Andaz Dubai The Palm

There is no denying the Palm Jumeirah is a competitive market, and hotels cannot rest on their laurels – especially with new properties opening all the time. We decided to visit the latest hotel to arrive on the scene, the stylish Andaz Dubai The Palm.

Andaz Dubai The Palm rests on a 300m private beach, within walking distance of Nakheel Shopping Mall. Located on the right trunk of the shoreline, the two 15-story towers house 217 bespoke guest rooms and 116 individually imagined designer residences. Boasting a mix of fresh and contemporary sized spaces and floor to ceiling windows with 360-degree views of Dubai’s ever-evolving skyline, each room promises a unique experience centred around contemporary Arabic arts and crafts.

Paying homage to Dubai’s young and dynamic Emirati design culture, guests can expect local touches throughout – from textiles inspired by Sadu, geometrical embroidery on traditional hand-woven fabrics to beds framed by a canopy of waved wood to create a modern interpretation of a Bedouin tent. Creating a lasting impression, the hotel’s vibrant entrance harnesses the power of the sun to create a visual language of shadows and colour typical to the region.

The lobby is large and filled with unique textures and quirky artwork from up and coming local artists. We eye the small boutique with bespoke and artisan items, we’re also drawn towards The Locale, the hotel’s neighbourhood eatery. After visiting many (many!) all-day dining outlets in our day, we’re happy to see a restaurant with a twist. As a spot for a healthy or indulgent breakfast, lunch, or dinner (we’ll tell you more about that below), we’re pleasantly surprised by the experience. Even better? The Locale focuses on sourcing locally where possible, and we see this in the use of produce from Greenheart Farms, as well as Fish Farm. We personally love that a global brand has made it a priority to work with local produce.

Our room is a suite and quite spacious with a sitting room and table for six, as well as an extra half bathroom. We even have a small balcony, which gives partial views over the interior of the Palm, as well as the garden and beach area of the property. We would note that when making a booking, it’s probably best to request a room on an upper floor, or away from the street noise (if you’re sensitive to sound). Overall, we like the modern decor and colour scheme, even if the beds are a little firm for our preference.

We spend our afternoon at leisure, hanging out at the adults-only pool on the 14th floor. While service could be a bit quicker at the cabana (especially as we are the only guests), we enjoy the view of Nakheel Mall and the rest of the Palm below us.

Our dinner is onsite at The Locale, and our server is one of the best we’ve had in a while. She’s knowledgeable about the menu, friendly, and takes great care of us. With an international selection – although we eye the DIY salad counter – we’re in full staycation mode and order the Nearly A Caesar, AED 60, Avocado Hummus, AED 68, and for mains, the Vietnamese Beef Pho, AED 80, and the Chef Gani’s Homestyle Chicken Curry, AED 95. While our dining partner is content with the serving of pho, the curry is plenty to split between two people. Our dining companion also visits the dessert counter and comes back with an almond flavoured Panna Cotta, which is beautifully topped with berries and edible flowers. All of the dishes are something we would order again, with the creative take on the hummus (spoiler alert – it includes prawns!) being our favourite dish of the evening.

Not quite finished with the night, we’re happy to try some drinks at KnoX, the underground bar (literally) and restaurant. We love the decor, use of mirrors, and clever signage. The bar has homemade beverages, as well as a DJ. As we arrived a bit early in the evening, a crowd hasn’t quite arrived yet, but we could see ourselves coming back with friends.

The following morning, after a filling breakfast at The Locale (eggs to order for me, and an Asian selection for my travel companion), we decide to hit the gym. It’s located on the same floor as the adults-only pool (and seriously, we wish more hotels had this feature). After rinsing off, we head down to the oversized infinity-edged pool and beach to soak up some sun. Additionally, we have a late booking for the onsite spa, Ora, where we are well looked after during a heavenly hour-long massage.

Overall Andaz Dubai The Palm offers an inspired local experience and aims to stimulate guests’ senses through the city’s rich culture, heritage and attractions. Boasting distinct dining venues bursting with local flavours, the culinary experiences aim to create a vibrant social scene with a kaleidoscope of international and traditional Middle Eastern influences. Apart from The Locale, The Andaz Lounge and KnoX, Andaz Dubai The Palm is set to open further dining options, Hanami and La Coco. Hanami will offer contemporarily crafted Japanese cuisine peppered with an international touch, giving guests an edgy take on traditional Japanese Izakaya. Whilst La Coco Beach Club will serve up casual bites and beverages. Watch this space, as we will be going back to check out Hanami once it opens.

Another feature worth highlighting is just how close the property is to everything. We can walk across to Nakheel Mall for a bit of shopping or stroll over to Club Vista Mare. Would we return to Andaz Dubai The Palm? Yes! We like the range of dining options, not only on the property but also in the area.

Rooms start at approximately AED 1000 a night.

Andaz Dubai The Palm, United Arab Emirates, +971 4 581 1234