W Dubai Mina Seyahi hotel review: a laidback five-star fantasy

The jewel of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai certainly doesn’t want for hotels. Its beaches are lined with swish luxury digs and, inland, its Downtown urban heart is dense with branded skyscraper stays. But with such a wealth of options, it can be tricky to sort the great from the generic; the magnificent from the mediocre.

W Dubai Mina Seyahi isn’t for everyone, but that’s rather the point. In attitude it’s more irreverent and laidback than some of the city’s more lavish digs; the kids, if you have them, will have to stay at home; and, in its location, it’s geared more towards those who want to dive into Dubai’s heady delights, as opposed to hide away behind door-manned gates.

Why come here?

W Dubai Mina Seyahi sets itself apart by not trying to be all things to all people. This adults-only resort may be five-star, but it shirks off much of the pomp of its neighbours.

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In keeping with the W brand, there are no gilded chandeliers or whisper-quiet formal reception areas – instead, the mood is youthful and playful. Here, the Arabian Nights-inspired design plays its part, with floating carpets, snake-basket-inspired feature walls and crystal storybook pages hovering mid-air; restrained, it is not.

In the guest rooms, leather headboards nod to traditional dhow boats, while dazzlingly coloured pendant lights are modelled on those seen in the city’s souks. It’s all something of a fantasy – a feast for those hungry for escape.

With 318 rooms spread across a 31-floor new build, it’s a sizeable property and one with ample amenities, including a stylish pool area with views across the harbour and along the restaurant-heavy stretch of JBR – a neighbourhood of Dubai popular with holidaymakers and expats.

Part of the wider Mina Seyahi complex, which also encompasses a Westin and Le Méridien, guests can take advantage of facilities across any of the hotels, from a boisterous waterpark to private loungers on the sands of Jumeriah Beach, offering even more bang for buck.

Eating and drinking

At the W, there’s a trio of spots to see guests from day to night and into the wee hours.

At the all-day-dining Ginger Moon, the mood is that of a beach club, minus the beach – with woven chairs, swaying foliage and eclectically printed fabrics. It’s here that a buffet breakfast is served, overlooking the wrinkling waters of the Persian Gulf. By lunch and into evening, the menu leans mostly on top drawer seafood and salads, with the odd wagyu or lamb dish for those who prefer turf to surf.

For a more elevated experience, both literally and figuratively, the rooftop Attiko is billed as a “social supper club”, a place to meet for sundowners with pan-Asian small bites. One of a group that also includes locations in Bodrum and Bali, this Attiko is a vaguely glitzy affair, with Instagram-ready cocktails and DJs carrying guests through into the late night as the panoramic Dubai skyline dances with manmade light.

Lastly, the lobby-adjacent Farrago is the place to head for lower key imbibement, a tropically wallpapered drinking den dealing in smart, prettily presented serves.

Things to do

Yes, the hotel has a spa, gym and pool where guests can be pummelled, pound the treadmill or take a plunge, but it’s all fare one would expect of a five-star property. And while holing up might afford the respite some seek, the W Dubai Mina Seyahi benefits from a prime location close to Dubai Marina and The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence – a lengthy promenade creaking at the joins with restaurants and retail.

For the adventurous, Skydive Dubai is a short walking distance, the starting point for those who subsequently want to fling themselves from a plane, with the fronds of The Palm arching below. Also nearby, the 250 metre high Bluewaters Island Ferris Wheel is the largest in the world, with 48 air-conditioned capsules offering 360-degree views of the city and Persian Gulf.

How to get there

The hotel is 30 minutes’ drive from Dubai International Airport, with ample flight options from most major UK airports.

Harry McKinley was a guest of W Dubai Mina Seyahi. Rooms start from £181 per night, low season (August); from £694 per night in high (November); marriot.com