Movenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach

This hotel is very similar to other properties in Jumeirah Beach Residence, all aimed at beachgoers who wish to stay in this tourist-oriented area of Dubai. The Moevenpick’s lobby underscores its northern European roots with light wood paneling, graphic patterned rugs, low-lying curved couches, and snappy design chandeliers hung from the high ceilings for an overall effect of elegant leisure. The exterior of the building itself is a fairly standard stucco mid-rise affair, and the on-site restaurants are really formalized buffet dining halls.

The hotel is separated from the waterfront by The Walk, a pedestrian area lined with cafes and restaurants, on the other side of which sits a clean public beach. Guests have noted that this area may be particularly loud in the daytime due to ongoing seaside construction, though generally speaking the location is perfect for beach-going tourists wishing to sample a few different restaurants and cafes without the need for a taxi. Downtown attractions like The Dubai Mall are about a 20-minute cab ride north. There’s also a nearby trolley linked to the city’s public transportation system, which will get visitors to the downtown area in more than an hour. The airport is also more than an hour north via public transport with a transfer, or less than half an hour by car.

Leather and chrome mid-century modern chairs, wall-to-wall discreet graphic carpeting, chenille throws, heavy doors in light wood, and wood-paneled headboards mounted with LED reading lights all continue the Nordic combination of taste and functionality present in the rest of the hotel. Bathrooms have separate walk-in showers surrounded by frosted glass walls and ceramic tubs, some situated next to picture windows with plantation shades that open out onto the sleeping area.

All rooms have small balconies with seating, coffee and tea facilities, stocked minibars, flat-screen TVs, work areas, armchairs, plenty of outlets, safes, and hairdryers, among other amenities. Larger rooms include full separate living areas with wood floors, TVs in individual rooms, double-sink vanities, free breakfasts, and free airport transfers.

The wood-floored fitness center includes a handful of treadmills, ellipticals, and weight machines as well as free weights. An adjacent locker room features plenty of places to sit as well as a dry sauna. The Body Talk Wellnes Centre has a sizable roster of therapeutic treatments with practitioners. A spacious pool has plenty of sun loungers and shaded areas flanked by an outdoor patio. For corporate travelers, there are meeting rooms with audiovisual capabilities and executive tables and a small business center with printing capabilities. Dining options include Chinwaggery + Soul Bar, Lounge & Restaurant -- which houses a global selection of wines and a New York-style brasserie -- and The Talk Restaurant, known for the variety of its cuisine and a memorable Friday brunch. Falls Lobby Lounge & Terrace, located in the main lobby, has a rich selection of desserts.