The Total Package: Live A Holiday Filled With Luxury At Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates
With its famous ski chalet rooms, direct access to shopping and convivial atmosphere, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates is tailor-made for tourists who want to live the luxe Dubai dream and flex their credit card next door
Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates stands serenely, gazing down at the bedlam occurring on Sheikh Zayed Road, inviting guests to exit at the next turn-off and enter a gleaming enclave away from the stressed-out drivers competing for first place in the unofficial Dubai Rush Hour Grand Prix.
From the first moments inside the palatial gold and silver lobby that has Arabic design touches on the giant floor-to-ceiling windows, you’ll notice the gleaming hotel has a nice city buzz. People excitedly carrying shopping bags whizz by with the kind of smiles on their faces that says they’ve just indulged in some retail therapy. Other dressed-up folks are on their way out to grab a cab and experience Dubai’s dining and nightlife scene. Children dash about the dazzling marble pillars of the hotel’s grand entrance, eager to go and explore the toy shops, plush cinema – and, if their parents are willing, Magic Planet – in the adjoining Mall of the Emirates.
If you’re staying in one of the hotel’s sea-facing rooms, you’ll be greeted with the sight of Burj Al Arab upon entering, which is an eye-catching opening scene. The Arabian Gulf stretches out before you, as does the sandy sprawl of Jumeirah and its villas, as well as the energetic swooshing of traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road. Rooms at the Kempinksi continue the subtle Arabic decor theme seen in the lobby and are spacious, spotlessly clean, and neatly turned out. As the sun sets and the Dubai skyline starts to twinkle, you may find yourself gazing out of your bedroom window in a dreamy state.
Also of note is an exclusive partnership the hotel has with the premier fitness machine company Technogym. Some rooms – aimed more at the business traveller – can be equipped with an impressive range of exercise equipment. Thus making it possible to do a workout in the comfort of your room without having to seek out the gym.
While the standard rooms at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates are high quality, perhaps its most famous overnight option is just around the corner. The hotel’s undisputed claim to fame are its Aspen Chalets, cosy cabins that recreate an alpine atmosphere while overlooking the world-famous Ski Dubai snow park. Book a chalet this festive season, crank up the air conditioning, pull on a Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater and you’ll be transported to Switzerland, especially with a steaming mug of hot chocolate in your hands. Named after the ultra plush ski resort in Colorado, these luxurious Aspen Chalets are a huge novelty in the desert of Dubai and will raise a smile among even the most jaded traveller.
Then there are the hotel’s pair of impressive open-air infinity pools, which are perched high above the road on a grand terrace. A swim-up bar is a rather tempting way to spend a couple of hours as you take in both the Dubai views and the pool deck’s attractive domed towers, coated in mosaics of maroon, amber, turquoise and white.
For dining, the hotel’s Spanish tapas spot Salero is a tucked-away treat, with live music and a flamenco performance adding dramatic flair. The buzz here emanates from the bar and its team of charismatic bartenders, while the food is well-priced, tasty and authentic. A huge mural combining the styles of Spanish painters Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso (with a splash of Keith Haring) is a great conversation starter. Olea is the hotel’s everyday restaurant and does a nice line in modern Arabic dishes, while the Aspen lobby cafe serves pastries, strong coffee and snacks.
With fantastic shopping and the quirky Ski Dubai both on its doorstep, the glamorous Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates is a tourist’s dream and provides plenty of stories for visitors to tell their envious friends when they get home.