Chic city living at playful Hyde Hotel Dubai — Hotel Insider

Located on the Dubai Canal, the elegant property offers an escape that is close to the action

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  The lobby of the Hyde Hotel Dubai in Business Bay. All photos: Hyde Hotel Dubai

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  Located along the Dubai Canal, the elegant property is for those looking for an escape while still being close to the action.

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  Walking into the lobby of Hyde Hotel Dubai feels like you've stepped into a well-travelled friend's city apartment.

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  The balcony of Katsuya restaurant. Hyde Hotel Dubai's location along the canal gives guests whose rooms face the downtown area one of the best views in the city, with the looming Burj Khalifa as the centre of attraction.

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  The interiors of Katsuya, the famed modern Japanese restaurant by chef Katsuya Uechi.

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  Cleo, on the ground floor of the hotel, specialises in Mediterranean cuisine.

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  Cleo is expansive, with a huge outdoor dining area where you can people watch along the promenade as well as enjoy the evening lights of Downtown Dubai.

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  Hudson Tavern is a speakeasy-style bar and lounge.

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  The laid-back atmosphere of the lounge is perfect for a night out with friends and good conversations.

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  The hotel's spa, Cinq Mondes Dubai, offers all kinds of wellness therapies and five treatment rooms.

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  Like many of the hotel's facilities, the spa and gym both share incredible views of the Dubai Canal.

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  The living area of the Presidential Suite at Hyde Hotel Dubai.

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  There are 276 guest rooms at the Hyde Hotel Dubai, including suites, and all of them come with their own private balcony.

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  The Hyde Me suite, for example, comes with two balconies, a smaller one leading off the living room and the other accessed via the bedroom.

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  The suite also comes with a pantry, inclusive of a coffee machine, a well-stocked mini bar and plenty of Hyde Hotel-branded snacks.

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  All suites come with two toilets, stocked with amenities by Malin+Goetz, the New York brand known for their natural and environment-conscious cosmetics.

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  Stays at Hyde Hotel Dubai start from Dh450 per night, excluding taxes.

As we enter the lobby, we're met by a massive wall of flowers and a sign reading: "Anything can happen." Talk about an intriguing welcome.

Ever since it opened in November, Hyde Hotel Dubai has created quite the buzz with its casual elegance and fun-loving attitude.

The first international outing of the Hyde Hotels, Resorts and Residences outside the US, the brand is known for its playful take on hospitality and creating what they call a "city sanctuary".

However, in a city home to some of the best and most opulent hotels in the world, is that really enough to make them stand out? The National checks in to find out.

The neighbourhood

Located on the newer-end of the ever-expanding Business Bay area, across the canal from Downtown Dubai, Hyde Hotel Dubai is right on the edge of where all the tourist action is. Away from the busy roads of the downtown area, but still a few minutes walk or cycle away, it's a dream location for those who want a bit of peace and quiet, yet still want to be close to all the action.

The location along the canal also gives guests staying in rooms facing the downtown area one of the best views in the city, with the looming Burj Khalifa as the star attraction.

The welcome

Record covers, bookshelves and an interesting collection of artwork and curios line the walls of the lobby. Photo: Hyde Hotel Dubai

Walking into the lobby of Hyde Hotel Dubai feels like you've stepped into a well-travelled friend's city apartment. Record covers, bookshelves and an interesting collection of artwork and curios line the walls, while plush sofas and tables set with chess boards add to a relaxed but chic vibe.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned neon lights and flower wall give you a sense that a cool party is about to begin any minute. And, you're invited.

Check-in is swift with very attentive staff all dressed casually, and very friendly. And, within minutes, we are ushered into our room.

The room

The living area of the Presidential Suite. Photo: Hyde Hotel Dubai

There are 276 guest rooms at the Hyde Hotel Dubai, including suites, and all of them come with their own private balcony.

We were excited to discover we'd been upgraded to a junior suite. Hyde Me is a 54-metre-square suite with a living and dining area and separate bedroom that has one of the best uninterrupted views of Downtown Dubai I've ever seen. The suite comes with two balconies, a smaller one leading off the living room and the other accessed via the bedroom. Laid out with plush loungers, the latter is big enough to comfortably host up to 10 people for a chilled-out sundowner with one of the best skylines as company.

