Sofitel Dubai Downtown

"Do a headcount of subpar hotels in this ultramodern Emirati city, and you’re bound to come up shorthanded. Helping to bring the city up to its shiny snuff is the Sofitel Dubai Downtown: Stacked neatly into 31 sky-skimming floors, the 350-room hotel is about as posh as they come. And yet, as a player in this over-the-top, all-about-more city, it’s surprisingly, and elegantly, restrained. The hotel’s French-inflected décor wraps around the shimmering marble lobby in the form of delicate white cherry blossom trees and glass vases, à la springtime in Paris. Access to the famed Dubai Mall via an air-conditioned—yes, it warrants the emphasis—skywalk is a big bonus. Rooms are neat and clean, with geometric designs and welcome bursts of color—nothing to write home about—but then there’s the view. Panoramic vistas of Burj Khalifa—the world’s tallest building, for those who haven’t gotten the memo—or the coastline and Sheikh Zayed Road are supremely Instagram-worthy, and guaranteed to incite envy in those back home. Guests are apt to gush about everything here, from the stellar service, to the beautiful bathrooms—and a quick run through the specs reveals why. With 24/7 butler service, five restaurants (check out Inka, the Peruvian dinner spot on the 31st floor, and Wakame, the Asian-inspired eatery pouring out seasonal, handcrafted libations), two bars, a 24-hour café, a poolside lounge with live music, a hot tub, and gym, there’s not much to dislike. There’s also the popular afternoon tea slot at La Patisserie, where Francophile dreams materialize as macarons. Guests rave about the state-of-the-art So SPA and its hammam—a relaxing way to end to any busy, shop-till-you-drop kind of day."