Day To Night At The Palace Downtown
No matter how many journeys you travel, how many sights you see, there will always be a place that burns in your memory and gives you an emotional pull back to the very same place those memories were made. My husband and I spent our first wedding anniversary at The Palace Hotel in Downtown Dubai (I’ve posted some throwback pictures at the end of the post), and four years later we returned with an adorable little man in tow!
Some hotels leave a complimentary nugget of chocolate on your pillow, but The Palace Downtown took it to a whole new level spoiling us with a candylicious array of treats that comprised of traditional Arabic sweets, macaroons, mini tarts, assorted chocolates and candy pops. What’s more, was the abundance of fresh fruit that looked too good, my husband at first thought they were just inedible display pieces! 🙂
It was the sweetest of welcomes, but what beat the candy rush was the view which had me so captivated, a picturesque visage of the lake shimmering under the sunlight, and the spectacular dancing fountains at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, from the private solace of our suite’s balcony.
Though sometimes mommy and daddy do like to spend some alone time together, we thought, we had that moment at The Palace Downtown four years ago, so why not share the experience with our son this time around? A new place is a new adventure for little Frey, always exploring, never tiring, and he made the in-room telephone his personal line. Imagine the room service attendants answering a call to a little voice that needs a baby translator! 🙂
Early afternoon is still quite hot in this part of the world, so if you’d like to just wind down till sunset to avoid the sun’s glare, you can enjoy a cup of coffee from the comfort of your balcony, or afternoon tea under the covers of your bed while you read a book or watch television.
We had breakfast at the all-day dining restaurant ‘Ewaan’ which transforms into a traditional Iftar venue during Ramadan, which we had the pleasure to dine at last year. With a wide selection of cereals, eggs made to order, fresh cut fruits, a medley of pastries, freshly squeezed juices, and hot beverages, Ewaan was the perfect start to our day.
We explored the property and took advantage of the picture-worthy spots around every corner. The beauty is in the details, from the distinguished pointed arches that mimic the shape of the brand mark, the arabesque wood carvings of the lavish staircase and interior wall panels, to the copious display of Arabian lanterns casting soft shadows on the walls of the palatial retreat.
As a guest of The Palace Downtown, you get front row privileges to marvel at the Dubai Fountain, which bursts into life right before sunset, that you can even feel a light spray of water kiss your face. And what an awe-inspiring sight!
The dancing fountains entertain you every 30 minutes from 6pm to 12am, and if you want to get closer, you can avail of an abra ride from The Dubai Mall next door. For a long stay, The Palace is a prime location, with the iconic giant, the Burj Khalifa right across to tick off your bucket list, and the Dubai Mall and Souq Al Bahar, a stone’s throw away for shopping and dining.
If you’re at The Palace for a short getaway, you don’t really need to go very far. Aside from escaping the crowd at The Dubai Fountain, you can also take advantage of the immaculate swimming pool that is open till 8pm, so you can soak in the water without soaking in the sun.
And if you’re in the mood for some fine dining with your special someone, The Palace Downtown has two signature restaurants: for a taste of Thai, book at table at Thiptara, but if you’re up for some Argentinian flavors, Asado is the place to go.
Having already tried and tested Thiptara on our last visit, which was amazing by the way, we wined and dined serenaded by acoustic renditions of ‘Besame Mucho’ (one of my favorite classics) and Carlos Santana hit songs, to name a few, at Asado. ‘Asado’ in Spanish is a term used for a range of barbecue techniques or the event of holding a barbecue soirée in Argentina.
For starters, we were served a plate of empanadas in a variety of flavors that tickles just about all your tastebuds. My favorite was the onion and beef, though I’m guilty of loving the crust more than the filling! And are you a meat lover? Unleash your carnivorous side with the sizzling Argentinian mixed grill at Asado that comprises of baby goat (their speciality), rib-eye, t-bone, tenderloin, chorizo, short ribs, and chicken. The tenderloin was the star of the night in my books. And it was good enough for sharing!
And because this place has caused me to reminisce, I leave you with a blast from the past, from four years ago…
