The Lana Dubai review: Dorchester Collection’s first Middle East hotel

Gravity-defying skyscrapers practically dripping with gold accents. Fantastical accommodations like underwater suites. Michelin-lauded restaurants from world-famous chefs. Boisterous beach clubs drawing international glitterati.

Dubai has a distinctive, indeed unmistakable, approach to luxury. And while affluent aficionados of ostentation will have plenty of over-the-top ogling to do on a jaunt through this Middle East hub, there’s a new hotel in town that is taking a unique, more understated tack to the high-end hospitality experience.

The Lana is the latest location from the exclusive Dorchester Collection, which is beloved for its classic outposts such as Le Meurice in Paris, Hotel Eden in Rome, the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles (County) and the company’s namesake, the Dorchester, in London.

Occupying a dramatic structure designed by renowned architecture firm Foster + Partners but set in the relatively sleepy Business Bay district, The Lana takes restrained refinement as its guiding principle. No fancifully themed suites or sprawling water parks here. However, you’ll still find celebrity-chef restaurants and an ultraglamorous 29th-floor Dior Spa (not to mention a hidden cigar speak-easy and one of the town’s most genteel afternoon teas).

For luxury lovers looking for the subtler side of sumptuosity in Dubai, here’s an inside look at The Lana and all its amenities.

Getting there

The Lana is in Business Bay, which is, as the name suggests, primarily a business district brimming with high-rise offices, apartment buildings and hotels. It’s also adjacent to the Downtown Dubai district, where you can find the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa (hence the stunning views of its gleaming spire from various vantage points around The Lana).

The hotel is only about a 20-minute, $20 taxi or Uber ride away from Dubai International Airport (DXB) as well, which makes it very convenient if you’re only in town for a short stay and don’t want to venture further into one of the city’s beach resorts or the hotels that dot the halo of the Palm Jumeirah.

Booking details

The Lana has 225 rooms and suites, ranging from the impressive 603-square-foot Horizon rooms to the two-bedroom Lana Royal Suite, which has an expansive wraparound terrace.

Rates at this property start at $460 per night for a Horizon room during the summer and around $650 per night during the busier, cooler months like November and December. The 711-square-foot Marina Junior Suite I stayed in starts at $1,250 per night during the summer and around $1,360 in the winter.

You can often find deals or packages for around the same prices by booking directly on the hotel’s website with inclusions like upgrades and 400 Emirati dirham ($110) in on-property credits.

If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you can book through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts to receive perks like availability-based upgrades, up to a $100 credit to use on-property during your stay for things like drinks or meals, complimentary daily breakfast for two, and guaranteed late checkout.

Standout features

• Enormous rooms with some of the most comfortable hotel beds around.
• One of the only Dior Spas in the world with stunning skyline views and exclusive treatments.
• Restaurants from Michelin-lauded chefs Jean Imbert and Martin Berasategui.
• The 30th-floor pool and High Society bar are the places to see and be seen at sunset.
• Welcoming staff ready to fulfill any guest request.

Drawbacks

• If you want the Dubai beach resort experience, this is not the hotel for you.
• Some rooms only have views of the surrounding desert and highways.
• The location can require lengthy drives to some of Dubai’s most popular attractions.

The vibe

Even in a city populated by unique skyscrapers, the two interlocking towers that house The Lana and its associated residences manage to stand out. Designed by Foster + Partners, the edifice reflects the desert sky and the waters of the Marasi Bay Marina’s basin below with ripplelike curves reminiscent of a megayacht’s stern.

Although you’ll likely see an international fashionista or footballer alighting in the small, circular drive (perhaps in one of the hotel’s own maroon Rolls-Royce Phantoms), each guest is greeted like a VIP by the burgundy-clad doormen and ushered into the airy, high-ceilinged lobby.

You could, of course, complete the check-in formalities at the walk-up front desk. You’ll find that tucked behind a dramatic arch opposite an enormous decorative urn overflowing with flowers (a replica of the pair you’ll find in the lobby of The Dorchester in London). But before you can make your way to the desk, you’ll likely be seated at one of the velvet sofas so that you can be fetched a cappuccino in a bespoke bone china saucer while your details are taken down and your room is made ready.

Make a mental note to come back for the opulent afternoon tea and take a moment to admire artist Sophie Coryndon’s dramatic work, “Golden Honey,” a gilt, honeycomblike installation cascading down a pink tiled wall. It is both palpably decadent and discreet … just like the style of luxury typified at The Lana.

The room

In a city as busy at all hours of the day as Dubai and surrounded by desert, having a quiet place to retire at the end of the day can feel like reaching a shimmering oasis. Albeit one paneled in glossy wood and marble.

Just inside the foyer of my Marina Junior Suite was a massive, dark wood-paneled closet and dressing area with plenty of room for suitcases … and bags of new purchases from Dubai’s many luxury fashion boutiques, not to mention finer touches such as a Dyson hair dryer.

A set of double doors led into the main room, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors revealing a view of the Burj Khalifa and the surrounding skyline beyond. Anchoring the neutral-toned space was a white Frette linen-dressed king-size bed with a Vispring mattress that made me feel like royalty when I sank into it for a night’s rest. No wonder, since Vispring is a preferred supplier to Buckingham Palace.

