Assessment: The Dubai EDITION Lodge

On this journey I had simply 24 hours in Dubai, so I made a decision to remain on the Dubai EDITION. The 275-room resort opened in November 2021.

There have been two causes I made a decision to remain right here. To begin with, it was deal (as most lodges in Dubai are in summer season). Second of all, I used to be sort of anticipating the resort to be a sizzling mess, and I figured OMAAT readers would take pleasure in that. I assumed that due to the drama associated with the resort’s opening, the place it was going to open underneath a special model, as a result of it wasn’t as much as EDITION model requirements initially.

Nicely, I’m comfortable to report that the Dubai EDITION drastically exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations. It is a stable resort that gives good elite recognition. I’d say the primary factor I didn’t love is that the general public areas really feel a bit extra clubby than I’d favor — it nearly feels extra like a W than an EDITION.

Reserving the Dubai EDITION

I paid 800 AED (~$218) for my one evening on the Dubai EDITION. Better of all, I booked via the Marriott STARS program, which provided extra perks, together with a $100 property credit score and complimentary breakfast (which is effective, since Bonvoy elite members don’t in any other case obtain free breakfast at EDITION).

As some extent of comparability, the resort would have price a staggering 74,500 Bonvoy factors if redeeming factors. I worth Bonvoy factors at 0.7 cents every, that means an award keep would have price the equal of ~$522. One thing appears very damaged with award pricing, if that’s the dynamic low season pricing (particularly for the reason that resort was nowhere near full, so presumably Marriott’s reimbursement fee would have been very low).

Dubai EDITION location

The EDITION is situated in downtown Dubai. The resort is a few 20 minute drive from Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB), and only a quick stroll from the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa. The streets across the resort aren’t essentially very best for strolling, however I’d say it’s nonetheless a reasonably central location.

Everybody involves Dubai for various issues. Many deal with Dubai as a seaside vacation spot, by which case this isn’t the place to remain. I view Dubai extra as being a cosmopolitan metropolis and I respect easy accessibility to good eating places and the airport, so I like staying in DIFC, close to the creek, or downtown.

Dubai EDITION foyer & check-in

The Dubai EDITION has a quite putting foyer, with very excessive ceilings and a cool design. There’s a spiral staircase that goes up a number of flooring, which supplies you a way of simply how excessive the ceilings listed below are. The foyer has loads of seating, and within the evenings there are many candles on, which is the first type of lighting within the foyer.

Reception was situated inside the doorway and to the left. My arrivals expertise was nice — as I pulled up in a taxi, a bellman helped me with my bag and escorted me to check-in. The affiliate checking me in was pleasant, and shortly referred to as the visitor relations supervisor, who greeted me.

She thanked me for being a Bonvoy Titanium member and for reserving via the Marriott STARS program. She knowledgeable me that whereas the usual suite improve can be to a superior suite, on this event they’d improve me to a deluxe suite, because it was my first keep on the resort.

It was good to obtain a proactive suite improve, since that doesn’t occur all that always at Marriotts, even when a resort isn’t full. And earlier than anybody thinks that I used to be getting particular blogger therapy, Toby booked a keep right here for a similar evening. He’s additionally a Bonvoy Titanium member and booked simply hours upfront, and acquired an an identical improve and clarification.

Quickly sufficient I used to be issued a key for room 1918, my suite on the nineteenth flooring (the resort has 23 flooring).

Dubai EDITION one bed room suite

The Dubai EDITION has lengthy and glossy hallways, and my room was situated on the finish of the corridor on the left.

Deluxe suites are marketed as being 76 sq. meters (818 sq. ft), so that they’re very generously sized. The design was nice, and precisely consistent with the everyday EDITION aesthetic. The suite had a big front room with a sofa, two chairs, espresso desk, TV, and a eating space with a sales space and a bench.

Ready on the espresso desk was a welcome amenity for having booked via the Marriott STARS program, which included a fruit plate and a few macarons.

Again close to the doorway was the minibar space, which had a espresso machine, a kettle, and a mini-fridge. There wasn’t really something within the minibar.

Then there was a half tub again close to the doorway to the room.

The bed room was separated from the lounge by two sliding doorways (one on either side of the TV). There was a snug king measurement mattress, and it had the everyday EDITION ornamental blanket, which personally I discover sort of disgusting…

There was a floor-to-ceiling glass defend separating the lavatory from the bed room, although there was a curtain that may very well be pulled for full privateness. The toilet was giant, and had double sinks, a soaking tub, an enormous walk-in bathe, and a rest room and bidet.

Toiletries had been from Le Labo, and had been in reusable containers. The containers had been good about dishing out liquids, so I fairly favored this setup.

Close to the lavatory was an extra closet space.

The suite had two separate balconies, one in all which had a desk with chairs.

The view from the room was cool, as you would see the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, although the Tackle Lodge does barely hinder the view.

All-in-all, what a improbable suite and nice improve. The resort scores excellent factors in relation to the rooms, which was a pleasing shock.

Dubai EDITION spa & gymnasium

The Dubai EDITION’s spa and gymnasium are each on the second flooring. I didn’t have an opportunity to make use of the spa on my one evening keep, so all I can actually report on is that it exists (oddly the resort’s web site nonetheless claims that that is solely “coming quickly”).

The resort had a wonderful 24/7 gymnasium, with loads of cardio and weight tools.

Dubai EDITION pool

The Dubai EDITION’s pool is on the second flooring as properly. As talked about above, this isn’t a resort I’d keep at in case your main purpose is to have a seaside or pool trip. I’d say the EDITION has an honest pool for a metropolis resort, however that’s about it. Observe that due to the peak of the constructing, the pool is within the shade a lot of the day — personally I’d think about that to be a constructive, however that’s simply me. The pool space additionally has nice views.

