Desert Palm

Need to know

Rooms

24, including 11 pool villas.

Rates

In low season, US$383–1,680; in high season, US$764–5,880. Villa Layali, US$3,528–8,424, excluding service (10 per cent) and tax (10 per cent). Rates include à la carte breakfast at Epicure.

Check-out

11am. Earliest check-in, 2pm. Later check-outs are subject to availability and, up to 6pm, incur a cost of 50 per cent of the room rate. After 6pm, you will be charged the full room rate.

Facilities

Tennis/squash courts, polo pitches, riding school, swimming pool, spa, sauna, steam room, shop, DVD library, free WiFi. In rooms, LCD TV/DVD, iPod, B+O stereo, minibar, coffee maker, Ren toiletries. Villas also have kitchens and pools.

Poolside

The outdoor infinity pool stretches along the terrace in front of Epicure restaurant, with designer sun loungers and views across the polo fields. Occasional distant traffic noise, depending on wind direction.

Eco-friendly

Desert Palm works with a UK-based carbon-offsetting company and its grounds are home to a number of bird species not found anywhere else in Dubai.

Also

Over Christmas and New Year, there’s a minimum stay of five nights. Cooking and wine-tasting tutorials can be arranged on site.

Food & drink

Hotel restaurant

Rare serves a meaty menu of rare-breed beef (Wagyu, Kobe) and game with a 500-bin wine list. Italianate Epicure café has Missoni-esque décor, a deli, bakery and patisserie; and afternoon tea is served on the Jewel lounge terrace.

Dress code

Designer casuals.

Top table

At Epicure, snag a window seat overlooking the terrace or sit up at one of the grazing counters for a quick coffee. Opt for a raised booth or a table by the wine room in Rare.

Last orders

Epicure, 7am–10.30pm; Jewel, 3pm–5.30pm; Rare, 7pm–11pm, plus noon–4pm on Fridays; Red bar pours its last champagne at 1am.

Room service

24 hours; varied breakfast menu including healthy options (organic cereal with soya milk), plus room-service staples and delicacies such as Beluga caviar and oysters. They even have organic baby food.

Hotel bar

Red bar supplements Desert Palm’s extensive wine cellars with big-deal brandies, fine whisky and serious cocktails – there’s a full-size pool table too.

Also worth knowing

Children

Welcome, although this is more of an adult getaway. Under-twos stay free in Palm Suites or Pool Villas. Over-twos accommodated in Pool Residences only; under-12s, AED 184; over-12s pay full rates. Child-minders/children's menus available.

Smith Members offer

Afternoon tea for two at Jewel, with home-made scones, sandwiches and all the trimmings

If you're a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, you can get special privileges at every Smith hotel you book through us. Just show your Smith card at check-in to claim the offer featured on every hotel page (like the one above).

Click here to become a Mr & Mrs Smith member

Smith travel team

If you'd prefer to talk to someone, or don't want to book online, call our travel team on 1 866 610 3867. We guarantee you’ll get the best available rates, and we don’t charge a booking fee.