THE Bulgari Resort Dubai, boasting Bulgari’s first ever Marina and Yacht Club, is a recently opened urban oasis retreat. Landscaped as a Mediterranean village, it’s located on the man-made seahorse-shaped island of Jumeira Bay, which escapes the chaos of central Dubai, yet only a 10-minute drive away from most of the main attractions.
The Bulgari Resort, Dubai.
As I meander down a private pathway and step inside the seclusion of my villa, it feels as if I’ve entered the home of my dreams. The spacious and airy detached villa overlooks my immaculate private garden and pool, the white sandy beach and the rippling blue sea.
Outside pool at our private villa
At the main hotel, 101 rooms and suites are set over four floors, each with sprawling balconies to savour the view. Many of the building materials used in the construction of the resort have been sourced from all four corners of the world, which includes marble from Brazil, onyx from Iran, black granite from Mongolia, and Sukatumi stone from Indonesia. This pristine resort reflects Italian elegance, echoing the luxurious joyous vibe of its renowned sister jewellery brand, which seeps seamlessly into its every pore.
Interior of villa
It has been designed by Milanese based Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel, who are responsible for the design of all the Bulgari properties worldwide. My two-bedroomed villa is one of 20 self-contained dwellings on the resort; it boasts two dressing areas and twin marble-enshrined bathrooms. Interiors are impeccably furnished with contemporary handcrafted Italian pieces in rich neutral tones and natural fabrics. I sit for hours in the huge living area listening to my playlist on the awesome Devialet phantom gold sound system (which I would so like to take home with me).
The beach
Luke, my Australian butler, is on-call 24 hours a day to make my stay truly memorable. Restaurants are booked, personal training sessions are arranged, and bikes are reserved to cycle around the sprawling resort to absorb the striking sunset over Dubai’s cityscape, with the sky-crowing Burj Kalifa in perfect view.
I start the day with a light breakfast, freshly prepared in the kitchen within the staff quarter of my villa. I then saunter across to the fitness centre for a training session with Brian Walpole, to sample his renowned Workshop Gymnasium regime, where he shows me how my muscles need to be strengthened, giving me newfound inspiration to continue exercising when I return home.
Swimming pool at night
After the work out, I head to the Bulgari Spa for an indulgent, well-deserved therapeutic massage where my expert therapist uses La Mer organic ingredients to pummel my muscles to relieve tension. On my way to lunch, I can’t help but stop to admire the outdoor pool, with its magnificent floor, decorated with colourful custom-designed mosaics, reminiscent of the jewels synonymous with Bulgari.
As I have built up quite an appetite after my morning activities, I feast on lunch at La Spiaggia, the casual al fresco restaurant, known for serving extravagant portions, where I opt for the dazzling mezze platter. Much later, after a couple of sweet cocktails on the terrace overlooking the marina, I enjoy dinner at the hotel’s signature eatery, simply named Il Ristorante, where Italian Michelin-starred chef, Niko Romito is at the helm. I indulge in a preposterously rich plate of Burrata, evoking images of Italy, while I soak up the bewitching night-time buzz inside this trendy corner of the property.
Il Bar e Il Ristorante
At the Bulgari Resort they have seemingly succeeded to transport charming Roman hospitality, where the Bulgari brand was founded, all the way to the Gulf emirate of Dubai, making it probably the most stylish hotel in this magical city.
By Amanda Bernstein
Rates for Bulgari Resort Dubai start from 2,000 AED (approx £410) per night for a Superior Room and from 12,000 AED (approx £2,320) for a One Bedroom Villa. For more information and booking please visit here
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