Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Barsha, Attached to Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | (888) 551-4925
Upscale hotel with dazzling reception space
Direct access to Mall of the Emirates and Dubai's indoor skiing
Deluxe rooms full of luxury touches, including marble bathrooms
Cozy ski chalets with alpine decor overlooking the slopes
Two infinity pools with city views and poolside service
Three restaurants and two bars, including a cigar lounge
Traditional Eastern-style spa with Ayurvedic treatments
Health club with state-of-the-art gym, sauna, and steam bath
Location prone to
traffic jams
Chalets can
experience noise from slopes
Limited facilities for
children (a pro for some)
The Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates is a luxury chain hotel attached to a shopping center of the same name and with direct access to the adjoining indoor ski slopes. The property has high-end features throughout, from immaculate marble bathrooms to the twin infinity pools and a plushly decadent cigar lounge. It certainly wouldn't be the first option for beach-loving families with kids, however for the shopaholic skier with an eye for luxury -- and the bank balance to afford it -- it's a great choice.
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Scene
Immaculate luxurious hotel with resplendent lobby, even by Dubai standards
The Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates is one of the city's most upscale hotels and embodies Dubai at its most opulent and extravagant. Although the Kempinski lacks the showy and ostentatious exteriors common to many of the city's other upscale properties, once inside it's difficult not to be bowled over by the resplendent enormity of the lobby area, which features mirrored floors reflecting illuminated stone pillars, plush velvet seating, and five sleek gold-trimmed reception desks. Although the property opened in 2006 and was the first of two Kempinski hotels in Dubai, common areas are kept immaculate and updated throughout with the same flawless presentation and shimmering quality as the reception area. With such conspicuous lavishness, it's only natural that this hotel would be attached to the vast retail mecca of the Mall of the Emirates as well as possibly Dubai's most bizarre and (one could say) excessive attractions: an indoor ski resort.
Location
Attached to the Mall of Emirates, a half-hour drive from Dubai's airport
The hotel sits at the northwest corner of the Mall of Emirates in the Al Barsha First district in the west of Dubai. Right in front is the busy Sheikh Zayed Road, the main highway that runs the length of the city. The location and solid transport links make it a good base for those needing access to the different parts of Dubai. It's under 10-minute drive to the public beach and the Wild Wadi Waterpark and 15 minutes from the tourist area of Jumeirah Beach Residences. The journey to Dubai International Airport takes about half an hour; however the area can be prone to heavy traffic, so the mall's metro is a safer bet and runs straight to the airport.
Rooms
Deluxe rooms full of luxury touches, plus ski chalets overlooking indoor slopes
The hotel's 393 rooms and suites are predictably luxurious, with palatial-style decor including shimmering drapes, centerpiece chandeliers, and lovely natural wood flooring. Details such as granite-topped bedside tables and polished chrome desks add more than a touch of luxury, while immaculate marble bathrooms with large tubs and walk-in showers complete the scene. Wi-Fi is fast and free, while large flat-screen TVs provide over 80 international satellite channels. The Kempinski also offers 15 cozy ski chalets that overlook the indoor ski slope and blend alpine-style interiors with sleek, contemporary wood and polished stone floors across multiple spaces. Other extras include personalized check-in and private butlers, though guests should expect some noise from the slopes.
Features
High-end eating and drinking options plus first-class spa and fitness facilities
The hotel has two infinity pools -- both heated during cooler months -- and the Mosaic Chill bar offers poolside service and views over the city. The Softouch Spa offers a full range of Ayurvedic-based treatments in traditional Eastern-style surrounds, while the K Wellness health club provides a modern gym, sauna, steam room, and tennis court. The Kempinski Hotel’s dining options include Aspen by Kempinski, for breakfast and all-day dining, Salero Tapas & Bodega, which serves a menu of Spanish cooking, and K Grill, for all kinds of fire and wood-oven cooked meat dishes. The plush, purple 1897 Bar offers a cigar menu and bespoke cocktails.