Past the bed was an elegant vignette with an art deco-inspired sofa and chair around a coffee table, where I found a selection of seasonal rare fruits like Williams pears and gold-flecked dates. I snacked on them as I watched the news on the Bang & Olufsen television, sauntered out onto the balcony to enjoy the views while relaxing on the lounge chair, or sat at the table once the temperatures started to dip in the evening.

I settled in at the narrow desk across from the bed to send some notes on the hotel stationery and peruse the hotel’s dining outlets and other amenities (not to mention place a room service order) via the provided tablet.

The mirrored minibar with floral door papering held a Nespresso machine and kettle for brewing the sachets of bespoke tea varieties as well as treats like vegan gummy bears and black truffle almonds.

The focal point of the expansive bathroom was a free-standing deep soaking tub set against the windows, which provided panoramic city views that came alive when the buildings lit up at night.

Meanwhile, a long marble countertop with dual sinks and lighted vanities provided plenty of primping space. The hotel’s custom-made, cruelty-free Wildsmith Skin products had a bright but not overpowering combination of magnolia, jasmine and cedarwood notes — all the better for washing off the grit of the day in the enormous walk-in shower with overhead and hand-held showerheads.

Spacious but cozy with lavish accents, including parquet flooring and velvet upholstery, the Marina Junior Suite felt like just the right balance of opulence and refinement.

Food and drink

Dubai has become one of the world’s top dining destinations thanks to the slew of internationally renowned chefs who have put down stakes (and grilled up steaks) in town, so it should come as no surprise that The Lana went big with its dining outlets.

Chief among them is Riviera by Jean Imbert on the fourth floor. The chef made a name for himself after winning “Top Chef” in 2012, followed by partnerships in a few restaurants with Pharrell Williams. He took over the restaurant at the iconic Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris from legendary chef Alain Ducasse; it has since garnered a Michelin star.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Riviera had a decidedly relaxed ambience, sort of like a sunny St. Tropez garden party, thanks to leafy potted palms, shutterlike room dividers and little nautical knickknacks.

The breakfast menu contained a few set options, including continental breakfast ($52) and the signature Lana breakfast ($64), which both included a selection of fresh juices of the day and homemade pastries, fruit platters, yogurt and cereal — though the latter also included a dish of choice from the a la carte menu, such as avocado with quail eggs and passion-fruit coulis, the chef’s famous French toast with Brittany caramel sauce and classic shakshuka served in a piping-hot skillet.

For lunch and dinner, meanwhile, Mediterranean-French cuisine — presented on specially made Bernardaud porcelain — took center stage, with options like tuna tartare made to taste tableside with the restaurant’s own olive oil, fresh lime zest and sea salt ($53); and fluffy focaccia with creamy burrata, pistachios and green beans ($23). The inventive ratatouille ($37) was served in tart form with delicately shaved squash and zucchini drizzled with pistou over a flaky Parmesan crust.

Stick around the hotel for drinks and dinner one evening, too, so you can hop among the other bars and restaurants. Start your night with a cocktail at Bitter Honey, a sort of open-secret speak-easy tucked into an alcove of the lobby. Many of the drinks, which are whipped up at a bar cart off to one end, take honey as both an inspiration and ingredient, resulting in some cool twists on classics, like the Trigona Old Fashioned ($23) with Maker’s Mark 46, honey, black cherry, aromatic bitters and orange zest.

Next, pop up to Jara by Martín Berasategui on the 18th floor. The Basque chef’s group of restaurants currently holds 12 Michelin stars, and this location is a stunner. Off to one side is a lively bar with a dramatic, fire-inspired lighting feature and decorative terra-cotta tiles. To the other is the main indoor dining room fronting the open kitchen, where diners can watch their orders being prepared over open flames. During good weather, reserve a table on the large outdoor patio for even better skyline views as you dine on specialties like Cantabrian anchovies over crystal bread and brioche ($24.50) and juicy grilled octopus with paprika and Galician-style potatoes with paprika ($37).

Grilled proteins are the main attraction and are priced per 100 grams, so depending on what was sourced that day, you might enjoy Mediterranean langoustine, succulent white shrimp from Huelva or Cantabrian blue lobster. The whole sole ($212) is meaty but light and comes with a choice of side sauces. But leave room for the luscious, slightly tangy Basque cheesecake for dessert ($24.50).

If you’ve still got some go after dinner, sidle into the adjacent cigar lounge, Txakolina, for a nightcap, or venture up to the 30th-floor pool deck for a nightcap at High Society, which has both an indoor lounge and outdoor terrace. Though there’s a minimum spending requirement for nonguests; those staying at the hotel are not subject to it and also have first pick of seating arrangements. That’s how I secured one of the tables set against the glass railing for uninterrupted city views as I sampled signature sips inspired by the sun-worshipping cultures of ancient Egypt, Greece and Peru with intriguing ingredient lists. The powerful yet elegant Stare of Apep ($23) was a heady mix of mint-infused rum, date honey and saffron bitters. A sweet note to end the night on.

