Offering the opulence expected from the brand, the Ritz Carlton located in the heart of DIFC also offers a more refined modern edge that attracts elegant and stylish clientele.
THE LOW DOWN
Set amidst Dubai’s financial area (it is the only hotel in this prestigious hub), the Ritz Carlton DIFC is a mere hop, skip and a small jump away from chic bars, high-fashion and an abundance of culture (thanks to the the plethora of art galleries on its doorstep). In fact if you want to experience all this but don’t want to leave the hotel that’s not a problem – Ritz Carlton DIFC is not only renowned for hosting exhibitions but it is also home to some of the best restaurants and bars Dubai has to offer.
DESIGN
Standing out from the usual five-star hotel architectural cliches, this place is all about dynamic designs that while impressive aren’t ostentatious. The limestone façade, stunning 14-storey waterfall and the Art Deco-inspired lobby, create the sense of an opulent retreat for both the affluent traveller or weary resident looking for a staycation with a difference.
PAMPERING & LEISURE
If you want to workout during your holiday then the well-equipped and vast 24-hour gym, containing all your regular cardiovascular machines as well as free weights, yoga matts and Swiss balls etc, ensures you certainly work up a big sweat. Alternatively boasting an outdoor and indoor pool (the outdoor pool was closed on our visit but the we enjoyed the indoor pool, which a Roman-esque bath vibe to it) offers some less vigorous form of exercise.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, offers a luxurious sanctuary of pure indulgence. Before starting your treatment spend some time in the sauna or steam rooms, where the hot air is infused with eucalyptus, which is perfect for improving your breathing and clearing your senses. As well as the ‘hot rooms’, the spa also has holistic and customised treatments, two suites with a private whirlpool bath, and 11 single treatment rooms.
The spa menu is packed with a variety of offerings from therapy treatments to express massages, body care, skin care and facials. If you’re keen to get a full-on experience, try one of the spa packages that gives you a generous taste of a combination of treatments.
We recommend the Summer Citrus Glow, which uses vitamin C to drench skin in nutrients, improving overall appearance for the summer season. The treatment includes a cleansing C+C Vitamin Body Polish which helps eradicate all the dirt and dead skin from your body. Once washed off the body is then wrapped in a Citrus Body Wrap, which adds moisture to the body making the skin feel and look younger. While in the body wrap the therapist works on the C+C Vitamin Booster Facial, a gentle cleansing and massage treatment that helps boost collagen. After the 90-minute treatment my skin was so glowing I didn’t need to wear make-up.Book this treatment before August 25 and only pay Dhs775 (original price is Dhs1,090). The spa is open from 10am-10pm. For more information, visit here.
STYLISH EATS
The Ritz Carlton, DIFC, is fast establishing itself as a sophisticated hub for haute cuisine. For a special evening with friends or a tete-a-tete with a loved one, the places to be are Center Cut, a steak house that provides the finest cuts of US and Australian beef as well as the finest selection of wines, and Cafe Belge, a UAE institute thanks to its delicious Belgian cuisine and it’s 1920s vibrant spirit.
For a more laid-back dining experience the Lobby Lounge and Terrace as well as the Sunken Garden offer a relaxed ambiance, ideal for business meetings. Meanwhile No5 Lounge & Bar is where the sartorial set can be found sipping on cocktails.
SUITE LIFE
All of the extremely spacious hotel guest rooms, suites, and residences feature marble bathrooms, feather duvets (the beds are undoubtedly some of the most comfortable in the industry) and floor-to-ceiling windows.
What we loved about the Ritz Carlton DIFC was its in-room amenities that many five-stars have more recently started to ignore, for example this hotel had a coffee machine, as well as a variety of teas, there was also an iron and ironing board – big bonus for us. Other amenities included Asprey bathroom products, flat screen TVs (including one in the bathroom), Bose iPod systems, dressing robes, shoe polish and laundry service and Godiva chocolates at turn down.
EXTRAS
The Ritz Carlton DIFC prides itself as a cultural hub, hosting regular art exhibitions (the art work and sculptures are often from local galleries) throughout the hotel. In fact so vast is the hotel and the artwork that art tours are available, call the hotel on (04) 3722222 for more details and to book a place on the tour.
