Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City

The Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Media City occupies a distinctive-looking property comprising two eight-floor buildings crowned by horizontal railings and connected by an elevated glass walkway. The mood in the high-ceilinged lobby is professional and efficient, with touches of glitz and decor in the form of Swarovski chandeliers and glistening metallic sculptures. This sets the tone for most of the property. While the Radisson caters primarily to corporate visitors needing access to Media City across the road, it's very much a business-oriented hotel. There's been a clear effort to jazz up the vibe, with glitzy interior design touches and quirky artwork that allows the restaurants, bars, and terraces to break free from the corporate chain atmosphere.

The hotel is located overlooking a roundabout in the Al Sufouh district of Dubai and is right in the heart of Media City, the regional hub for numerous local and international media organizations. Immediately outside the hotel are busy streets that can get congested, as well as the large American University in Dubai. Dubai's Internet City -- an industrial park largely occupied by IT corporations -- is just a block away. Dubai International Airport can be reached in under half an hour by car via the main Sheik Zayed Road. Alternatively, the nearest Metro stop is Nakheel Station -- about a 15 minutes away on foot -- which connects directly to the airport.

The hotel has 246 rooms, all of which are decorated in orange and earthy tones, with modern, office-style furnishings, patterned wallpaper, and warm wood paneling. Standard Rooms are housed in the hotel's West Tower and come with free Wi-Fi, well-stocked minibars, and wide-screen TVs. Business Class Rooms and Executive Suites are found in the East Tower and have in-room extras such as Nespresso machines and bathrobes. Some of the Standard Rooms are on the small side, especially for Dubai, and there have been reports of noise issues in rooms near the hotel bar.

Guests in Business Class Rooms and Suites are entitled to a free buffet breakfast at the Chef’s House restaurant, which also provides international buffet meals for lunch and dinner.
Alternatively, Certo Restaurant serves an a la carte menu of Italian items, including pizza from a wood-fired oven. There are also lounges that provide drinks and snacks, as well as the Tamanya Terrace, which has great views over the city and can get lively at weekends. The Dusk Terrace bar serves sun-downers and sits adjacent to one of the hotel's two small outdoor pool.
Those in need of healthier relaxation can use the spa at the Asian-themed Senso Wellness Centre, which offers his-and-hers massages and treatments. Free valet parking is also available on-site and the hotel operates a free shuttle that drops guests at numerous nearby attractions.