Peckish between meals or after an excursion in the city? Duck into the ground-floor Bonbon Cafe Angelo Musa, where the pastry chef whips up gorgeous French patisseries to accompany super-strong coffee and tea drinks as well as a variety of sandwiches, salads and homemade ice creams and sorbets.

There is also a garden bar and terrace just off the lobby called Veranda, serving light bites and cocktails from October-May, and afternoon tea with a panoply of pastries, scones and finger sandwiches served in the Gallery, as the lobby lounge area is known, starting at $163 per person.

Amenities and service

Although this is a city hotel where folks are likely to be dropping by for business as much as pleasure (and there are meeting rooms on the ground floor giving off some strong midcentury “Mad Men” vibes), the hotel still has a solid lineup of leisure facilities.

Up on the 30th floor, the large pool deck has a variety of lounging and seating areas with umbrellas and other shade to escape the Emirati heat, though it can also get a bit breezy up here. Lifeguards and other attendants are on hand to make up daybeds with towels and take food and drink orders as you migrate from your chair to the water and back throughout the day.

Down one level on the 29th floor lies the hotel’s health and wellness complex. The Lana is home to the UAE’s first Dior Spa, which opened in April and was promptly booked out for several months. In addition to a small boutique area proffering Dior skincare, perfume and fashion fare, there is a beauty room for nail services, and five treatment rooms — one of which is wheelchair-accessible with a roll-in shower and a toilet with grab bars — and a couples suite, which has enormous double-height windows looking out toward downtown Dubai.

The treatment menu includes signature experiences like an Iyashi Dome infrared session ($163 for 30 minutes) and the L’Or de Vie Miracle face and back treatment, including a massage and facial with rock crystal and Dior’s L’Or de Vie line made with antioxidant vine sap from Bordeaux’s famous Chateau d’Yquem ($531 for 90 minutes). We’re totally not making this up.

If those prices are a bit too high, you can always do wellness the good, old-fashioned way … with a workout in the next-door gym.

Luckily, you will also find some Dior-branded touches here, like stretching mats, balance balls, jump ropes and light weights.

The watchword among luxury hotels these days seems to be about creating residential-style experiences, but few actually live up to that dictum. The Lana, however, does. That’s not to say my Marina Junior Suite or Jean Imbert-created meals felt like sleeping and dining at home. They didn’t. Rather, every member of the staff I interacted with instantly put me at ease, taking care of every last detail without falling into fawning.

It was a conglomeration of little things that added up. Things such as knowing my specific coffee order at breakfast from one day to the next and noting which fruits (okay, yes, and pastries) I seemed to enjoy most and bringing extra servings on subsequent days; or seating me at my preferred table at High Society when I turned up unexpectedly on a second evening and then patiently talking me through five, yes five, different cocktails and their ingredients until I could select the one I preferred. Even the housekeeping staff, seeing that I had gone through all the bottles of provided water, left a half-dozen extras at turndown without my having to ask. In short, I felt cared for but not coddled, making my interactions with everyone at the hotel feel genuinely warm and memorable.

Out and about

The Marasi Bay Marina, where The Lana is located, is in the process of being transformed into a new lifestyle district with a 7-mile-long waterfront promenade with shops, cafes, residential buildings, yacht berths and more. That’s still a ways off, though, based on the amount of construction currently taking place. That said, you can still get to many of the city’s sights via an inexpensive car ride.

It’s only 10 minutes to the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa (depending on traffic) in one direction and 10 minutes to the cafes, galleries and offices of the Dubai Design District in the other. The Gold Souk is a 25-minute car ride away, as are some of the city’s best public beaches.

Accessibility

The Lana has four accessible rooms in the Horizon category. These rooms have lowered peepholes in their doors, reachable safes and wardrobe racks, folding rather than swinging doors to their closets, and emergency buttons for assistance as well as televisions with closed-caption programming. Their bathrooms allow for wheelchair maneuverability and have emergency cords as well as roll-in shower stalls, hand-held showerheads and grab bars near the toilets.

The hotel’s elevators have buttons with Braille markings that are within reach of wheelchair users. All the public areas, including the entrance, are accessible via wheelchair thanks to flat surfaces, ramps and elevators. Public spaces also have accessible bathrooms (though note that doors to some of them might require assistance).

Unfortunately, the pool does not have a chairlift or zero-step entry.

Checking out

Taking a distinctly different direction than some other luxury hotels in Dubai, Dorchester Collection’s The Lana opts for restraint over flash and grace over glitz, all to excellent effect. While you might miss being in the heart of the action as its surrounding neighborhood is still in transition to becoming a lifestyle hub, the hotel itself provides plenty to enjoy (and eat) during a visit to Dubai.

Writer’s note: The Dorchester Collection is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency and has been the subject of boycotts since 2014, when the sultan of Brunei imposed sharia law within the country. This, along with another set of laws passed in 2019, severely curtailed the rights of some citizens, including LGBTQIA+ people. To learn more about this, you can read the U.S. Department of State’s most recent report on human rights practices in Brunei and decide for yourself whether this will affect your travel decisions.