Dubai has never been short on showstopping destinations, but Bluewaters Island feels like its own little universe. Floating just off the Marina, tethered to JBR by a pedestrian bridge, the man-made island opened in 2018 and instantly became one of the city’s most photogenic addresses. With its palm-lined promenades, waterfront restaurants, and of course Ain Dubai—the world’s tallest observation wheel—it’s part resort escape, part urban playground. Spend a night here and you’ll see why it’s quickly climbed the ranks of Dubai’s most enviable neighborhoods.
Stay: Delano Dubai
The crown jewel of Bluewaters’ hospitality scene is Delano Dubai, a name that carries weight long before you step inside. The Delano brand is legendary: its South Beach flagship in Miami redefined hotel culture in 1995, setting the stage for nightlife-meets-luxury hospitality before “lifestyle hotel” was even a buzzword. After expanding into Paris in 2023, the brand made its Dubai debut in late 2024—and it landed with a splash.
Delano Dubai isn’t just another glossy hotel; it’s a 251-room sanctuary with 84 suites, each designed with the brand’s trademark blend of beachside glamour and modernist minimalism. White oak floors, sculptural furniture, and marble-lined bathrooms fitted with Byredo amenities feel as if someone ripped a page from an interiors magazine and made it livable. Even the entry-level rooms have private balconies, while the ground-floor Breaking Waves suites spill out onto private plunge pools and the property’s own 250-metre private beach. Also, if there was ever an award for best hotel slippers, Delano would definitely top the list.
The hotel’s design nods to its Miami roots—those iconic striped umbrellas by the pool are a direct homage—but it also carries a softer, more contemplative tone. The lobby, swathed in white drapes, feels like a stage set for languid arrivals. Public spaces strike a balance between dramatic and intimate, with curved sofas and custom wool rugs softening the sleek architecture.
Facilities are equally considered. The Delano Pool, with its submerged loungers and playful geometry, is a sun-drenched hangout that practically demands an Aperol spritz in hand. Guests can choose between private cabanas, sun loungers lining the deck, or even chairs set right in the pool—ideal for anyone who wants to catch a tan while staying cool. Dining leans cosmopolitan: Tutto Passa serves up refined Italian all day, while Rose Bar feels like the kind of sultry hideaway perfect for midnight rendezvous. A state-of-the-art fitness studio and a wellness program add balance to all that indulgence.
What makes Delano Dubai stand out is its ability to cater to very different moods without ever feeling disjointed. For couples, it’s an effortlessly romantic escape with its private plunge pools, candlelit dinners at Rose Bar, and a design language that feels tailor-made for stolen weekends. For families, it’s just as appealing: spacious suites, a generous stretch of private beach, and a pool scene that balances play with polish. It’s the rare hotel that can handle both a honeymoon and a holiday with the kids, offering enough flexibility that neither experience feels compromised.
When it comes to the service, it’s polished without being stiff. Staff glide rather than hover, anticipating what you might want before you’ve even asked. It’s the kind of detail that makes a hotel memorable, not just beautiful.
For reservations, visit www.delanohotels.com
Eat: Bakerist, Boost Juice, Alici, The Spaniel
Bakerist
Morning on Bluewaters should begin at Bakerist, the café-bakery that has become a ritual for locals and visitors alike. Tucked along the island’s promenade, it offers the scent of butter and sugar before you’ve even stepped inside. The croissants are properly flaky, the sourdough hearty, and the cakes temptingly lined up on marble counters. Coffee is strong, the sort of fuel that makes conversations linger. Indoors, you’ll find a cozy, laid-back atmosphere; outside, you’re rewarded with people-watching and sea breeze. Bakerist is the kind of breakfast spot where time slows down, until you realize you’ve ordered a second cappuccino.
Boost Juice
If you’re less pastry, more power breakfast, Boost Juice delivers a jolt of energy in liquid form. The Australian juice bar chain has carved a niche for quick, health-driven blends, and its Bluewaters outlet is no exception. Smoothies are thick and filling, juices zing with freshness, and you can sip on the go if you’re dashing off for a day of exploring. It’s not a sit-down breakfast, but when you want something light and functional, it’s exactly the thing.
Alici
For lunch, head straight to Alici, arguably one of the most elegant restaurants on the island. Its name means “anchovies” in Italian, and the concept is just as clear: seafood, done the Italian coastal way. Spread across two levels with airy terraces overlooking the Marina skyline, the restaurant feels like a slice of the Amalfi Coast transported to Dubai.
