City Premiere Hotel Apartments

This apartment-style property occupies a towering 43-story building just off the main highway, Sheikh Zayed Road. Since the hotel is close to downtown and the metro, it attracts a mixture of leisure and business travelers, but the large apartments with kitchen facilities particularly appeal to families. The common areas are well-maintained but could use a revamp, outfitted with boxy, brown fake-leather armchairs in the lobby and a hazy fish tank in the seafood restaurant. The apartments, however, are more stylish and modern, with a mostly black-and-white color scheme and funky light fixtures. Past guests have noted that they cannot admit non-guests up to their apartments, per hotel policy. Also be aware that this is a dry hotel, meaning no alcohol is available on-site (though that's not atypical for Dubai).

City Premiere Hotel Apartments is located off the main E 11 highway (Sheikh Zayed Road), in the Business Bay neighborhood. It’s not the most pedestrian-friendly area, but there are taxis out front and the metro is a quick 10-minute walk away. Both Downtown Dubai and the financial district are close by, which is a definite plus for business travelers. It's about a 25-minute walk from Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, or guests can take the hotel's free shuttle, which arrives there in about five minutes. A shuttle also goes to Palm Jumeirah in about 15 minutes. Jumeirah Public Beach is around 15 minutes by car as well. Dubai International Airport is a 20-minute drive away. Free valet parking and an on-site parking garage are offered.

This property houses a range of apartment-style rooms consisting of 170 one-bedrooms, 61 two-bedrooms, 38 three-bedroom units, and two Penthouses with four bedrooms. A stylish, urban design runs throughout the rooms with striking black-and-white furnishings, marble accents, funky metal light fixtures, and tons of attractive wood in a dark, variegated finish. Units are spacious across the board, and some are downright huge, plus all come with fully equipped kitchens, living and dining areas, washer/dryers, and flat-screen TVs in both bedrooms and living rooms. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos with dated curtains, ample toiletries, magnifying mirrors, and hairdryers. Not all units have outdoor spaces, but those that do are generally large and some have gorgeous views. Units with views of Burj Khalifa will, unsurprisingly, cost extra.  

For an apartment-style property, the features on-site are surprisingly extensive. Most notable is the rooftop oval-shaped pool, which is temperature-controlled and has views of the nearby skyscrapers. Padded loungers and umbrellas line the deck, and the Patio Pool Cafe offers a menu of snacks. Two restaurants include the Blue O Seafood Restaurant and the 24-hour coffee shop, Cafe Premiere. Prior guests have had positive remarks on breakfast. Many guests prepare meals in their apartments, eat out, or order room service, so the restaurants are fairly quiet in the evenings. Note that this is a dry hotel, so no alcohol is served on-site.

A spacious fitness center is equipped with treadmills, stationary bikes, and weight-training equipment, along with several flat-screen TVs. A steam room and sauna are also available for free. The hotel's business center has several computers, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.