Hotel Review with Photos: The Dubai EDITION Hotel in Downtown Dubai (March 2023)
The Dubai EDITION hotel is on a mission to counter every accusation posed against the vast metropolis that is Dubai, which happens to be the site of the first EDITION hotel in the region and major moment of growth for the brand.
Hotel Review with Photos: The Dubai EDITION Hotel in Downtown Dubai (March 2023)
Highs: Amazing scents and refreshingly minimalist architecture. Very comfortable beds.
Lows: Always-busy lobby. Somewhat distracted front-desk staff.
Verdict: The Dubai EDITION sets the standard for a discreet yet trendy hotel experience in one of the world’s most visually-stimulating cities.
It's a tough task: from the moment one arrives in Dubai, one is immediately interred into an atmosphere of visually and emotionally grand things. Soaring ceilings in the arrivals hall of DXB pair with acres of chrome columns and baggage carousels. There is a lavishness in the materials used around the city: copious amounts of chrome, glass, crystallize brick, even the roads gleam with a glossy dark concrete or stamped asphalt. On those roads, one will encounter billboards that are football-fields long, colorful posters, blinking signs, and of course, the countless towers that flirt with the sky. Most interiors are luxuriously furnished in the most traditional sense- golds, silvers, patterned carpets, plush furniture and heavy fabrics.
Motor Court of The Dubai EDITION Hotel. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
It's exactly all of these things that make The Dubai EDITION hotel that much more successful in its mission. First, the building itself is a black and tinted-glass monolith against the skyline of tan and glass. Arrival is an event- the motor court that fronts the hotel is always buzzing with guests and the valet is packed with Ferraris, Mercedes-Benzes, and Land Rovers. It is leafy, with green flora and fauna, placing the atmosphere of this area closer to the jungle than the desert.
The Dubai EDITION Hotel Public Areas and Arrival
Finally, the wonderful moment: once you cross the threshold into The Dubai EDITION, all of that Dubai melts away. Finally, there is nothing to look at. The smooth taupe walls climb to more than 30 feet. Burnished copper and brass replaces mirrored chrome. At all hours of the day, The Dubai EDITION is cool- dimly lit but by no measure dark. It's refreshing. The lobby has two fixtures that draw the eye: a sculptural spiral staircase dress in white, and the simple barrel ceiling of the excellent Duomo restaurant.
A quiet hallway in at the Dubai EDITION hotel in Dubai, UAE. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
Your eyes, thankfully, have a moment of rest at The Dubai EDITION and it's the minimalism of this lobby that sets the tone for the rest of property.
A quiet hallway in at the Dubai EDITION hotel in Dubai, UAE. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
The Dubai EDITION Hotel Guest Rooms and Experience
The guest rooms at the Dubai EDITION Hotel are civil spaces of relaxation, with technology and indulgence at the center of their constitutions. This technology starts at the door, where a doorbell and lights indicating “service” or “privacy” eliminate the need for door hangs. Lighting (always flattering) is synchronized and calibrated to atmospheres at the touch of a button: “daytime” offers full, bright light. “Evening” offers subdued comfort. “Night” offers just enough to avoid fumbling to the bathroom.
Guest Room at the Dubai EDITION hotel in Dubai, UAE. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
Enter the room and the first things one will notice is the volume and light of the space. The walls, like the lobby, are smooth, mildly polished stone or blonde wood.
A guest room at The Dubai EDITION Hotel, Dubai UAE. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
Floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony beckon you into the room and beyond to a view of either the Burj Khalifa or Dubai Creek. Ceilings climb to 14 feet, with blackout curtains and sheer curtains cascade down (operated by the touch of a button, of course).
View from a guest room at The Dubai EDITION Hotel. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
Typical guest rooms feature a desk, coffee table, and a selection of comfortable seating in casual natural linen. Though I stayed in a standard room, suites feature an even larger balconies, living rooms, and more.
The bathroom at The Dubai EDITION Hotel. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
The bathroom is a true escape (and, personally, the highlight of the stay), featuring a backlit mirror, separate toilet and shower room (featuring Le Labo amenities), and a deep-soaking tub positioned in front of a full height window, bringing the morning light (or nightly glisten of the city) into the space. This space is truly relaxing in every sense, with the smooth stone or wood touching ever surface.
Dressing room in a room at The Dubai EDITION Hotel. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
The dressing hall opposite a bathroom features a myriad of closets and drawers, a minibar, a safe, and a Nespresso machine. The bed is low and sleek, anchored to a backlit headboard with reading lights and the full suite of lighting and curtain controls. Nightly turn-down service and full in-room dining service is available by a phone call. The mattress and linens were extremely comfortable (the bed is made up in the European manner with no top sheet but a luxurious duvet).
A bed at The Dubai EDITION Hotel, Dubai UAE. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
Each evening, I relished coming back to the room and drawing a bath or ordering room service for a late snack. The TV is fully featured with on-demand video and streaming services built in. Every room features a Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth speaker which I had playing relentlessly.
The bathroom at The Dubai EDITION Hotel. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
The Dubai EDITION Hotel Amenities and Dining
Located just off of the dynamic center that is Downtown Dubai, the location is a true treasure with simple access to the remarkable Dubai Mall, the selections of dining options along the road- from tea houses to hookah lounges-, as well as quick access to the other parts of Dubai by metro or car. Getting to the Marina, for example, is only 20 minutes, and DIFC and Business Bay are even closer.
But when it comes to dining or socializing, leaving The Dubai EDITION isn’t necessary. Room service is available should you not want to step out at all, but there’s several tantalizing options just beyond your doorstep.
Room service, provided by Jolie, at the Dubai EDITION Hotel, Dubai, UAE. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
The theatrical Duomo with its iconic arch of a ceiling is the most important restaurant in Dubai right now, with guests lingering into the late hours enjoying lush Italian flavors. The pool on the second floor offers a truly unique vantage point, where the Dubai Fountain, Burj Khalifa, and all the towers lay out before you. The 24-hour gym is a motivating setting with a massive range of equipment.
Finally, on the top floor, there is the urban meadow that is Jolie, complete with a retractable roof and a vast view over Dubai, featuring a vivid menu with global flavors. Jolie also provides room service to guests.
Meal at Jolie, the rooftop restaurant at The Dubai EDITION hotel in Dubai, UAE. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
But if all of this is not enough, The Dubai EDITION hotel has a full concierge desk availing themselves to set reservations, secure tickets, arrange appointments, and more. And this was the final mark of the excellence The Dubai EDITION offers: exceptional service in a city that has completely re-written the rules on world-class hospitality.
The Dubai EDITION Hotel Location
Downtown Dubai at Night. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
The Dubai EDITION is located at the corner of Dubai Fountain Street and Burj Khalifa Boulevard in Downtown Dubai, UAE. Designed with LW Design Group, The Dubai EDITION hotel features 275 guest rooms and suites from AED 1100. Learn more and reserve accommodation here.
Editor’s note: This story originally ran on The Knockturnal in April 2022.
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