Boutique Hotels
Known for the grandiose and over the top, Dubai has made a name for itself as a lavish oasis in the middle of the Arabian Desert. Among the luxury hotels, closer to ground level, you can find a few boutique hotels brave enough to compete with the iron giants. These often smaller and more intimate hotels give you a more personal experience while in Dubai without shirking on the quality.
Coral Boutique Hotel Apartments.
The six-story Coral Boutique Hotel Apartments offer 78 guest suites in the Al Barsha neighborhood. Guests have a choice of a stylishly designed one-, two- or three-bedroom apartment-styled accommodation. Each comes with a separate living room area, a kitchenette, flat-screen televisions, complimentary wireless Internet access and a washing machine.
The hotel has two restaurants, and guests can pre-book chefs to come directly to their rooms to create meals. All guests receive a complimentary breakfast and welcome fruit basket. Guests have access to an on-site fitness center, outdoor swimming pool and spa.
The hotel provides a free shuttle service to nearby shopping malls and attractions.
Coral Boutique Hotel Apartments P.O. Box 24948 Al Barsha, Dubai United Arab Emirates 011-971-4-340-9040 coral-international.com.
Desert Palm Boutique Hotel
The Desert Palm may be small but it's perfectly formed, with more spa therapies, activities and facilities than you could ever hope to try on one holiday. Watch polo on the terrace, sniff out bargains in Dubai's souks or get involved in some seriously hedonistic nightlife: just 15 minutes from the airport, Desert Palm is the perfect city-break stopover.
All the Palm Suites have the same facilities and gizmos galore, but we like seven with views of the polo field best. Palm Suites benefit from bathrooms with natural light are the perfect size for a two. Pool Villas have private plunge pools and plenty of room and Pool Residences are ideal for families or small groups, with huge fitted kitchens and living areas. Villa Laylani is the spectacular two-bedroom presidential villa, with private gardens, pools, courtyards and a fantastic roof terrace with sunset views across the main polo pitch.
Desert Palm Al Awir Road, PO Box 103635, Dubai, Dubai, PO Box 119171
XVA Hotel
A stylish and peaceful boutique hotel, XVA is set within the heart of Bastakiya, the oldest region of Dubai. Unique for its Persian architectural heritage, its maze-like alleyways and proximity to the Creek, Bastakiya is viewed today as one of the cultural centrepoints of Dubai.
XVA occupies a renovated traditional majilis-style building, boasting original architectural motifs and wind towers and three open courtyards, in which one can relax and soak up the exceptional atmosphere of this heritage space.
XVA’s Art Hotel includes six boutique rooms, designed by well-established designers and artists from the region. These include Zayan Ghandour, Numa, Nada Debs & Karim Rashid (Gaia&Gino). The Art Hotel is a member of Chic Retreats. Featured in Condé Nast Traveller 2006 as the number 1 “Not To Miss” spot in Dubai, Wallpaper magazine and the Luxe Guide, XVA has also been awarded Time Out Dubai’s Highly Commended Café Award in 2006, 2008 and again in 2010.
XVA Hotel P.O. Box 37304 Bastakiya, Dubai United Arab Emirates 011-971-4-353-5383 xvahotel.com.