Iconic City Hotels of the World

Burj Al Arab A Jumeirah Hotel As iconic to Dubai as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris Iconic City Hotels of the World I f any hotel can describe itself as the only ‘seven-star’ hotel in the world, it is surely the Burj Al Arab. The hotel’s sail-like façade, now an icon of the city itself, has become a symbol of the no-holds-barred level of luxury Dubai has come to embody. Inside, 202 duplex suites are visions of marble and gold; one of the 11 restaurants, bars, and lounges is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling aquariums; and, at the Talise Spa, guests float between pampering treatments and a Roman-inspired amphitheatre serving drinks and snacks. If you dream it up, Burj will deliver; if not, their fleet of Rolls Royces are on hand for taking you wherever it is you need to get it. The hotel is a spectacle in every sense of the word so it should come as no surprise that even if you are not staying at the hotel you can still go on a guided tour! Inside the hotel, you will find the Atrium which provides a warm, natural light flanked with golden columns. At the middle is a fountain where water bursts 42 metres into the air, a beautiful view that will leave you spellbound. On the ceiling of the Junsui lounge, you will observe 29,000 Swarovski crystals which are designed in the shape of a Milky Way and of course at Ristorante L' Olivo at Al Mahara, under the helm of Chef Andrea Migliaccio from Capri’s Two-Michelin star ‘Ristorante L’Olivo’, diners are surrounded by a seawater aquarium that can hold up to 990,000 litres of seawater. Inside the aquarium is a female shark which has experienced four consistent years of births (this has never been documented on sharks before). As a guest you can expect a level of service that is hard to match and delivered by a team of highly trained butlers. With a private reception on every floor, state-of-the-art technology and interiors of lavish textures and exuberant colours, this is duplex-style living at its finest. The Talise Spa on the 18th floor has hydrotherapy baths, oriental massage and two infinity pools with stunning views. Dining is as varied and inspired as the associated roll-call of Michelin-star chefs who have been drafted in.