Living the Castle Life at Emerald Palace Kempinski

During my recent stay in Dubai, I was very impatient to discover the brand new Emerald Palace Kempinski, opened just last November! If I had to summarize this five-star establishment in just one word, it would be “grandiose”: 100,000 m², an opulent 18th-century style inspired by the best European luxury hotels, high-quality materials, eight restaurants and bars, and a Cinq Mondes spa. Come with me and explore this extraordinary luxury hotel with its bold and dazzling style!

Inspired by 18th-Century European Luxury Hotels

The Emerald Palace's opening, which just took place in November 2018, was eagerly awaited by the Middle Eastern luxury hospitality scene. The building’s specifications are breathtaking, as is its style, which takes its cues from 18th-century European luxury establishments; the hotel relies on high-quality, natural materials acquired from the best European suppliers for an exceptional result. In this palace-like hotel, every detail has been carefully designed to dazzle guests, such as the astronomical number of chandeliers (a mind-boggling 6,400!), many of them hand-painted with 24-karat gold leaf.

An Opulent Style

Only 30 minutes from the Dubai airport, head to the famous Palm Jumeirah, the artificial archipelago where numerous hotels, marinas, and residences have set up shop. It’s paradise on earth, with a panoramic view of the superb Dubai skyline to one side and the endless Persian Gulf to the other. As soon as I entered the hotel, I was blown away by the splendid surroundings: all of the Emirates’ opulence seemed to have been infused into this monumental lobby, with its eight Rosa Portogallo marble columns and its superb chandelier, incrusted with 40,000 Swarovski crystals. Incredible!

My Own Personal Versailles

The Emerald Palace Kempinski offers plenty of glamour in each of its 391 rooms, suites, and villas overlooking the blue waters of the Persian Gulf. The first room category, called the Deluxe Room Ocean View (where we spent the night), is already an ultra-spacious 65 m². It includes a living area, a comfortable desk, a king-size bed underneath a gorgeous chandelier, a walk-in closet, and a huge balcony where guests can admire the view of the sea. The décor is classic, with our room decked out in golden tones (while others feature more silvery hues), and guests have access to all of the comforts and amenities of a freshly-opened, modern hotel.

Fashionable Restaurants

The “grandiose” theme continues at the Emerald Palace Kempinski with its many bars and restaurants! The resort proposes no fewer than eight distinct options for a variety of culinary experiences. First off, there’s miX, triple-starred chef Alain Ducasse’s first restaurant in the United Arab Emirates. There, we enjoyed contemporary cuisine with French influences, choosing dishes from an eclectic menu which changes with the seasons. The atmosphere contrasts with the hotel’s classic look, with miX featuring a much more contemporary ambience with its white-and-gold-furnished dining room. As for the terrace, all eyes are on the captivating panoramic view. Ducasse’s subtle cuisine is beautifully presented in every dish, and the décor is simply sublime.

We also discovered the restaurant All-onda, offering a combination of Italian and Asian flavors such as the teriyaki-style lamb chops. In a subdued ambience, this well-designed space (including a sensational bar) provides the ideal setting for dinner for two.

At lunchtime, Villamoré is the perfect spot: in a relaxed atmosphere with rustic furniture and blue and white hues, you can enjoy Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. We had our lunch outside facing the beach, beginning with an antipasti buffet which was as much a feast for the eyes as it was for our taste buds!

On top of all of this, there’s the restaurant Matagi with its pan-Asian gastronomy, Le Jardin with European-inspired cuisine served to guests on the terrace, and the poolside bar Sablanc. For late-night partiers, the Emerald Palace also has its own night club, named Skorpeus.

A Minimalist Spa by Cinq Mondes

Spread over an enormous 3000 m² space, the Cinq Mondes spa rolls out the red carpet in this wellness center. I was very surprised by the complete contrast with the rest of the hotel; a far cry from the glittering opulence of the lobby and rooms, the spa features a minimalist look with a purified, contemporary style. Guests can indulge in a wide range of facials and body treatments inspired by techniques from around the world, such as the “Bali Flowers and Fruits Ritual” which I chose for my moment of relaxation. Treatments are carried out in one of 23 cabins, or in one of the two spa suites. There’s also a traditional Turkish bath which comes equipped with the largest indoor pool in all of Dubai. It’s the perfect place to treat yourself!

After the spa, why not head to the seaside? You can check out the enormous pool or even the 500 m² beach, with sand imported from… the Maldives! Nothing is too luxurious for the Emerald Palace Kempinski!

The Verdict

The luxury hospitality world’s wait was worth it! This palatial establishment offers an abundance of Dubai-style splendor. Its opulent, 18th-century European design and use of high-quality, natural materials make for a stunning and impressive result. As for the rest, the Emerald Palace Kempinski has clearly set its ambitions very high with its eight restaurants and bars, its Cinq Mondes spa, the pool and beach, and of course the dazzling rooms.

I loved:

The French-style design is very well-done, with a realistic result!
The use of fine materials: Swarovski crystal chandeliers, gold leaf, high-quality marble… it all makes for a very prestigious setting!
Incredibly spacious rooms, with the smallest starting at 65 m². It’s a dream come true!

I disliked:

The service wasn’t up to five-star standards, especially when compared with the excellent quality of service you can find in Dubai!

Practical Information

More information available on their website
Deluxe Room with Ocean View starting at € 380/night in March 2019

Thank you Emerald Palace Kempinski for the invitation to explore their establishment.Of course, the content of this blogpost was left entirely up to me!