For Dubai, the hotel is a quiet presence: a bronze-toned tower of about 100 metres facing The Dubai Mall. The Burj Khalifa is about five minutes away on foot, and the airport about 15 minutes by car.
Inside, the lobby is warm sandstone under a crystal chandelier, with a spiral staircase rising three storeys. Our room was a Superior Suite on the fifth floor, where a welcome note, fresh fruit and macarons were waiting on the table.
The suite flows from a dining nook through the living room to the bedroom, behind sliding doors, in oak, marble and bronze. The bathroom has a freestanding tub and Le Labo products, and a balcony looks over the city.
Duomo, the Italian restaurant off the lobby, serves breakfast à la carte and stays open late. On the second floor, Thia Skylounge wraps around an infinity pool that looks straight at the Burj Khalifa.