Elite Traveler HRS 2025

Atlantis The Royal

of his two-Michelin-starred London restaurant, Dinner, and has earned one star here. Andrés and Acurio have also re-created their respective brands, Jaleo and La Mar — the latter of which we highly recommend. You’ll be hard-pressed to visit all 17 bars and restaurants, but if you go to one place, make it Estiatorio Milos. The Greek restaurant from celebrity chef Costas Spiliadis is an eternally popular spot in New York and is proving equally so in Dubai. Sitting adjacent to the main building, the restaurant’s terrace is the best seat in the house for the nightly Skyblaze fountain shows. But you should also come here for elevated Hellenic cuisine, including fresh fi sh delivered direct from Greece and the restaurant’s signature Milos Special (a fried eggplant and zucchini tower on a bed of tzatziki). RELAX While so much of Atlantis The Royal is about hedonism and indulgence, it has not skimped on its wellnesso ff erings. The Awaken Spa spreads over 54,000 sq ft and has 17 therapy suites, including one with private access. While it o ff ers a range of massages and treatments from around the world, in true Dubai fashion, its signature treatments include a Golden Hour massage, which uses volcanic stones dipped in 24-karat gold. The Royal Gold Facial also mixes wellness with a touch of true Dubai decadence, utilizing the natural healing properties of gold, diamond and platinum. By Alex Martin Panoramic Penthouse from $32,700 per night. Contact theroyal.reservations@atlantisdubai.com, +971 442 630 00, atlantis.com

The Panoramic Penthouse’s wraparound terrace and large pool o ff er views of both The Palm and the Arabian Sea, stretching as far as the Burj Khalifa. The in fi nity pool and abundant alfresco dining space make it perfect for larger groups, and with in-suite dining available 24 hours a day, you’ll make good use of it, too. Inside, you’ll fi nd two king bedrooms and a tastefully appointed open-plan living space. The deconstructed disco ball on the living room’s ceiling will likely split opinion but, in general, your gaze will be on The Palm’s enchanting fronds, o ff ered at an angle usually reserved for skydivers. DINE Atlantis The Royal has assembled an extraordinary range of culinary talent under one roof, making it Dubai’s premiere dining destination. Heston Blumenthal, José Andrés and Gastón Acurio have exported their globally renowned cuisine to Dubai for the fi rst time. Blumenthal has re-created the concept

ATLANTIS THE ROYAL DUBAI,UAE Balenciaga for breakfast, Louis Vuitton for lunch and Dior for dinner. Perhaps the only thing more impressive than the sight of Atlantis The Royal is the level of wealth on parade inside it. With memories of that Beyoncé-imbued grand opening still fresh, the luxury hotel remains the place to be seen in Dubai. But there are far more reasons to come here than to show o ff your expensive wardrobe. The six interconnected towers — created with curved concrete blocks stacked 43 stories high — stand out even in a city where every type of building already exists. Visually stunning from the outside, its interiors meet the high expectations it so purposefully set for itself. Behind the glitz, glamour and Instagram posts, Atlantis The Royal succeeds in being an over-the-top experience for everyone who steps through its doors. Restoration and hedonism are served in equal measure. For every vibing nightspot to put yourself on display, there is a quiet corner in which to disappear. STAY While the Royal Mansion rightly takes the headline as this property’s top suite, at a reputed $100,000 per night and with room for nine adults and four children, it is more an exclusive event space than a hotel room. It also doesn’t have the top- fl oor views of the Panoramic Penthouse on the 43rd fl oor, which is over twice as high as the Royal Mansion on the 18th and 19th fl oors.

Jaleo by José Andrés

Photos Dany Eid, Brandon Barré