If you're looking to explore the cultural side of old Dubai, then Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek is the best place to stay
You know we love a good hotel. From Four Seasons Hotel Shenzhen to The Bale, Phnom Penh to our very own The Fleming in Wan Chai, there’s nothing quite like a good hotel to make a holiday. Opened in 1975, and the first 5-star hotel property in Dubai, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek has a long and coloured history as the grand dame of the neighbourhood. Featuring 288 guestrooms, each with a view of the vibrant creek itself, the hotel is the perfect spot to base yourself in the heart of culture in Dubai.
Location, location, location
Smack-bang across from the creek and just a 15-minute from the gold souk and the perfume souq, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek is where you want to stay if you want to experience that cultural side of the city. Step outside, and you can easily see the historic Al Fahidi Village on the other side of the water and a range of museums and historic locations are within easy driving distance.
Rooms at Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek
With each room having recently had a facelift, we enjoyed staying in the Grand Suite, with access to the lounge. We had not just one but three small balconies looking out onto the creek, where we could enjoy a coffee in the morning and watch the abras ferry people across the waterway.
The bed was so comfortable that some mornings we didn’t want to leave it, but that’s a pretty good complaint when it comes to hotel rooms. It was nice having historic photos of old Dubai dotted throughout the rooms, and the TV situation was insane, with two huge screens available in the bedroom and the lounge, both able to stream content from our own devices.
The food situation
Breakfast is served in one of the 15 restaurants at the property and has everything you could possibly want for (and more.) We particularly enjoyed the Indian and Middle Eastern offerings and must have eaten our weight in dates during the time we were there.
If you have access to the club lounge, then they also serve a smaller option for breakfast with some delicious dishes. Be sure to pop up for afternoon tea (complete with scones) and happy hour too, as watching the sunset over the creek is just lovely.
Of the other restaurants, we couldn’t possibly have tried them all, but the one we loved the most was Shabestan, which – we found out after our meal – is frequented by the royal family themselves at least once a month. With its live music and friendly staff, it’s easy to see why this Persian spot is a bit of an institution in Dubai. The current chef is the son of the chef who opened the restaurant and the food is elegant and flavourful, obviously prepared with love.
Wellness and sustainability
Head up to the swimming pool when you need to cool off or catch some rays, or go and get sweaty at the massive gym, complete with squash court. The spa offers a variety of treatments, including massages, facials and more, but one of the most impressive things about the property is that it heats its entire water supply with solar panel, a pretty smart move for a hotel that is essentially located in the desert!
Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, Baniyas Road, Deira, Dubai, 476, United Arab Emirates