Delano’s Miami origins bring an exclusive and modern touch to Dubai’s glamorous hotel scene, moulding elegance with warmth and a refined presence renowned for making celebrities flock.
Delano is a prestigious and storied hotel brand with a 30-year history. Rubbing shoulders with celebrity guests like Madonna, John Legend and Lenny Kravitz was just another Tuesday at Delano in Miami’s glamour-soaked shores. It makes sense then that its Dubai counterpart is equally as impressive.
Opening its doors in late 2024, Delano Dubai, with its 251 guest rooms including 84 suites, beckons with a sleek yet inviting feel. Pearl-veiled floor-to-ceiling curtains at the entrance and throughout the lobby and corridors are a nod to Delano’s celebrity past where privacy was at the forefront and evidently still is.
As you delve deeper to uncover the seven dining and bar genres, including Blue Door, a secret-garden-esque Anatolian fine-dining concept (which happened to have a Turkish waiter named Okan, talented in the art of Turkish coffee cup psychic readings.), you’ll soon discover that no luxury corner has been left unturned in the rebirth of a historical hotel brand making its debut in the “Diamond” city.
The facts
Traveller: Lauren Thomas
Room: Rising Light Room- ground level, room 339
Address: Bluewaters- Bluewaters Island
Date: February 2025
Best for: Discerning travellers and families that appreciate seclusion, privacy, multiple dining concepts and access to a 250 metre private beach
First impressions
Upon arrival, Delano’s manicured hedge wall is an inviting touch, as is the refreshing aroma of lemongrass, the hotel’s signature scent, which you’ll encounter in the upscale yet intimate lobby. Parked outside, in true Dubai style, are three luxury sports cars. Stepping inside, guests are greeted with an apple, ginger and celery welcome drink and to the right, I notice a bowl of green apples. I later learn that Delano’s philosophy, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” is embedded within the hotel offering, with their signature green apple presented to you in your room daily. Looking around, it was interesting to see how radiant, healthy and fresh the guests at Delano were, a testament to the hotel’s wellbeing focus from the wellness studio to the beauty collagen shots and sleep patches found in the minibar.
As for the hotel lobby design, high ceilings are met with bold-panelled windows, a portal to the calming views of the Arabian Gulf from a distance. To the right, you’ll find a large framed picture of Delano Miami, a nod to the past blending with the present, perfectly matching the hotel’s earth-drenched interiors. Splashes of greenery include forest-green Areca palms, fiddle leaf figs and birds of paradise alongside a collection of pretty flowers atop a curved buffet, bringing warmth to an otherwise refined environment.
To finish, the decor presents with champagne curved couches juxtaposed with a pop of scarlet, oak, and a touch of white marble and midnight black furnishings. This paired with Delano’s mysterious dark marble flooring in the hallways, complete with dim-lit lifts, blends modernism with mystery and understated luxury with a touch of drama.
The Signature factor
Lounging poolside is a rite of passage when on holiday, and yet Delano effortlessly elevates the experience to a new level of sophistication. Walking into Tutto Passa’s alfresco restaurant, which overlooks the pool, feels like stepping into a West Hollywood film set.
Stylish guests perch themselves on a beige sunbed underneath yellow-splashed umbrellas with matching lemon and white beach towels. The pool itself is framed by the hotel with palm trees dotted along the sides, giving a glamorous yet welcoming feel which is complemented by the 250 metres of private beach behind it.
If paradise was a feeling, Delano has captured it. Complete that holiday feeling and order a round of cocktails, or take a seat at the poolside restaurant and order the Seared Tuna Poke Bowl as I did – it’s delicious.
Delano Dubai’s Rising Light Room
It’s not every day that your room is on the ground floor, but when you choose the rising light guest room, which is the entry-level choice, this convenience can be yours.
Stepping into Delano Dubai’s Rising Light Room, the first thing you will notice are the high ceilings giving the room a spacious feel. To my right is a white marble, oak and brass bathroom, complete with a bathtub, double vanity, rainshower, cream waffle towels and Byredo’s Gypsy Water amenities. On my left is a powder room with a stand-alone cylinder basin, which is a nice touch.
As I moved in further, I could see the minimalist design was complemented with a bounty of oak and splashes of sand and beige, particularly the framed leather cylinder bed frame embedded into the wall. The bed, as expected, was a cloud, and I particularly like the dash of industrial minimalism from the khaki and black steel bedside tables mixed with traditional elements like the cream couch and taupe-draped shades.
For those who appreciate the option to step outside, you’ll be pleased to know the room also comes with a balcony with a resort view, where you’ll be in a prime location to feel the breeze from the palm trees and catch guests practising in Pilates at the nearby wellness studio. It certainly made me feel guilty about indulging in the green apple-themed cake that was in my room as a welcome gift.
