeze ushers us into the lounge, with its bowed sofa and curvilineal dining table, into the bedroom, wrapping itself around the four-poster bed, before whistling its way onto the balcony and back out to sea. There’s so much space, 85-square-metres of it, but designed so intuitively that there’s a cosiness to the suite. Supple lines and rounded corners everywhere, sliding doors that offer both privacy and open-plan, and a gentle flow of usable space where nothing feels obsolete. The suites are precise in their approach and discerning in their appeal.
As fresh as the suite feels by day, at night cosiness takes over, soft lighting warming the earthy tones, as sun makes way for moon. The doorbell goes, my butler presenting me with a pre-ordered Margarita. It’s part of the Signature Collection’s Sunset Hour Ritual. I sip it on the balcony as swarms of birds make their final fly-by of the day, silhouettes stitched across the sky. Inside, I hear water running as candles flicker on. This time, it’s part of my Evening Bath Ritual, courtesy of my very own ‘bath butler’. How wonderfully indulgent. Rose petals and bubbles of the soap and champagne kind speak a new sophisticated language, curated for the Signature Collection’s cultured traveller.
The night sky leads to dinner at Laguna Beach Taverna – a rustic spot by the water, feasting on Mediterranean cuisine as we bury our toes in the sand. Beef tartare, garlicky mussels, Mafaldine pasta with osso buco sauce and baked feta with honey and lemon taste all the better with the sea-salted air and rhythmic waves.
The Signature Collection has all you could need... The undivided attention of your butler, a Maxi Bar that invites you to unleash your inner bartender with step-by-step instructions, breakfast served ‘as you like’ in your suite or in The Premier Lounge, and myriad other thoughtful rituals and tailor-made occasions just for you.
Beyond the sanctuary of your suite the wider resort is an infinite playground. You can find equal parts serenity and excitement: Serenity at Sofitel SPA with L’Occitane, with treatments inspired by the natural products from France’s Provence region, and excitement at the hotel’s pools, along its 500 metres of private beach, at its Xtreme Fitness Centre or in one of its 12 restaurants and bars.
You’d be forgiven for not wanting to leave your Signature Suite, however. And while a stroll along the beach blows the morning cobwebs away, I hurry back to my light-filled sanctuary, never wanting to stray from its contemporary cocoon for long. Testament to its inviting yet intimate appeal, the Signature Collection feels both exceptional yet accessible. Something for everyone, but only for those in the know. Welcome to the inner circle...