Grosvenor House

Take a break on your own doorstep with a city retreat Discuss this article

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Dubai is the kind of place that you need to escape from every once in a while, but it doesn’t mean that you actually have to leave.

We headed up to Dubai Marina and checked into Grosvenor House hotel for a weekend of city living, with a difference.

Ordinarily, a weekend away in the UAE involves lounging around a pool, or maybe a dip in the sea, but what do you do when the weather’s not the usual stream of cloudless sunshine that we’re used to? Check in for a city escape, that’s what.

Hotels across Dubai, and the rest of the UAE, have got some great deals on at the moment, with many including spa treats, dinner for two, or just a night away from the madness of home. So why not take advantage?

We checked in late, just in time to head to the executive lounge for cocktails and canapés. Not to mention breathtaking views across the marina. It sometimes takes this kind of view to make you remember just how amazing Dubai is, even in these tricky times.

After drinks, and rather more canapés than we should have ingested before dinner, we headed down to British super chef Gary Rhodes’ marina-based eatery Rhodes Mezzanine. Rather embarrassingly, this Time Outer asked one of the hotel’s ever-helpful staff what floor the restaurant was on before we hopped in the lift. The response, “erm, it’s on the mezzanine floor, madam” was as humiliating as you might expect.

Entering Rhodes, is much like stepping into the world of Alice in Wonderland. Bright whites and bold reds jostle for your attention as diners perch aloft velvet thrones, waiting expectantly for their taste of celebrity dining.

All too often, food that comes with a fanfare, and an equally steep price tag, can be a disappointment, but not here.

From our appetizers the final gut-wrenching petit fours that we couldn’t resist, the food was amazing. The chef even offered to cook us something special when he found out we were vegetarian and the waiting staff were equally accommodating - a rare combination of discreet, professional, and knowledgeable.

Check out the Grosvenor House spa package.