HotelChatter

A ceremonious climb up the pink staircase to the hotel's main entrance ought to prepare you for the kind of grandeur you'll find once inside.

The centerpiece of the large, wooden pillared lobby is a stone fountain, decorated on the day we visited with white and red rose petals in the shape of a star.

A wide marble staircase winds down to the lower level, where you'll find Splendido, the hotel's classy Italian restaurant, which on Friday afternoons converts to more international fare for the traditional Dubai brunch (12:30–3:30pm). A chocolate fountain, wall (yes, wall) of bread baskets, and mouth-watering selection of cheese boards certainly were just a few of the treats that tempted us to sit down and splurge on the $187 USD all-inclusive meal (a cheaper, alcohol-free $74 USD option is also offered).

Outside, the pool area is a wonderfully secluded haven, with plenty of deck chairs, meandering paths flanked by palm trees and a waterfall. For those looking for a more sandy perch, the beach is just a few steps away.

Back upstairs, and past the stone fountain, it's worth passing by the little Arabic-inspired tea lounge set up in the corner of the lobby, which exists more for display than as an actual place to sit down and eat—but fun to admire nonetheless. Separated from the rest of the lobby by ornate tasseled curtains, the space is marked by some small platters of dates and other Arabic sweets, and a three-foot-tall gold pitcher that immediately brought to mind the lion cave from Aladdin.

Rooms here start at around $400 USD/night.

[Photos: HotelChatter]