Fortune Grand Hotel

The large, boxy building that houses the Fortune Grand Hotel announces its nightlife-ready air with a neon-lit facade featuring a street-level lined in store-front-style signs announcing the many restaurants and bars inside. There's a certain faux opulence to the interior with a compact, atrium-style lobby featuring glistening gold trim, hefty, mosaic-tiled columns, and a central section of wood-laminate flooring where tan armchairs are gathered around coffee tables in small sitting areas. It's certainly not on par with the luxury properties of New Dubai, but it's well-maintained with a host of on-site offerings. Guests, often business travelers or a party-ready younger crowd, might stay up late in the on-site neon-lit nightclubs or restaurants with live-entertainment. For those who hope to head to bed early, noise is a main complaint.

This hotel is situated in Deira, an Old Dubai area where inexpensive shops, cafes, hotels, and eateries play foil to the opulence of New Dubai. The immediate neighborhood is fairly uninspiring, though shops and eateries are scattered amongst the dense network of roads the comprise the area, with more options appearing closer to Dubai Creek, a 25-minute walk south. For business travelers, the hotel is fairly convenient to the finance hubs of Dubai Creek, Deira, and Bur Dubai, reachable by car or metro. The closest metro stations, Salah Al Din and Union Station, are a bit of a hike, an 15- and 18-minute walk respectively, offering the red and green lines. Many bus stops are closer. Dubai International Airport is close, a 10- to 15-minute drive, depending on traffic. Attractions in downtown Dubai, like Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, are about 45 minutes via public transit or 20- to 40-minutes by car, depending on traffic.

Guest rooms are clean and comfortable -- if generic -- dominated by a beige and brown color palette accented with maroon runners and throw pillows. The white tiled floors are paired with Greek-key bordered rugs, while dark wood headboards are outfitted with gooseneck reading lamps and are backlit to show off patterned accent walls behind the beds. The beige-tiled bathrooms run small, with combination shower and tubs. Rooms are adequately sized, though not huge, with air-conditioning, electronic safes, desks and armchairs, plus minibars, and electric kettles for coffee and tea. Flat-screen TVs have satellite channels and Wi-Fi is free. Bathrooms have robes, hairdryers, and free individual toiletries. Higher-category rooms add extras like sitting areas, dining areas, and/or balconies. The hotel gives out earplugs, but the biggest complaint is still noise, particularly from the on-site nightclubs, which are opened until late. 

The highlight of Fortune Grand Hotel is it's surprising array of nightlife and dining options, many opened into the wee-hours. Options include a neon-lit Bollywood-themed discotheque, an African-inspired nightclub and restaurant with a DJ spinning or live music, an English-style pub, a sport's bar, and multiple restaurants featuring a range of cuisine (Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani), many with live entertainment. The mezzanine-level Maxim's is the hotel's 24-hour restaurant, which serves up a daily international breakfast buffet, though it costs an extra fee. Room service is available 24 hours as well.Like many hotels in Dubai, this one also has a rooftop pool. It's not huge, but there's a whirlpool, a poolside restaurant, and lounge space. There's also a modest on-site gym, with weight-lifting and cardio equipment, a small sauna, and a hair salon. These features lack the lavishness found in upscale, New Dubai properties, but on the whole they're clean and well-maintained.Staff offer concierge services like travel assistance and laundry service. There's free on-site parking and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra fee.