The menu is an ode to the sea: delicate crudo, glossy oysters, hand-rolled pasta tangled with clams, risotto perfumed with saffron and shrimp. The produce is fresh, the execution restrained—flavors are allowed to shine. Pair that with a crisp Vermentino and you have yourself a long, leisurely lunch that begs for dessert and maybe a languid espresso. The interiors—whitewashed walls, soft blues, and marine accents—make it the perfect midday escape, especially if you want to linger over conversation while the city hums in the distance.
The Spaniel
When evening falls, the place to be is The Spaniel, a modern British brasserie that has already caught the eye of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai. While it doesn’t yet hold a star, its inclusion is telling: this is food worth making the trip for.
Housed across two levels with a handsome bar upstairs, The Spaniel has a moodier, more theatrical edge compared to its daytime counterparts. The menu pays tribute to British classics but with polish: truffle-topped Welsh rarebit, a deeply satisfying Scotch egg, and the star of the show, beef Wellington, cooked with precision. Sunday roasts here are the stuff of legend.
On my visit, two dishes in particular cemented The Spaniel’s glowing reputation: The Chicken Kiev arrived golden and crisp, its crust giving way to a flood of molten garlic butter that seeped luxuriously into the silky mashed potatoes below. A caper and tarragon sauce cut through the richness, adding a briny sharpness that kept each bite from ever feeling heavy. It was the kind of plate that feels nostalgic and indulgent, yet executed with a precision that’s firmly fine-dining.
Then came the showstopper: the Spaniel Caviar Burger. Built around a fillet of Atlantic cod, it was topped with an unapologetic 30 grams of Kaluga caviar, a crown of glossy pearls that glistened under the restaurant’s low lights. A swipe of tartare sauce added tang, while a side of truffle-scented fries turned what could have been a gimmick into one of the most decadent “burgers” in Dubai. It was both playful and extravagant, a dish designed to make you smile as much as it makes you sigh.
The service matched the polish of the plates, with staff happy to guide you through the menu and quick to anticipate the smallest requests. As for the interior, it feels like a love letter to old-world brasseries, but with Dubai polish. Think exposed brick walls arched with warm wood panelling, glowing lantern-style pendants suspended in rhythm, and banquettes upholstered in caramel leather that practically invite you to sink in for hours. Each table is dressed with petite green-shaded lamps—more library chic than restaurant gimmick—casting a low, intimate light that softens the room’s edges.
There’s a moodiness to the space, but it’s not heavy. The contrast between the brickwork and the rich textures creates an atmosphere that’s equal parts theatrical and inviting. You could just as easily imagine a business lunch here as you could a slow dinner that stretches into cocktails. It’s a dinner spot that balances comfort with class, perfect for date nights or celebratory evenings.
Play: Swingers and Brass Monkey
Swingers
You’d be forgiven for thinking mini golf is child’s play, but Swingers flips that assumption on its head. Here, the vibe is anything but juvenile. The moment you step inside, you’re greeted by a riot of color, neon, and whimsy that turns mini golf into something closer to immersive theatre. The putting greens wind through fantastical landscapes: manicured turf edged with wildflower plantings, oversized props like hot-air balloons and glowing arches, even trees lit dramatically to feel half real, half dreamscape. In addition to delicious cocktails and a DJ setting the tone, there’s no mistaking this for a traditional golf course. It’s theatrical, cheeky, and a little surreal.
The menu leans into indulgent street food—burgers, loaded fries, pizzas—that pairs perfectly with a night of playful competition. It’s social, lighthearted, and a little cheeky. Start at sunset, when the island lights up, and carry on into the night. Swingers is less about golf and more about the atmosphere: it’s one of the few places in Dubai where you can laugh loudly over a game, drink in hand, without anyone blinking an eye.
Brass Monkey
If Swingers is playful, Brass Monkey is its louder, more raucous cousin. The entertainment hub offers everything from arcade games and bowling to a steady stream of sliders, tacos, and pizzas. The energy is infectious: groups of friends piling into booths, laughter spilling over air hockey tables, cocktails clinking at the bar. Food isn’t the main event here, but it’s solid: exactly the kind of finger food you crave in between rounds of bowling. It’s casual, fun, and very much the opposite of the buttoned-up dining scene you’ll find elsewhere in the city. Brass Monkey is the place you end up when you don’t want the night to end.
