Residence & Spa at One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai

The Residence & Spa is the most upscale of the three hotels forming the One&Only Royal Mirage resort. Yet, because of its intimate scale, it lacks the grandeur usually associated with luxury hotels (albeit guests still have access to the property's alternate lodging areas and facilities). This complex occupies a 1-km stretch of Jumeirah Beach, about 30 minutes from downtown Dubai.
The two-story hotel is approached through the resort's extensive gardens dotted with sculptures that carry the Arabian fantasy theme and the Residence's private driveway dotted with palm trees. The stairs behind the small front desk lead down to the lounge and the dining room overlooking a decorative pool and the sea. This is the place where an elaborate afternoon tea is served daily. A selection of restaurants and bars can be found next door at the Residence's siblings Palace and Arabian Court that are part of the Royal Mirage resort. While guests have to trek over to the neighboring grounds for a bite, many appreciate the added exclusivity from outside guests that this slight distance provides.
In addition to the pool, the tennis courts, the beach and the watersports center, the hotel boasts the sophisticated Health & Beauty Institute inside a building inspired by traditional desert architecture. The Givenchy Spa forms the heart of the Institute with its 12 treatment rooms. Guests have use of a gym, a hair salon and the impressive hammam steam bath. At the pool, lounging is especially sweet as staffers regularly provide fresh fruit, sorbet and chilled towels.
With only 50 rooms and suites, the Residence feels like the mansion of an affluent Arab friend. Standard rooms are 58 sq m and feature large baths with separate tub and shower. Their lavish decor and maple wood furnishings are true to the hotel's Oriental theme with luxuriously soft carpeting. Each room faces the sea and has its own terrace. Suites are very generous in size and boast spacious living rooms, large beds and huge baths with makeup mirrors, designer toiletries and hair dryers. The traditional amenities are in place such as large desks with dual-line phones with data ports and voice mail, high-speed Internet access, safes and fresh fruit replenished daily. The hotel's top accommodation in the Garden Villa spreads over 300 sq m and features a private garden and its own temperature-controlled pool.