With more hotels than anywhere else in the UAE, competition in Dubai is fierce, so for a new hotel to stand out from the crowd it needs to be pretty special. For the new SLS Hotel & Residences, with 75 floors, a dizzying array of food outlets, and some of the region’s brightest minds bringing it to fruition, making an impression shouldn’t be a problem. Part of the Accor stable of properties, it was one of the city’s most anticipated openings.
The WOW factor
The new SLS falls under sbe, the operator responsible for The Mondrian in Doha, 10 Karaköy in Istanbul and a range of nightlife-focused properties across the United States. The operator goes beyond just creating five-star hotel rooms, instead promising to bring a mix of culinary, wellness, nightlife and leisure to its properties. Developed by World of Wonders Real Estate Development (WOW RED), the hotel brings 254 hotel rooms, 321 hotel apartments and 371 branded residences to the market, showing no signs of diluting sbe’s reputation as an eclectic, luxury operator.
From the creative minds of Bishop Design by Paul Bishop
Each of the hotel’s 75 floors and its restaurants were created by Bishop Design, one of Dubai’s most decorated interior design firms, helmed by Paul Bishop, named designer of the year at the 2020 Commercial Interior Design awards. Bishop himself has labelled the hotel as one of his greatest projects to date, and it’s clear to see why, from the lavish usage of marble throughout, to the bursts of colour across rooms and communal areas. When you’re not up on the 71st floor’s Sky Lobby admiring the view, you’ll always be able to find a striking design feature hiding in plain sight.
Foodie paradise
F&B venues include Fi’lia, a female-run restaurant; Carna, a modern steakhouse run by Italian butcher Dario Cecchini; the grand marble S Bar; Privilege on the 75th floor; a ground-level coffee outlet named EllaMia; and a caviar bar, 12 Chairs.