Dubai’s new hotel with Michelin-starred dining
The Dorchester Collection’s first venture in the Middle East positions it as the spot where locals and visitors will go to dine.
Dubai has an obsession with building the best, the biggest, the strongest. A continuum of development and construction, the city doesn’t count the words humble, modest or mundane in its vocabulary. The striking design of The Lana adds another touch of glamour to one of the world’s most ambitious skylines. Yet, walk through the doors and you will experience a quiet, understated luxury not often seen in these parts.
There’s something slightly unnerving about staying at a hotel in its first days of operation. The staff are confident, if not a little over zealous. I’m nervous for them, almost waiting for something to go wrong, but it doesn’t. In fact, a whole lot goes right, which is a good thing given this is one of the most anticipated hotel openings of 2024 in the UAE. The Lana is the Dorchester Collection’s first venture in the Middle East.
Lana means blessed, shining and precious in Slavic, gentle and tender in Arabic, and afloat in Hawaiian. And when you’re standing at the foot of the rooftop infinity pool, enveloped by that Dubai skyline, it certainly feels like you’re on top of the world.
At the junction of downtown Dubai and Marasi Bay, in the shadow of the imposing Burj Khalifa, The Lana signals the beginning of a vibrant new waterfront scene. With its mirrored exterior, tall white pillars and terraces intended to accentuate Dubai sunsets, the 30-floor tower designed by Foster + Partners is now the most immediately recognisable structure on the water.
Interiors, designed by Parisian duo Gilles & Boissier, are an elegant contrast to the futuristic exterior.
The 225 guestrooms and suites all have balconies and terraces; even the cheapest Horizon Room offers close to 60sq m of space. The standout feature of the Marina Suite is the freestanding bathtub with its mega view of the Burj Khalifa. Largest of them all, The Lana Royal Suite, boasts a palatial 355sq m of entertaining space with separate sleeping, living and dining areas and butler service.
All room categories come with an array of luxurious gadgets. Think: Dyson hair dryers and straighteners, SteamOne handheld steamers, Bang & Olufsen TVs, and watch-winder boxes for the upkeep of timepieces. Guests can have their initials embroidered on pillowcases, and in the suites, a selection of the world’s rarest fruits, such as Shine Muscat grapes and Amaou strawberries from Japan, are delivered daily.
Design details include soft natural hues of cream, brown and pink accentuated with touches of gold. Fresh flowers, sparkling crystal, fine bone china and mother of pearl abound, plus soft leathers and inviting plush fabrics. Bathrooms are adorned in light marble and stocked with custom Dorchester Collection amenities, and toilets have Toto Washlet seats with full bidet functions. Nespresso machines and the Dorchester signature tea collection are nice touches, and settle in for the best sleep of your life, with the same mattresses as those at Buckingham Palace.
Pampering takes place at the Dior Spa on the 29th floor with cutting-edge technologies and bespoke treatments. Makeup and salon services from manicures to pedicures are also available at this sanctuary, which has floor to ceiling city views.
The Lana’s hallmark will undoubtedly be its destination dining offerings. From a cigar lounge to a breezy rooftop Mediterranean venue, the eateries are a dynamic showcase of European culinary prowess. In total, the hotel features eight food and beverage concepts, managed by the hotel in collaboration with renowned chefs such as Spain’s Martin Berasategui (12 Michelin stars, the most in Spain, and third top chef in the world), France’s Jean Imbert (one Michelin star at the Dorchester’s flagship Paris hotel, Hotel Plaza Athenee) and Italian pastry chef Angelo Musa. Jara by Martin Berasategui, on the 18th floor, marks the chef’s Middle Eastern debut, offering Basque cuisine and cocktails at Jara Bar for the first time outside of Spain. Riviera by Jean Imbert brings modern Mediterranean panache to the likes of moussaka and whole sea bream with Provencal tomatoes. His High Society venue on the rooftop is a flashy gem that caters to guests by day and Dubai high flyers by night, serving the UAE’s largest Champagne selection.
Bonbon Cafe is where Musa, with almost a decade under his belt at Hotel Plaza Athenee, presents his viennoiseries, made from a rich yeast-leavened dough, along with pastries and gelato. Additional outlets include The Gallery, Veranda, and Bitter Honey, with its vintage cocktail trolley. This wide selection gives the hotel a cosmopolitan flair, and positions it as the spot where Dubai will go to dine.
The Lana is outward-looking and poised to revolutionise the downtown waterfront. With expansive views at every turn, the hotel offers a window to Dubai’s past, present and future.
In the know
The Lana is on Marasi Drive, Business Bay, Dubai; rooms from $1700 a night,
suites from $2300.
Maria Pasquale was a guest of The Lana.
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