Dubai Editor Picks

An instant icon, this 248-room, pyramid-shaped tower located in the heart of Dubai managed to become the town’s hottest hotel just moments after opening in late 2007. Service here is impeccable as each floor has its very own butler eager to attend to patrons’ needs. Every room is a balconied suite with large living rooms and drop-dead-gorgeous views of Dubai’s mushrooming skyline. You’ll find all the standard amenities here – a pool, fitness room, and spa – but the dining and bar options, most of which are located on the hotel’s top floors, take the cake: don’t miss the champagne bar, which boasts 53 varieties of the bubbly (not to mention caviar flown in from Paris).

This opulent 65-acre, 470-room coastal property was designed with an Arabian-style palace in mind. Despite the city’s arid climate, each of the hotel’s three buildings – the Arabian Court, Residence and Spa, and the Palace – is surrounded by lush, blossoming gardens. The spa here is by far this city’s best and because it’s subdivided into two sections – a traditional hammam and a Givenchy spa – more than one day should be devoted to it. Take in the Gulf breeze at the hotel’s al fresco bar, The Roof Top, one of Dubai’s most romantic drinking destinations.

While the décor of this Lebanese establishment looks more English then Mediterranean,...more

The undisputed epicenter of Dubai’s nightlife, this three-floor club and rooftop bar consistently features big-name DJs. Because of its popularity, expect a long line of tourists and locals.

(pronounced Sauce) The folks behind S*uce are arguably this city’s coolest shop purveyors. With a superb selection of groundbreaking local and international fashion designers, this hip boutique is the perfect spot to pick up unique duds.

This palatial 2.4-million-square-foot mall is Dubai’s largest and best shopping complex, complete with an indoor amusement park, ski resort, and hotel.

Only a handful of celebrity chefs reside in Dubai, so when British culinary craftsman and...more

True to its name, the centerpiece here is an enormous aquarium stocked with hundreds of exotic...more

Narrow alleyways lined with gold merchants stretch on for miles in Dubai’s traditional gold souk (market). Go for the jewelry – there isn’t a style or color that can’t be found here. Be prepared to bargain and never settle on the asking price.