When you see the slogan “Made in Italy”, it’s often associated with legendary designers, beautiful sports cars and, of course, fabulous food. Italians are well known for their luxurious exports – but none more so than their fashion.
One brand that was born in Italy but has since become a global name is Bulgari. And, after making its name in the realm of luxury goods, the centuries-old company is now a player in the world of hospitality.
Bulgari Hotels & Resorts boasts a portfolio of swish hotels in some of the world’s most fashionable destinations, including Milan, London, Bali, Shanghai and Paris. Soon-to-open properties include Rome, Tokyo, Miami Beach and Los Angeles.
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In December 2017, Dubai was added to Bulgari’s hospitality offering. Located at Jumeirah Bay, a manmade seahorse-shaped island connected by a bridge to the mainland, Bulgari Resort Dubai is a huge property which features a hotel, residences, private villas, a beach club and the brand’s first ever marina and yacht club.
I spent a night there to assess whether Italian luxury could really be found on the coast of the Emirates…
Inside one of the deluxe beach view rooms
(Image credit: Mike Starling)
Why stay here
The hotel’s pride in being “Made in Italy” was obvious to me almost as soon as I arrived at the Bulgari Resort Dubai. The majority of the staff members I spoke to were Italian; here, you are as likely to be welcomed with a “ciao” as you are a “merhaba” or a “hello”.
The real Italian luxury, however, can be found in the interior design and furnishings of the resort’s buildings, which are comprised of 101 hotel rooms and suites, and 20 villas. Designed by Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, the resort and residences occupy 123,000 square metres of the island.
My deluxe beach view room was full of branded Bulgari products and designer furniture which replicate an upmarket Italian hotel. The bed and bedding was ultra-comfy and the bathroom, which featured a freestanding tub and rainforest-style shower, had plenty of toiletries and accessories.
Furnishings included stylish lighting, designer tables, fashion-themed books, a sofa, yoga mat, artworks and a contemporary desk with a workspace. Outside, the private balcony had a decent sitting area with views of the Arabian Gulf, beach and pool.
The mini-bar/fridge is a thing of beauty
(Image credit: Mike Starling)
One big highlight of the room was the Bulgari mini-bar. This custom-designed leather trunk, which contained a fridge full of Italian food and drink, was the ultimate piece of designer furniture. Due to its size and weight I was unable to sneak it into my suitcase on check-out, which was a real pity...
For a bit of Italian R&R, the resort also has a beach club with pools, a bar, a kids’ club and private cabanas, while the Bulgari Spa features an indoor pool, vitality pool, treatment rooms and hammam.
Should you wish to purchase some Bulgari jewellery or luxury products, then there’s also a number of boutique stores located inside the hotel.
The terrace at Il Caffé
(Image credit: Bulgari Hotels & Resorts)
Eating and drinking
In July this year, the Michelin Guide announced Dubai’s first ever Michelin-starred restaurants. Two were awarded two stars, nine were awarded one star and 14 were awarded a Bib Gourmand.
Of the 11 restaurants in Dubai given Michelin stars, two can be found at the Bulgari Resort. The two-star Il Ristorante-Niko Romito was described by the Guide as an “uber-cool, stylish and understated” Italian restaurant. One-star Japanese restaurant Hōseki, located on the fourth floor of the hotel, has just nine seats and was described as a “little gem”.
As well as the Michelin-starred options, the Bulgari Resort is home to many restaurants and bars. Il Caffé is where in-house guests can enjoy a superb breakfast (definitely go for the smoked salmon and avo on toast) and it also serves Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes throughout the day.
Outside near the beach and pool, you’ll find La Spiaggia, a restaurant serving antipasti, pasta, pizza, grilled items, sandwiches and desserts. And over at the marina, the Yacht Club Restaurant specialises in fish and Italian dishes.
Afternoon tea can be enjoyed at the Bulgari Lounge, while the Bulgari Bar – located in the same space as Il Ristorante-Niko Romito – is perfect for a pre-dinner aperitif, sundowner cocktail or light bite.
La Galleria is one of the boutique retail outlets at the resort
(Image credit: Bulgari Hotels & Resorts)
Out and about
Just a 25-minute drive from Dubai International Airport, the Bulgari Resort’s central location in the Jumeirah 2 area of the city puts it within easy reach of the Creek, Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa, Business Bay, Jumeirah Beach and Kite Beach.
While Italy boasts heritage and history spanning thousands of years, Dubai, a “new city”, often gets accused of “having no culture”. That is simply wrong, because you only need to head down to the Creek to find the old town and historical museums to wander around. At the Creek you will also find the gold, spice, perfume and textile souks (markets), which are definitely worth a day exploring.
Shoppers can also get their fashion fix at Dubai Mall or Mall of the Emirates, while golfers can tee off at some of the world’s top courses, including Emirates Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
Bulgari Resort Dubai, Jumeirah Bay Island, Jumeirah 2, Dubai, UAE. During the winter months, rooms start from AED 6,500 (£1,571) per night and villas start from AED 29,500 (£7,132) per night; bulgarihotels.com
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Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.
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