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tried & tested
THE ADDRESS
DOWNTOWN BURJ DUBAI
by Michael Lane
The Address stands in the shadow of the
world’s tallest building, Burj Dubai, and on the
doorstep of the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest
shopping centre. Yet this art deco tower more
than holds its own in Dubai’s crowded skyline.
Opened last October, a month before the
headline-grabbing Atlantis, this is the first
hotel under the fledgling Address brand,
created by developer Emaar.
This hotel and its 196 rooms were designed
to be different from Dubai’s other luxury
properties and they certainly prove a welcome
antidote to the sometimes cartoonish pomp
of rivals across town.
The interiors do away with gaudiness and
gold in favour of softly-lit stonework, marble
OPPOSITE HOUSE
floors and dark wood panelling.
BEIJING
My room, an executive suite, was decked
by Charlotte Walsh
out in similarly understated opulence, but
with the odd kitsch touch – the bath pillow
rom the outside, the Opposite House with ‘Serenity’ written across it seemed out of
F
looks like something out of the HOW TO SELL IT place next to the array of super-chic Acqua di
Emerald City, with striking lime and Parma toiletries.
■ It’s slick: there is no check-in
green glass covering the building.
desk – instead guests relax
While my balcony was vast, the panoramic
Inside, the magical feel continues, with lots of
on a sofa or in the bar while
view of a building site and generic tower
unusual Chinese art – particularly in the lobby,
staff tap away on hand-held
blocks was uninspiring; the more photogenic
which doubles as a gallery – and quirky design computers opportunities lie on the other side of the
features. The sleek, contemporary feel is hotel, home of the future Burj Lake and the
reflected in the 99 guest rooms, with their
■ Discreet treats, ultimate
never-ending Burj Dubai.
enormous oak bath tubs, huge flatscreen TVs
swim: while there’s no spa,
The Address may currently be located in
and 400-thread Egyptian cotton sheets.
customers can enjoy a
the middle of a building site (albeit one
massage in their room or in
The complimentary minibar hits all the right spots, with beer and wasabi nuts for nearing completion) but you’d never know
one of the two treatment
the boys and dark chocolate and champagne for the girls. And the hotel’s attention that once inside the hotel.
rooms. The swimming pool is
to detail is wonderful – such as the charming little presents left by the bedside
lit by hundreds of tiny lights,
After constantly craning my neck to take in
each evening. I came back after trekking round the city to find a relaxing face mask
which make a swim utterly
Dubai’s skyscrapers, I was glad to have an
sachet, followed by a wallet of classy postcards, then an elegant bookmark.
relaxing
hour-long massage at the Espa spa, and I
For a relatively small property, the hotel’s cuisine packs a powerful punch, with probably should have spent more time at the
three impressive restaurants. Tucked away on the ground floor by the entrance hall, ■ Blow-out: for customers with 24-hour fitness centre burning off all the food
the Village Cafe serves delicious breakfasts and lunches. cash to splash, recommend I ate. Once you have tasted the Arabic
The menu at Mediterranean restaurant Sureno is divine, and sushi fans will love
the two-storey Penthouse,
breakfasts at Fazaris, snacked at the poolside
Bei, which serves a range of Japanese, Chinese and Korean delicacies. There’s also
which boasts an enormous
bar, Zeta, and sampled traditional Chinese
cocktail bar Mesh and the mini nightclub Punk, which attracts a cool local crowd.
terrace and sunken bath
cuisine at Hukama, you still have to find space
Guests seeking an exclusive enclave can opt for one of the five private dining for a night cap at one of Dubai’s premier sky
■ Travel in style: instead of
rooms, complete with their own butler and receptionist. bars, Neos on the 63rd floor.
taking taxis to and from the
The hotel is next to the Village in Sanlitun shopping complex, and the area
airport, guests can opt to
The Address Downtown Burj Dubai,
is popular with the city’s fashion and music crowd, while a short taxi ride gets
transfer in the hotel’s
Burj Dubai Boulevard, UAE.
guests to most of Beijing’s popular sights.
Maserati Quattroporte
Tel: 00 971 4436 8888, theaddress.com
HOW TO BOOK IT The Opposite House, HOW TO BOOK IT
Kuoni offers seven nights for the price of six in a studio No 11 Sanlitun Road, Beijing Emirates Tours offers three nights in a Premier
45 room from £1,286pp, including breakfast, British
Tel: 00 8610 6417 6688
Room from £810pp, including breakfast,
Airways flights from Heathrow and private transfers.
theoppositehouse.com
flights, and private transfers. Book by March 31.
60
Tel: 01306 747008, kuoni.co.uk Tel: 0844 800 1400, emiratestours.co.uk
tried & tested
spring 09
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