Hues Boutique Hotel

The stylish, design-conscious Hues Boutique Hotel has a colorful and geometric aesthetic that feels modern and trendy. The bright, airy lobby is open to its atrium-style glass roof, lined with rows of light couches and coffee tables, and a pair of glass elevators rising through the interior courtyard. On the rooftop, the Aurora Lounge is lined with wall-to-wall windows, looking out over the highway, towards the water; the gray-and-white lounge areas are grouped into intimate sitting areas, while the bar is a stark white offset by graffiti-style art. Mistakes bar -- which, at night, transforms into a nightclub with occasional live music -- has a long communal table, colorful neon lighting, and games like pool and foosball tables. On the outdoor rooftop terrace, the rooftop pool is lined with neon green tile, and surrounded by gray cushioned loungers. The overall aesthetic is hip and stylized, and the atmosphere is aimed at younger travelers looking to party.

The hotel is located in the Deira Corniche area, just off of the busy Al Khaleej Road which separates it from the water; front-facing rooms do have water views, although they're not especially impressive. The immediate area has very little to offer: a few budget cafes and restaurants, some low-rise offices and residences, and a large hospital at the end of the block. Although relatively safe, the area has little of interest for pedestrians. The nearest metro stations are Palm Deira and Salah Al Din, both more than 20 minutes away on foot, a long walk in the desert heat. By car or taxi, many attractions are easy to reach: the airport and International Financial Centre are both less than 10 minutes away, the Dubai and Emirates malls about 15, and Media City and Jebel Ali Free Zone about 25. The hotel offers shuttles to the beach and the mall.

Like the rest of the hotel, all of the rooms at the Hues Boutique Hotel are stylish, colorful, and modern, with clean-lined furnishings, dark wood furniture, bright pops of color in fabrics, and all the requisite modern amenities. Beds are notably comfortable, and a high-tech, bedside control panel controls the lights and other aspects of the room. Bathrooms are sleek and calming, with gray tile, neon accent lighting, signature toiletries, bathrobes, and a large combination shower/tub. All rooms have Internet access (though it can be spotty), a flat-screen TV, a work desk, a sitting area, a stocked minibar, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. Some rooms can be adjoined for families and larger groups. The rooms under the night club are a bit noisy and there is some outside noise as the hotel is situated right under the jet path from the airport.

The hotel has four restaurants -- the Metro, which serves a large buffet breakfast spread (not included), as well as lunch and dinner; the scenic Aurora Lounge, which serves late-night snacks and drinks all night long; Aurora by the Pool, which offers all-day snacks and drinks, as well as brunch, by the rooftop pool; and the lobby cafe, with its around-the-clock light bites -- as well as Mistakes, the ground-floor bar, which does serve some food, but is in its element as a late-night nightclub with weekly live music. The rooftop pool is quite popular, as are the high-tech fitness center and the spa, with its range of treatments, as well as a sauna, steam room, and hot tub. There is free Internet throughout the hotel, though it is spotty in places, as well a business center, meeting rooms, 24-hour reception, babysitting, and laundry service.