Dining
Blue Door
Blue Door is an Anatolian fine dining establishment from Miami, reimagined in Dubai by Chef Zulfikar Cambaz. The restaurant dazzles with an enchanting outdoor culinary experience. Set amongst a dreamy garden illuminated by drop lights and framed by lush foliage, palm trees and manicured greenery. Ocean waves crash in the distance as my waiter Okan explains how many of the dishes are named after their originating region in Turkey. At a glance, the menu has a traditional focus with items from the land and sea infused with a Mediterranean touch. Expect traditional mezze and appetisers alongside Anatolian classics and a unique take on traditional Turkish desserts, which you can’t enjoy without a cup of Turkish coffee.
To get a taste of the Anatolia region, I try the patlican, charcoal grilled eggplant with bell peppers, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and pomegranate molasses. It paired perfectly with the housemade warm sourdough loaf, which set the tone for the culinary journey ahead. As for my entree, the tereyagli karides, shrimp soaked in butter, pepper, garlic and herbs, is a crowd pleaser, particularly if you have bread left over to soak up the buttery oil that was so delightful, I sneakily ate it by the spoon.
To complete the savoury component of my dining experience, I opted in for the most famous kebab in Turkey, the adana, affectionately named after the Adana region, made famous for its creative collision of bold flavours blended in a charcoal grilled minced lamb skewer with vegetables.
When it came to the dessert, it’s not every day that you’ll have a Turkish coffee cup reader offer to give you a reading as you enjoy your maras dondurma, traditional Turkish ice cream made with natural sahlep and goats’ milk.
Maison Revka
Maison Revka is an opulent Slavic-inspired fine dining experience with French origins, whisking diners into the glamor of Paris and St Tropez within seconds. In true Slavic-style, an unwritten ethos of ‘only the best will do,” is embedded within every element of the dining journey, where refinement, exclusivity and the epitome of luxury meets an unparalleled and enriching gastronomic experience.
High sky-blue painted ceilings are met with indoor palm trees and foliage atop the wood framed bar. This is complemented by unique glass art and luxurious furnishings and vintage chandeliers hanging with a dainty presence.
The menu is as impressive as the restaurant’s interiors, with a bounty of caviar and the finest seafood including king crab and caviar sushi and Norwegian smoked salmon, one of Maison Revka’s signature dishes.
The culinary journey began with fluffy homemade brioche with smoked butter hailing from Paris, an unexpected delight that paired nicely with the Norwegian smoked salmon which I’m told is served at all three of Maison Revka’s restaurants, which are in Dubai, Paris and St Tropez.
I allowed my waiter Maxime to be my guide into the world of Slavic-inspired gastronomy, to which he told me I could not go past the salt baked potato with creme fraiche and a slathering of Baeri caviar, sourced one hour south from Paris. From there, the rosti potato with cream cheese and Baeri caviar felt like potato overkill, however, it turned out to be one of the highlights.
Their chicken shashlik complete with truffle jus and leek, a traditional dish referred to as the “Russian kebab,” was also a delight with an interesting cultural backstory involving nature, family and connection. However, it’s the dessert that stole the show. Four meringue choices, including exotic fruits, chocolate and hazelnut, pistachio and orange blossom and giant red berries set the scene for sweet indulgence, but the French chouquettes are what dreams are made of. Expect a tower of light, fluffy vanilla cream puffs enclosed in airy choux pastry complete with chocolate sauce – a delicious conclusion to an extravagant dining experience.
Staying In
Depending on your length of stay, there is no reason to leave the hotel or the Bluewaters Island precinct. There are multiple dining options onsite as well as Blue Door and Maison Revka, including Gohan, a Japanese restaurant inspired by elegant street food and Demon Duck by Alvin Leung, an alfresco Asian-fusion dining concept with views extending to the ocean.
In addition, there is a poolside restaurant called La Cantine Beach, which doubles as a sports club offering beach volleyball, outdoor yoga, beach workouts and paddle tennis. There is also Rose Bar, a swanky and intimate space with a speakeasy feel where you can expect crafted cocktails and an impressive wine and spirits collection in a glamorous setting. If you feel like staying in, you can also order room service. (Try the creamy truffle gnocchi).
Stepping Out
Delano’s location is within the Bluewaters Island precinct, which has a large selection of restaurants, lifestyle and retail experiences within walking distance. It’s also home to the Ain Dubai. Bluewaters is approximately 30 minutes from Dubai Airport and nearby Jumeirah Beach Residence, another popular location for dining and beach activities.
In addition, Delano’s sister property, Banyan Tree Dubai (directly next door and within walking distance) has a day spa for those in need of pampering.
