The Delano is a hotel where its name carries weight—and that weight also carries several names. The original property in Miami Beach was named after U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an achingly cool lifestyle destination in the mid-’90s following a transformative renovation by celebrated ‘starchitect’ Philippe Starck. The rise in popularity of boutique-cool hotels helped its aesthetically-chic reputation spread global, and so it almost inevitable that the Delano (pronounced: della-no) made it to the shores of the Arabian Gulf.
The challenge then for any new Delano location is how to translate that iconic South Beach Art Deco aesthetic—clean, gallery-like architecture as seen through a Slim Aaron’s lens—to a new, often maximalist city. In Dubai, the solution was not amplify the drama, but almost play it down.
The hotel’s interiors are an example of chromatic restraint and tonal layering done right, but the feeling is that of a livable gallery—one in which you are encouraged to sit on as many of the designled furniture pieces as possible. The palette is a deeply satisfying mix of pale stone, natural ash wood, and muted creams and beiges, but the regular appearance of floor-to-ceiling glazing ensures it still feels light and breeziness.
The Delano’s enduring link to its Miami roots is most evident on the pool deck. This area is a geometrically disciplined oasis. Expansive, pale stone paving provides a crisp canvas for the electric azure of the pool water. This is where the signature Delano playfulness is allowed to surface: the uniform rows of sun loungers are punctuated by the controlled vibrancy of yellow-and-white striped umbrellas and towels. It’s a disciplined space for elegant indulgence, confirming the Delano’s status as a lifestyle destination where every line and colour choice is intentional, because ultimately, a stay here is less about where you are going to lay your hat, and more about inserting yourself into a long-running narrative of beautiful people doing beautiful things.