Additionally on the pool deck is Thia Skylounge, which is basically the pool bar on the resort. It’s open every day from 11AM till 12AM, so it’s additionally meant to be a spot you go even once you’re not swimming. There’s even a DJ within the evenings, although after I checked it out at round 8PM, there have been no company there. Yow will discover the menu right here and the beverage checklist right here.

Dubai EDITION DUOMO Restaurant (dinner)

DUOMO is the Dubai EDITION’s Italian restaurant, open every day for lunch and dinner. It’s situated simply off the foyer, and the inside is impressed by Piazza Del Duomo in Milan.

Now that is the place the resort begins to really feel like a W to me. The restaurant is described as bringing “palatial luxurious and timeless Italian sophistication to the guts of Dubai,” but in addition guarantees a “multi-sensory realm of grandeur, class, and delight.”

Lengthy story quick, the ceiling of the restaurant is consistently displaying completely different creative shows. Don’t get me unsuitable, it’s a extremely cool idea, however my gosh, I used to be getting a headache after like 20 minutes. The distinction in lighting depth was enormous, and the restaurant additionally had loud music. I nearly felt like I used to be consuming in a nightclub quite than a restaurant.

On the plus facet, I’m comfortable to report that the meals within the restaurant was wonderful. We had been served some bread initially of our meal, together with olive oil and balsamic French dressing.

Toby and I every ordered a drink from the cocktail checklist, which we loved.

So far as good goes, yow will discover the menu right here. To start out we ordered a margherita pizza to share, which was among the many greatest pizzas I’ve had in Dubai.

Then we determined to separate two mains — we had the salmon and the gnocchi, each of which we loved.

Meals apart, as is all too typically the case in Dubai, I wouldn’t in any other case name this a high-quality eating expertise. The service was not nice from begin to end.

To begin with, after we confirmed up on the restaurant they had been going forwards and backwards as as to if or not they might accommodate us, and saved us ready. I had stated that we had been resort company after we arrived, and reiterated that later, at which level the host stated “properly it’s best to have instructed me that” (which I did). By no means thoughts that the restaurant was almost empty whereas we had been consuming there.

The service wasn’t a lot better as soon as we had been seated. Nobody got here to our desk for a very long time, then when a server did come to our desk he merely requested “are you able to order?” with no introduction or character. Then as soon as we ordered, our pizza was introduced out earlier than the drinks even arrived. Then we nonetheless needed to flag down servers for any additional requests.

Dubai EDITION Jolie Restaurant (breakfast)

Jolie is the Dubai EDITION’s all-day eating restaurant, and it’s situated on the mezzanine stage. It’s presupposed to be a French-inspired restaurant, and it’s additionally the place breakfast is served. Since we booked via Marriott STARS, our fee included breakfast.

The restaurant legitimately has a really cute design, although lacks pure gentle.

In case your fee contains breakfast on the EDITION, there’s a particular set menu. Often I favor the liberty to only order no matter I’d like, however on this case I assumed it was a reasonably beneficiant setup, so it labored for me.

To drink, I had a pineapple juice and americano, whereas Toby had an orange juice and flat white. I’d be aware that whereas the menu says you will get “one” of every, we had been provided refills for each (we declined, however I assume they might have been included as properly).

For starters, I chosen the selfmade granola with yogurt, whereas Toby had the charcuterie and fromage.

For mains, I chosen the shakshuka, whereas Toby had the avocado tartine with feta cheese.

We loved the breakfast, and the service was very pleasant as properly.

Dubai EDITION service

As is frequent in Dubai, I discovered service to be a blended bag.

The check-in expertise was nice, with a greeting from the visitor relations supervisor, and normal acknowledgment of standing. Try was a special story. Toby and I had requested to have our dinner invoice cut up, since we every had a $100 credit score to spend. The server stated we must always simply put each of our room numbers on the verify, and he’d spilt them within the system.

Nicely, your entire cost ended up on my room. So we defined this to the entrance desk agent — we every had a 375 AED credit score, and dinner was 573 AED, so it needs to be lined between the rooms (minus tip). The affiliate was pleasant and was making an attempt to be useful. Nevertheless, it took over 20 minutes for her to kind this out, and I can’t even rely how typically she reprinted the invoice, nonetheless not fixing the difficulty (which is that there needs to be no cost on both room for that dinner, minus tip). She mainly simply saved transferring the fees between rooms.

So far as service in any other case goes, service at dinner wasn’t nice, whereas it was pleasant at breakfast.

So I’d say service was kind of common for Dubai, sadly a far cry from the service I had on the Waldorf Astoria DIFC, which is the final place I stayed in Dubai.

Backside line

I’m comfortable I had the prospect to take a look at the Dubai EDITION, and the resort positively exceeded my expectations. The rooms had been lovely and elite recognition was good. On high of all that, the resort keep was in fact fairly a deal, however that’s the great thing about Dubai in summer season. Should you’re prepared to go, you may keep in some nice lodges for subsequent to nothing.

All that being stated, I can’t assist however really feel considerably lukewarm concerning the resort. If you wish to be downtown and are a Marriott loyalist, I’d suggest this resort. I didn’t take pleasure in this keep as a lot as my Waldorf Astoria DIFC keep, although, so I’m unsure I’d return (admittedly that’s partly as a result of Dubai has limitless lodges, and it’s all the time good to attempt one thing new).

What do you make of the Dubai EDITION?