The suite also comes with a pantry, inclusive of a coffee machine, a well-stocked mini bar and plenty of Hyde Hotel-branded snacks.

There are two toilets, while the main bathroom has a large bathtub and two sinks, all stocked with amenities by Malin+Goetz, the New York brand known for their natural and environment-conscious cosmetics.

Like the rest of the hotel, the decor has an easy charm about it that's stylish and inviting with a functional elegance about every piece of furniture.

The scene

From the outside, Hyde Hotel Dubai doesn't seem particularly imposing by UAE standards. But it is sizeable , with three restaurants, a cafe, a pool and lounge, five meeting rooms and a 190 square-metre ballroom.

One of the treatment rooms at the Cinq Mondes Spa. Photo: Hyde Hotel Dubai

The hotel's spa, Cinq Mondes Dubai, offers all kinds of wellness therapies in five treatment rooms. There are also separate male and female salons as well as a common fitness centre equipped by the Italian brand TechnoGym. And, like many of the hotel's facilities, the spa and gym both share incredible views of the Dubai Canal.

The food

Cleo specialises in Mediterranean cuisine. Photo: Hyde Hotel Dubai

Our first evening after checking in, we tried Cleo, which specialises in Mediterranean cuisine, on the ground floor. The restaurant is expansive, but, weather permitting, I highly recommend sitting outside, as you can people watch along the promenade as well as enjoy the evening lights of Downtown Dubai. Depending on where you're sat, you can even catch the shows on the Burj Khalifa as you tuck into your favourite grilled meat.

The outdoor dining area of Katsuya, the modern Japanese restaurant by chef Katsuya Uechi. Photo: Hyde Hotel Dubai

The next day, we tried the Saturday brunch at Katsuya (Dh299 per person including soft drinks), the famed modern Japanese restaurant by chef Katsuya Uechi, which has relocated at the Hyde Hotel Dubai. Again, the weather was perfect for an outdoor seating, and the view unparalleled. Featuring a live DJ the relaxed vibe of the afternoon matched perfectly with the sight of the yachts gliding past the hotel, some hosting their own parties, along the canal.

Hudson Tavern bar and lounge. Photo: Hyde Hotel Dubai

Later in the evening, we decided to check out the speakeasy-style bar and lounge Hudson Tavern. Concealed behind thick black curtains, it's literally a hidden gem. The laid-back atmosphere inside is alluring, perfect for a night out with friends and good conversations, while the American-inspired food is excellent, as well as the expansive menu of drinks crated by Hudson Tavern's mixologist.

Highs and lows

Hyde Hotel Dubai's upmarket casual positioning is like a breath of fresh air, an attitude filtering down to staff, from the doormen to the waiters at the restaurants. There's no pretension anywhere, just a fun chill atmosphere all around.

Hyde Hotel Dubai in Business Bay is outside of the busy roads of Downtown Dubai, but still a few minutes walk or cycle away from where all the action is. Photo: Hyde Hotel Dubai

There aren't really any downsides to point out, except to say that while Downtown Dubai is just across the canal, it can seem a bit of a trek to get to it as there is no bridge nearby. But still, its the kind of complaint you'd only hear from someone who's been spoilt for far too long by Dubai.

The insider tip

Make sure you ask for Downtown Dubai views when booking, because from any of the balconies facing it vista view is great, irrespective of which floor you're on.

The verdict

Hyde Hotel Dubai has 276 guest rooms, and all of them come with their own private balcony. Photo: Hyde Hotel Dubai

After staying two nights at Hyde Hotel Dubai, we are now convinced that "city sanctuary" is not just a marketing shtick for them. There aren't many places that can put you right in the middle of a downtown area but still feel make it feel like an escape. And, for those looking for the perfect Instagram post, there are plenty of places within the property that will offer you that like-worthy shot.

The bottom line

Stays start from Dh450 per night, excluding taxes. Half-board packages are also available. Check-in is from 3pm and checkout is at noon. www.sbe.com

This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel during the global coronavirus pandemic. It reflects hotel standards during the time, services may change in the future