Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre

"Set the scene. A slice of New York in Dubai, everything about this smart, shiny hotel says big-city heavyweight, from its location in the towering Burj Daman building to its 18th-floor lobby and knockout views of the city skyline. Waldorf Astoria DIFC is the second opening from the brand in Dubai—but the first urban hotel (the other one is a sprawling beach number on the Palm Jumeirah). It joins other big hitters like the Four Seasons DIFC and the Ritz-Carlton DIFC in the area, though unlike those two, the Waldorf Astoria is across the street from the major thoroughfare of DIFC, so it feels ever-so-slightly away from the heavy footfall of bar-hopping Friday night city folk. It has a less strictly business vibe, leaning more towards a yes-there’s-work-to-do-but-let’s-have-a-cocktail-or-three-first atmosphere. What’s the backstory? The hotel occupies the 18th through 55th floors of Burj Daman, a skyscraper complex that already houses apartments and offices, so it’s part of a community from the get-go. That might explain the apartment-like feel of the rooms. Interior design was largely by American firm Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates, Inc (who are also behind the likes of The Langham, Jakarta and Crowne Plaza Resort Phu Quoc in Vietnam), while Dubai-based LW Design Group were responsible for two restaurants: Bull & Bear and St. Trop. As the financial heart of the city, DIFC is Dubai’s most buzzing Manhattan-esque neighborhood, and so a hotel that pays homage through design to the New York original makes total sense in this bubble of financiers and the moneyed elite. What can we expect in our room? A fresh take on an upscale '60s style Manhattan apartment. It’s easy to picture the cast of Mad Men draped about the place; rose gold bedside lamps placed on deep mahogany mid-century tables glint in the sunlight and brass or glossy black light installations hang overhead. The corner suites are the ones to bag with two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows. The travel-trunk-inspired minibar is better than most, but the star is the bathroom with an enormous circular bathtub. How about the food and drink? The general idea in restaurant Bull & Bear is to replicate the original in New York, so there’s reassuring dishes to order like slow-cooked beef cheek and apple pie (and a Waldorf salad, naturally), but there're also vegan bowls to please those who want something less meat-heavy. Bar manager Raven Rudolph has created a name for himself among those immersed in Dubai’s cocktail culture, and his skill and creativity is shown off here, where the Waldorf Astoria classics are named after its famous guests. (Try the Hepburn, named for Katherine, a mix of pineapple juice, vodka and dried red chili pepper.) What’s the crowd like? Loafers and loosened skinny ties, kitten heels and French manicures. The latest season of Ozark is next up on Netflix, the FT saved as morning-paper guest preferences. A fondness for small jazz bars. __Anything to say about the service? __ Aside from being escorted to the 18th floor lobby, check-in can be totally seamless if you’ve got a Hilton digital room key on your phone, which is always a bonus if fanfare and fuss isn’t your thing. A member of the concierge team is a bit of an artist and often surprises guests with a pencil-drawn likeness cribbed from a photo on social media. __What’s the neighborhood scene like? __ DIFC is where power-suit dressed execs pace around hurriedly in the daytime and off-duty high-rollers party in the evenings. There’s tons of big-ticket restaurants with packed-to-the-gills bars, like Burger & Lobster and Boca. Waldorf Astoria’s metropolitan feel slots right in with the area’s other urban hotels, whilst having the advantage of being set a tad away from the hubbub. __Anything else to add? __ When it comes to the conference rooms on the ground floor, they’ve cleverly tried to inject a bit of fun into what, let’s face it, is a hugely boring part of any business hotel by including a show-kitchen for more interactive sessions. There's pleasing art-gallery feel throughout the property with works by Lebanese artist Imad Bechara. __Is it worth it? __ For people that live in the city, it’s an elegant spot for drinks or dinner, as a here-for-fun visitor it places you on the fringes of Dubai’s most happening part of town. For business travelers, it’s got all the work necessities with none of the associated blandness, so yes, it serves a few purposes very well." - Rhea Saran