DESIGN
Exterior of the W Dubai ’ s rooftop bar
W Dubai ’ s Akira Back restaurant is headed by Akira Back , a Japanese pro snowboarder turned chef .
The firepit in the W Dubai ’ s lobby ( shown unlit ) is intended to mimic the Bedouin tradition of gathering around a campfire and sharing stories ; the updated version features neon and glass .
five-story lobby , whose design mimics an Arabian fortress , is a neon glass firepit that reflects the Bedouin tradition of gathering around a fire to tell stories and trade goods . “ We still tell stories , but now we trade cocktails and music ,” Scott says .
The W Dubai seeks to attract the traveler who wants on-trend music , fashion and wellness , but in a luxury setting , Scott says , such as someone who wants a music festival experience , “ and enjoy curated cocktails instead of queuing for drinks in a plastic glass .” That ’ s reflected in the ADR of AED1,750 ( about US $ 477 per night ).
One of the ways the W Dubai is attracting this traveler is through 13 swimming pools and six F & B spaces , including an eponymous outlet headed by Akira Back , a Japanese pro snowboarder turned chef . A vortex design at the entrance aims to evoke a snowboarding feel ; Back infuses his Japanese cuisine with a Korean touch . Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura opened his first restaurant outside Italy in the W Dubai , Torno Subito , which harks back to a 1960s “ dolce vita ” feel , with black-and-white-striped floors and giant beach balls as light shades .
The rooftop restaurant is SoBe , short for South Beach , with a Miami theme , DJ performances , tattoo artists and what the hotel says is the only 360-degree views of both the Arabian Sea and the Dubai skyline from a rooftop .
May 2019 hotelsmag . com 35