Latest news with #DubaiBeach
Telegraph
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Your dream family holiday in Dubai awaits at Mina Seyahi Resorts
In a city of superlatives, Mina Seyahi is a destination rich with standout experiences for all ages. Unrolling along a prime shorefront strip of golden Dubai beachfront, Mina Seyahi's trio of all-encompassing Marriott International hotels – the slick W Hotel, the luxurious Westin and the family-centric Le Méridien – are idyllically landscaped together to form a powerhouse playground that provides the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable Dubai holiday. Guests are spoilt for choice, and sun-soaked days can be curated to suit your holiday style. From drop-and-flop beach breaks to action-packed itineraries that make the most of the burgeoning facilities, it's a destination that will delight all ages. The young and young-at-heart can get their thrills at the splash-tastic Jungle Bay Waterpark, a leisure treasure of adrenalin-rushing slides, a playful wave pool and an aqua climbing frame. And when hunger strikes, the remarkable collection of 21 restaurants and bars are an invitation to dine around the world without leaving the comforts of the resort. Luxury at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina A grand dame of Dubai's luxury and family-friendly hotel scene, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi has all the ingredients for an all-encompassing family escape. Its recently renovated rooms and suites are bright and sophisticated, reimagined into contemporary cocoons of comfort packed with five-star amenities: plush robes, fluffy towels and Westin White Tea Heavenly Bath amenities. Once you're all checked in, gourmet dining, inviting swimming pools and exhilarating watersports are all at your fingertips. While the little ones burn off steam at the vibrant kids' club – with its regular roster of engaging activities – adults can recline poolside at the adults-only Mare by Bussola, a refined ode to sun-drenched Italian Riviera days. There's also The Heavenly Spa, a haven of R&R, where each pampering massage, scrub and wrap leads you to tune out and switch off. For those looking to tick off a bucket-list Dubai brunch, the grand, gourmet extravaganza that is Bubbalicious – which takes over three of The Westin's restaurants every Saturday afternoon – is a must-try. A wonderland for gourmands, it's a stellar spread of rainbow-hued salads, decadent seafood towers and cooked-to-order meats backdropped by live music, circus-style entertainment and pop-up bars serving refreshing cocktails. Elsewhere, culinary highlights include authentic tapas at cosy El Sur, premium cuts served in an elevated setting at Baba Steakhouse and Bussola, an Italian restaurant with a beautiful sunset terrace loved by Dubai locals for its laidback ambience and hearty dishes. Experience the high life at W Dubai – Mina Seyahi Bringing W Hotels' bold spirit to the beachfront at Mina Seyahi, this resort offers lashings of style, substance and soul. This glittering tower is the perfect base for an unforgettable Dubai holiday – the attention to detail and high-octane experiences are second to none. The collection of 318 design-led rooms and suites are personality-packed spaces that feature signature Mix bars, vibrant artworks that tell stories of local traditions and beautiful views that stretch over the Arabian Gulf. Much of the daytime action revolves around California-cool Ginger Moon, where guests can hop between plush loungers and a shimmering infinity pool while grazing on crowd-pleasing dishes that put fresh, seasonal flavours centre stage. As day turns to night, few sunsets offer the wow factor that can be found at W Dubai – Mina Seyahi – head to the haute rooftop Attiko, a Japanese lounge with a regular rotation of live DJs and a wrap-around terrace that perfectly frames the twinkling city after dark. Unforgettable family fun at Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark Lean in to lazy days and family forays at Le Méridien, where chic European touches are laced through a property that oozes multi-generational appeal. While the prime location ensures Dubai's world-class malls and attractions are within easy reach, its family-centric amenities mean you could be tempted to spend every second at the resort. Jungle Bay Waterpark, in its whitewashed hues inspired by the Cyclades, offers endless hours of fun for children of all ages. From the dedicated splash pads and small slides for little ones to the more adventurous racer rides, body slides and a pneumatic wave pool, the thrills are endless. An expansive indoor-outdoor kids' club brings out little one's inner musician, athlete and artist with an array of boredom-banishing activities. And while children are busy carving out their future careers, adults can soak up the sun on one of Dubai's longest private beaches, take to the water in a kayak or on a paddleboard from the watersports centre, or make their way to Barasti, one of the city's most renowned beach bars. If relaxation, convenience and a worry-free experience are at the top of your list, then the all-inclusive packages offered across all three hotels have your name written all over them, and the half-board option is perfect for an adventurous foodie who lives for the thrill of trying local delicacies. Other luxuries packaged in your stay includes complimentary self and valet parking, Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service, while premium services include airport transfers and Club Lounge access. 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Khaleej Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Restaurant Review: African Queen at J1 Beach is laid-back luxury done right
Upon entering African Queen, one is immediately greeted by Clet, the affable and utterly charming head of security. It's rare to find a doorman whose warmth and charisma could rival the food, but Clet sets the tone for what is, surprisingly, one of the more relaxed and approachable spots in Dubai's glittering J1 Beach scene. A bit of St. Tropez transplanted into the city's most fashionable strip; it might seem like it belongs among the gilded beach clubs of La Mer, yet, African Queen stands apart, notably more humble, effortlessly cool, and with a refreshing sense of ease that many of its flashier neighbours lack. The service is superb and personal. On more than one occasion, I was greeted by staff who, with a gleam of mischief in their eyes, reminisced about previous visits. It could be unnerving if not delivered with such warmth and good humour, but it's this very charm that ensures you keep coming back. They've somehow mastered that rare art of being attentively familiar without feeling intrusive. As the sun sets over the glistening beach, the atmosphere is exactly what you hope for in a Mediterranean-style hangout. The bar is a particularly good place to start: a team of bartenders who need no menu, just a brief description of your whims, will happily concoct whatever your heart desires. Whether perched by the pool or lounging on one of the generously spaced sunbeds, it's all perfectly accompanied by the low hum of chill tunes that seem more like a soundtrack than background noise. The aesthetic is unmistakably colonial chic, with those revolving fans spinning lazily overhead, as if to remind you that relaxation is paramount. The furniture is sophisticated, elegant, yet somehow still homely, like an old Riviera restaurant where the hours stretch on in an endless, sun-drenched afternoon. The menu? Vast. Perhaps a bit daunting, but undeniably promising. We began our culinary adventure with the towering seafood platter — as formidable as it was delicious. Alongside it, a modestly simple kale salad that managed to be far more addictive than it had any right to be, and a side of beef carpaccio that offered just the right amount of indulgence without tipping over into excess. The prawn chimichurri, a dish that could so easily go wrong, was a triumph. Indulgent without being overly rich, it provided the perfect balance to the dover sole — an unexpected, but entirely appropriate choice in this part of the world. The fish was expertly cooked, delicately accompanied by baked potatoes and a cool, creamy sour cream. All told, the main courses exuded that elusive balance of decadence and restraint that defines the very best of coastal dining. Desserts were a bit of an anticlimax, though nothing to turn your nose up at. The sorbet was refreshingly simple and surprisingly reviving, while the pistachio tiramisu — I dare say it's their signature and earned its place on the menu with good reason. Not groundbreaking, but undeniably enjoyable. And so, with the meal complete, it was back to the bar stools for a final round of sundowners, watching the evening unfold as the sun slipped beneath the horizon. African Queen may not be the most show-stopping on J1 Beach, but it's certainly the most effortlessly inviting, and that's no small achievement in a city brimming with glitzy options.
