A city like Dubai is hard to define, it offers something for everyone, including those that have a flare for art and design. In this two-day guide, the MICHELIN Guide recommends the best places to eat, stay and play around the city. This design-oriented itinerary takes you around different parts of Dubai, where you’ll be able to discover the city’s popular spots a fashion and art enthusiast will surely love.
In just 50 years, Dubai’s skyline has massively transformed with unique towers and buildings decorating the city every couple of months. Architects and designers took advantage of the city’s blank canvas and innovatively built beautifully structured skyscrapers across the city throughout the years, leaving visitors, expats and locals in awe of their surroundings. The city’s urban design is cohesively complemented by its art galleries and fashion hotspots. Those who have an appreciation for art, fashion and design are able to discover local and international artists’ and fashion designers’ collections in one-of-a-kind locations.
From shopping in glistening Downtown Dubai and the Palm Jumeirah, to staying in expertly designed five-star MICHELIN Guide hotels in the city and resorts along the coast, eating in some of city’s most renowned MICHELIN-starred restaurants located in architectural landmarks, and visiting neighbourhoods celebrating the city’s community and culture offers travellers with a taste for design and art must-see spots on every corner.
Take advantage of the city with this two-day itinerary that showcases some of Dubai’s elegant restaurants and hotels recommended by the MICHELIN Guide.
Day 1 – Design discoveries around the city
Morning
Start your trip by checking in to the ever-so fashionable, Armani Hotel. Not only was it designed by the legendary Italian fashion designer, Giorgio Armani, but it is also nestled inside the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa. High ceilings and signature Armani greys and neutrals chicly decorate the common areas and rooms, boasting an opulence synonymous with the brand’s Milanese heritage. Centrally located in Downtown Dubai, the hotel peers over Dubai Mall and its iconic fountain show, especially if you book the Armani Signature Suite located on the 38th floor.
Lunch and afternoon
Before heading out to lunch, take a 5-minute stroll along the Boulevard and head over to Fashion Avenue at Dubai Mall. Be sure to treat yourself to a shopping spree in some of the world’s most loved luxury brands, including Hermes, Rolex, Prada – to name a few. There, you’ll find some exclusive and one-of-a-kind pieces made for each store.
For lunch, make your way to Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel, an iconic landmark sitting along Jumeirah Beach Road’s shores. At first glance, the world’s first and only seven-star hotel’s façade is uniquely shaped like a sail seemingly floating on water, while its interiors are decadently designed to celebrate Arabian extravagance in true maximalist form. Take the elevator to the 27th floor to enjoy one MICHELIN star French restaurant, Al Muntaha. Opt for a table by the floor-to-ceiling windows to dine while relishing in scenic views of the city.
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After lunch, we suggest walking around the trendy Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz for some artistic inspiration. Home to many local art galleries, designers, cafes and small shops, this area is known to have unique spots design lovers will appreciate. It’s a space where emerging artists and entrepreneurs in Dubai and the region come together to share their culture and stories with a like-minded community.
Dinner and late evening
Head back to your hotel to wind down and refresh after long day. Once you’re ready for dinner, visit the hotel’s one MICHELIN star restaurant, Armani Ristorante. In similar fashion, the restaurant exudes chic and modern Italian style. Marbled walls and neutral tones are found all over the space, and modern Italian dishes are prepared with precision and beautifully presented on each plate. Our inspectors recommend trying the tasting menu for the full Armani experience.
The night is still young, and you don’t need to go too far for a nightcap. On the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, MICHELIN-selected, At.Mosphere, is the perfect spot to have some drinks with panoramic views of the city. Eclectic gold accents and plush, velvet furniture is on par with the place’s overall high-end ambiance.
Day 2 – Coastal adventures with a cultural touch
Morning and breakfastFollowing a restful night’s sleep, time to check out and head to the next destination by the beach: Bulgari Resort Dubai. A low-rise complex on the Jumeirah Bay peninsula, this resort was designed by the Bulgari group’s esteemed interior masterminds, Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel, who bring their contemporary and elegant Milanese style to the Middle East. Rooms and common areas tastefully blend Mashrabiya patterns mixed with high-end Italian design elements, with views of city’s blue coastline.
Once settled, take a trip to Al Jaddaf Waterfront for brunch and cultural immersion at Bib Gourmand and Green Star, Teible. Local and sustainably sourced ingredients are integral to the restaurant’s seasonal menu. Serving a range of creative breakfast and lunch dishes, including freshly baked goods in a minimally designed setting. Right next door is the Jameel Arts Centre, a contemporary exhibition space supporting young, local artists from around the region and South Asia.
Lunch and afternoon
Next up is a journey to the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai’s famous palm-shaped peninsula to visit the ultra-luxe Atlantis the Royal hotel. Grand and dramatic from the outside in, the hotel lobby design references water elements with an 11-metre water droplet sculpture at the centre and hundreds of drop-like light fixtures adorning the ceiling, an aquarium wall and fountains extended outside the lobby. It’s more than just a stay, it’s a shopping destination that also houses exclusive collections from such as Valentino and Louis Vuitton, as well as high-end jewellery brands like Graff, and premium home goods from Tanagra.
As you wrap up your shopping session around the hotel, grab some lunch and indulge in the Persian flavours of MICHELIN-selected, Ariana’s Persian Kitchen. A feminine touch is well present in the design of the restaurant and on the plates. A large dome ceiling is paired with blush pinks, a copper oven, stained glass windows and Persian accents throughout the restaurant, while rich, homey yet beautifully plated dishes adorn the menu. The pistachio soup is an inspector’s favourite, complemented by generous portions of grilled meats and traditional baklavas.
A busy morning and afternoon calls for a little “me-time.” Make your way to Business Bay’s The Lana by Dorchester Collection, where you can treat yourself to Dubai’s first ever Dior Spa experience. Light and spacious interiors with notable Dior accents are at the forefront of the design of the spa. Located on the 29th floor, it offers views of the city centre, as well as signature spa treatments, ranging from hydrafacials to sculpting massages, all ideal for serene relaxation. Opt for Escale, the spa’s exclusive Japanese-inspired massage treatment.
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Dinner and late night
As soon are you’re done with getting pampered, get back at the resort, freshen up and get ready for a one MICHELIN star Japanese omakase experience at Hōseki. Six-generation sushi chef, Masahiro Sugiyama, and his team show off their incredible knife skills, which is an art on its own. The intimate restaurant, which seats nine, will ensure your experience is personalised and refined, offering fresh ingredients imported straight from Japan.
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End your second night with a drink in Dubai’s famous financial district, where business types and partygoers frequent on a daily and nightly basis. On the way there, make sure to take the road passing near the Museum of the Future, an asymmetric eye-shaped building with Arabic calligraphy engraved all around it, which is beautifully lit up at night. Once you arrive, we recommend grabbing a nightcap at MICHELIN-selected, Zuma. The lounge area of the restaurant is a buzzing space ideal for some dancing and signature cocktails to end the night!
And that’s how you can spend two days in Dubai as design and arts lover!
Narrowing down the things to do in Dubai is no easy feat, there is so much to see and explore. The city is filled with so many creative spaces and is a playground for artists of all industries to add their special touch to the vibrant landscape. As it continues to grow and develop, Dubai cements itself as a destination where art and design thrive!
Illustration image credit: Visit Dubai, Dubai Tourism Board
