Hotel insider: Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai

Checking in to the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai.

The lobby at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai. Courtesy Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai

The welcome

We arrive from Abu Dhabi in the evening, and are shown to the 31st-floor Sheraton club lounge, given refreshing welcome drinks and quickly checked in. When I mention in passing that I’m not sure if I even have a Starwood points account, the lounge manager swiftly sends a letter to my room telling me I do indeed have two.

The neighbourhood

The hotel is very easy to find, after navigating the Trade Centre roundabout, doubling back in the direction of Abu Dhabi and exiting onto a slip road. The area is stacked with dining options. Behind the hotel is the trendy, delicious Tom Arnel and Sergio Lopez eatery The Sum of Us, and at the front, with its own entrance, is the two-level progressive Asian restaurant/bar Novikov. DIFC Metro station and a walkway to Dubai World Trade Centre are all steps away. Karama and JBR are 10-minute drives.

The scene

Much of the hotel is made up of serviced apartments, with an assortment of young British male expatriates and couples enjoying their weekend each day at the hotel pool. The lobby is beautiful and peaceful, and the hotel itself feels like a bit of an oasis, particularly when we gaze out from the club lounge onto the never-ending circle of traffic on the Trade Centre roundabout. There are some children at breakfast, but it doesn’t feel like a hotel that’s a first choice for families.

The room

Our “grand deluxe suite” is gorgeous, with dark-wood walls, beautiful wood-and-mirror sliding doors separating the living and sleeping areas, two bathrooms, and a colour theme of grey, mauve and cream. There are some clever touches, including a full electronics charging station, high-tech lighting system located bedside, and a lovely, deep porcelain bathtub.

The food

We love the all-day dining restaurant Feast’s Friday brunch (from Dh395 per person), one of the most popular and highly rated in Dubai – a feat, considering the hotel has only been open for a year. I’m a big fan of the oyster bar, with all the trimmings, while the frozen lollipops are a standout at dessert. We’re about to have a late-night bite at the rooftop bar Dawn & Dusk, having been sated earlier with complimentary tasty cheese and tiny quiches at the club lounge happy hour, only to find they don’t serve food past 11. It turns out well though: a very passable Caesar salad (Dh75) and perfectly cooked spicy pepperoni pizza (Dh95) ordered through room service really hit the spot.

The service

This hotel has service down pat. Shortly after check in, we’re contacted by the guest service centre via WhatsApp; from there on, we have only to text any query, with an answer promised – and delivered – in 60 seconds. My aromatherapy massage therapist (60 minutes; Dh395) is one of the most talented I’ve experienced in the UAE. We also love chatting with our affable waiter at brunch.

Loved

The pool staff are very proactive in finding us sun loungers.

Hated

We couldn’t really see anything from our 16th-floor window: just an under-construction building next door.

The verdict

A great hotel in a good location, with outstanding service.

The bottom line

A grand deluxe suite at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai (www.sheratongranddubai.com; 04 503 4444) costs from Dh1,900, including taxes and breakfast.

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