Address Beach Resort

At the confluence of two stretches of prime tourist real estate, Bluewaters Island and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Address Beach Resort couldn’t have picked a better location for sun-and-sea vacations. On the doorstep, find a deep sandy beach and boardwalk, fast-food vendors and sunny boutiques, stylish restaurants and bars, and yacht-filled Dubai Marina. The airport is around 30 minutes away. 

The first ever beach resort from Dubai’s slick homegrown Address chain raises the tone in an already attractive neighbourhood. Like a fashionable First Lady, it’s charming and well dressed. Piano recitals are played in harmony with house music compilations on terraces; man-made waterfalls cascade into abundant pools and dramatic metal sculptures are poised over water.

Arabian hospitality begins with shots of cardamom-laced coffee in the lobby. Service is friendly but formal. Stay here for direct access to the world’s tallest rooftop infinity pool on the 77th floor – though it was closed during my visit due to weather conditions. The elegant spa on the 75th floor, with huge ‘A’-shaped windows overlooking the Arabian Gulf, was a consolation. Find all the latest kit and equally impressive views in the neighbouring gym, while at ground level there are more glamorous pools and a private beach.

Simple and stylish rooms, if a little bland in 50 shades of beige, continue the hotel’s safe and sophisticated ‘First Lady’ aesthetic. Expect 55-inch televisions, iPad controls, designer coffee machines, neat white sheets and feather bedding. Floor-to-ceiling windows are best when sea-facing, but entry-level Deluxe Marina View rooms miss out on the Ain Dubai panorama. Selected suites have balconies, and two- and three-bedroom suites are available.

All rooms have rain showers and bathtubs but you might like to pack your own toiletries: Lorenzo Villoresi amenities, laced with a heavy scent, might not be how you’d like to smell at breakfast. 

Breakfast – a buffet of pastries, cereal and antipasto with à la carte options, including beef bacon and eggs Benedict – is served at The Restaurant. From September 2021, Asian fusion rooftop restaurant ZETA Seventy Seven will open on level 77, but for now the hotel’s most rewarding al fresco experience is Beach Grill by the sea, where glass walls retract to create a breezy haven. Interesting vegan selections are available at all restaurants, including Li’ Brasil, a Middle Eastern-Latin American hybrid, serving a meat-free version of Brazil’s famous pork stew, feijoada. 

Double rooms from AED1,100 (£217) in low season; from AED1,600, (£315) in high season; breakfast costs AED148 (£29) for adults, AED74 (£15) for children aged six to 11, and children under six dine for free. Free WiFi.

There are four accessible rooms.

Yes, children are welcome, despite the grown-up vibe. Little ones can get their kicks at QIX Club.