Hotel The H

As the first hotel on the City's main road, The H has the coveted address of One Sheikh Zayed Road. In the heart of the fashionable new business district, the hotel is a short drive from the city's main convention centres and is within a 20 minute drive of the international airport.

The H is without doubt one of the best, if not the best, hotel in the city. With its exceptional standards in all departments, it is an all-round winner. The lavish, elegant interiors are the highlight of the hotel. The designers are Quen Chui and Hazel Wong who have succeeded in making The H exude sophistication and quality.

From the exterior, the 33 storey hotel looks like your average glass and aluminium Dubai structure but inside is another world. The very large, high ceilinged lobby, despite its shopping centre size, feels intimate and stepping does not feel daunting for the first time visitor. The entire lobby is kitted out in a warm honey-coloured marble and the atrium ceiling is veiled with elegant cream sails to keep the lobby cool. In the centre of the lobby is a low dais, where guests can find the coffee shop, Arcadia, which large potted palm trees seal off from the rest of the activity. And talking about activity, there was hardly any at all, despite the hotel running on full capacity because the staff is so efficient. There were no guests hanging around, impatiently waiting to check in or out. The marble floors are sliced with rosewood in some places which helps to add warmth to what could have easily been an oversized, sterile, and unappealing space. The reception is to the left of the entrance and instead of it being one long desk, there are several individual desks. Guests will also notice large colourful abstract paintings dotted around the hotel; these pieces are original works by local artist, Ismad Zuhera. The paintings add a personal touch to the public areas of the hotel which gives it that extra je ne sais quoi which further distinguishes the hotel from the rest.

Most of the restaurants are found on the ground floor dotted off different angles of the lobby, such as Mizaan, the cocktail bar, One on One. Restaurants are also located along the first floor gallery, where guests will find Diademas, the swanky hotel cigar lounge, as well as the very fashionable Okku, serving divine Japanese dishes and the popular Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

As if it wasn't enough, the hotel also has a Quantum Health Club with daily exercise classes, a beautiful outdoor pool, sauna and Jacuzzi, and an opulent Mandara Spa to top it all off. Nothing falters here.

There is nothing meretricious about The H Hotel, as every detail has been paid attention to with great care and the finishing touches have been executed with quality in mind.

There are 183 sumptuous rooms divided into six categories: Deluxe, Executive, Executive Suites, two Presidential Suites, a Sky Suite and a Monarch Suite. There are also 53 Deluxe Serviced Residences for long-term stays. All rooms are extremely tastefully decorated with a strong Arabic influence in mind, whilst staying contemporary. Most rooms have rosewood floors and exposed beams on the ceilings, as well as large floor-to-ceiling windows letting in plenty of light and boasting magnificent views of the city, all the way to Jumeirah. Even the lead-in category, the Deluxe, is well worth it with its beautiful leather-topped furniture, lavish colourful silk fabrics, wireless internet and open-plan layout. The size ranges from 50 to 64m².

All rooms also have solid pear wood furniture, king-size beds adorned with the most luxurious Egyptian cotton linen. In every room the beds have a prominent headboard bearing a stone entablature inscribed with a romantic Arabic poem adding to the hotel's unique atmosphere. The indulgent bathrooms are also something to look forward to, with their large bay windows; guests can feel like they are floating above the city whilst bathing. The main different with the Executive rooms is the size which ranges from 56 to 64m², allowing space for an open plan sitting room area. They also have all-encompassing bathrooms with televisions screens. This category comes with a butler upon request. Our favourite room however, at a massive 250m², is the Sky Suite which hangs between The H's two towers. Attached only to one tower, the Sky Suite is really something that will make your mouth hang open is disbelief. The breathtaking views over the Satwa area right over to the ocean is the diamond in the crown. Needless to mention the meticulous care and attention to detail and décor over the room's two floors - it is a real feat of interior design.

All bathrooms have Salvador Ferragamo amenities for ladies and Essenza di Zegna for men which further reinforces the essence of luxury that flows throughout the hotel.

In terms of food and beverage outlets, guests will not go hungry or thirsty! There are seven restaurants and bars altogether. The international Mizaan, the Arcadia 24 hour coffee shop and the One on One Cocktail bar are all situated on the ground floor. The sophisticated Diademas Cigar Lounge, the very fashionable Okku Japanese restaurant, and the popular Ruth's Steakhouse can be found on the first floor, and the Quantum Pool bar is by the pool on the fourth floor. All outlets serve high quality products and boast an excellent standard of service. Our favourite was the extremely chic yet casual Okku restaurant with its jelly fish tanks hanging above the bar and sublime authentic and innovative Japanese food; definitely one to try out at lunch or dinner, even if you are not staying at the hotel. Reservations are compulsory for all the hotel's restaurants as they tend to get very full.