As Dubai gears up for Art Dubai, creativity is spilling far beyond the gallery walls. This year, it’s not just the exhibitions and art fairs commanding attention — the city’s MICHELIN-selected hotels and restaurants are stepping up as dynamic cultural players, transforming the way visitors experience both luxury and art. These spaces are becoming immersive canvases themselves, where architecture, design and gastronomy converge to tell compelling stories.
From thoughtfully curated art collections and interiors that blur the line between installation and function to exteriors that resemble sculptural masterpieces, these establishments offer more than just plush accommodations or curated standout menus. They invite guests to engage with art on multiple sensory levels — whether through a beautifully plated dish that feels like a painting or a hotel lobby that could double as a gallery.
Here’s a round-up of the city’s most art-forward hotels and restaurants — each offering a unique aesthetic experience that reflects the ever-evolving intersection of hospitality and culture.
RELATED: Desert Resorts in the Gulf to add to your bucket list
Stay
Find your hotel
The Lana's lobby is full of artworks curated by Gilles & Boissier. Image credit: The Lana - Dorchester Collection
The Lana, Dorchester Collection
The Lana is a living sculpture designed by Foster + Partners, with a mirrored façade that reflects Dubai’s skyline like an ever-changing piece of art. Inside, Gilles & Boissier curated the interiors to function as design installations, with sweeping marble staircases, minimalist lighting and custom-crafted furniture. Art takes centre stage with pieces by Atelier Alain Ellouz, making the hotel feel like a museum of precision and restraint, where European finesse meets the Middle East.
Signature Armani-designed spaces are present across the hotel. Image credit: Armani Hotel Dubai
Armani Hotel Dubai
Designed by fashion icon Giorgio Armani, the hotel embodies a gesamtkunstwerk — an all-encompassing work of art. With bespoke furnishings from Armani Casa and a muted colour palette, the space feels like a high-fashion editorial brought to life. The sensory design extends beyond sight, with custom flower arrangements and tactile details creating an immersive experience. It’s art through the lens of Armani’s iconic minimalist vision.
Massive, tree-like sculptures adorn the lobby area of Mandarin Oriental Jumeira. Image credit: Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira offers a serene fusion of nature and design, with coral-inspired chandeliers, wave-like ceiling features and living floral sculptures that evolve with the seasons. Sculptural lighting mimics sea life, and the spa treatments take inspiration from the balance and form found in nature. The hotel feels like an art gallery in constant bloom, where each space offers a tranquil, nature-infused experience.
Baroque-inspired maximalist designs catch your eye at every corner of the iconic Jumeirah Burj al Arab. Image credit: Jumeirah Burj al Arab/Jumeirah Group
Jumeirah Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab is a stunning monument to maximalist design, where handcrafted mosaics, gold leaf and rococo-inspired details dominate. Every surface is a work of art, from the Venetian-tiled columns to the sculptural spiral staircase. It is opulence redefined, with an Instagram-era twist —baroque decadence meets modern Dubai in a space that feels both timeless and flamboyant.
In this hotel-cum-gallery, art pieces can be enjoyed throughout. Image credit: XVA Art Hotel
XVA Art Hotel
XVA Art Hotel is a true gem in the heart of Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, where art and culture collide in a unique, intimate setting. Unlike typical luxury hotels, this boutique property doubles as an art gallery, showcasing a curated collection of contemporary Middle Eastern art throughout its spaces. The hotel itself feels like a living canvas, with each room featuring distinctive artwork by both regional and international artists. The minimalist interiors complement the artworks, creating an open, airy atmosphere that allows the art to take centre stage. The property also houses an art gallery that regularly hosts exhibitions, workshops and events, solidifying its position as an artistic hub.Eat
Japanese minimalist design perfectly blends with the contemporary Japanese dishes in Zuma. Image credit: Zuma
Zuma
MICHELIN-selected Zuma in DIFC marries sophisticated Japanese design with modern elegance, offering a dining experience that is as visually striking as it is gastronomic. The ambience features a fusion of minimalist and contemporary elements, with an open kitchen where guests can watch chefs at work. The visual appeal of both the interior and the dishes creates a feast for the eyes, blending the art of Japanese cuisine with captivating design.ALSO FEATURED IN: A guide to help you navigate through DIFC's many restaurants
A beautifully plated lobster tail course marries art with flavour at Trèsind Studio. Image credit: Shresth Maloo/Trèsind Studio
Trèsind Studio
At two-MICHELIN-star Trèsind Studio, located on The Palm Jumeirah, food becomes art. Each dish is a performance, with visual and sensory elements designed to engage both the eyes and the palate. The restaurant's immersive environment features interactive installations, and the choreography of textures, colours and flavours transforms dining into a multi-sensory experience, blurring the lines between food and fine art.
Vibrant Latin-inspired decor makes up the perfect backdrop for colourful Peruvian dishes at Coya. Image credit: Coya
Coya
MICHELIN-selected Coya is a celebration of vibrant Peruvian art and cuisine. The interiors are alive with Latin-inspired artworks, creating a dynamic backdrop for the dishes, which themselves are presented with intricate designs and bold colours. Each plate is a piece of art, carefully composed to mirror the energy and visual intensity of the restaurant’s surroundings.
Feminine aesthetic and intricate beauty of Persian culinary traditions are at the heart of Ariana's Persian Kitchen. Image credit: Atlantis The Royal /Ariana's Persian Kitchen
Ariana’s Persian Kitchen
This MICHELIN-selected restaurant reflects the feminine aesthetic and intricate beauty of Persian culinary traditions. The design incorporates soft, muted colours, intricate patterns and delicate textures, extending into the artful plating of each dish. Every element — decor, plating and presentation — is meticulously crafted to highlight the richness of Persian culture, making the experience both visually and culturally rich.
Graffiti-inspired Korean cranes adorn the walls of Akira Back's terrace. Image credit: Juliet Dunne/Akira Back
Akira Back
MICHELIN-selected Akira Back celebrates both culinary mastery and design. The restaurant’s interior is infused with cultural references and contemporary art, featuring graffiti-inspired Korean cranes and decorative broken tiles that pay homage to Japanese Kintsugi art. These design elements set the tone for the food, where every dish is presented as a work of art in itself.
Bold colours and cultural references create a visually rich environment at Bib Gourmand Indya by Vineet. Image credit: Adam Mowaki (MO4)/Indya by Vineet
Indya by Vineet
This Bib Gourmand eatery is a vibrant and eclectic fusion of Indian flavours and design. Featuring bold colours and cultural references, including a striking floor-to-ceiling Ganesh mural, the design creates a visually rich environment that enhances the flavours of Indian cuisine. The open, industrial-style space combines modern elements with traditional Indian touches, making dining here as much about the atmosphere as the food.DISCOVER MORE: MICHELIN-recommended restaurants near iconic landmarks in Dubai
Illustration image: XVA Art Hotel
