GIMME FIVE (LUXE)

Written By: William Buckley

Soaring into the sky from the shores of Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residence, FIVE Luxe, the newest jewel in FIVE Group’s crown, is an homage to the beating island-pulse of Ibiza

THE PROPERTY

Approaching the sweeping entry vista, two towers thrust upwards into the blue Dubai sky. The hotel, set across eight floors, is a fantasy land of polished marble and fine wood, combining warmth with utter luxury. A glorious floor-to-ceiling window floods the foyer with light, looking out over two monumental mirrored cherries, a guest’s first taste of infamous Pacha, the first and perhaps most famous of all Ibiza’s superclubs now owned by FIVE. Beyond the cherries, a huge expanse of a swimming pool unfolds towards the ocean. Lined with double sun beds, a sexy soundtrack of classic beach house is at the same time so relaxing and also invigorating – that you could get up and shake a tail feather at any minute. Above the hotel, a tower of 222 opulent residences adds to the magnificence, and in front of that tower, another, set to open in 2025 with luxury apartments featuring balcony swimming pools on every floor. Yes, you heard right, swimming pools, on every balcony, on every floor; just truly unbelievable.

THE NIGHTLIFE

The FIVE Luxe hotel’s big brother, FIVE Palm, has become so synonymous with nightlife, than anyone visiting Dubai who wants to really let their hair down and dance the night away knows full well, FIVE is the place to be. Imagine then, when the group purchased that icon of Ibiza, Pacha, a more perfect companion to the FIVE Group is unimaginable. And while Pacha in Ibiza will continue to build on a legacy that’s lasted nearly half a century, Playa Pacha at FIVE Luxe is the perfect slice of the Balearic island’s vibe, on Dubai’s premier beach location, overlooking the Palm Jumeirah and the Arabian Gulf. On any given day, you could catch Joseph Capriati spinning his signature blend of tech and deep house, or a Marco Carola techno special. Bars surround the vast dance floor, with stands serving slices of stone-baked pizza, and a colossal 10-story LED screen bathing the ravers in a kaleidoscope of lights, reflected in all the windows of the surrounding hotel, creating a psychedelic sensory experience that has to be seen to be believed.

THE FOOD AND BEVERAGES

At the top of the FIVE Luxe, there are three F&B spots that have truly changed the dining landscape of JBR. Until recently, JBR catered to a tourist audience that was more interested in fast food than fine dining. Applebees or Shake Shack did booming business, and a smattering of slightly more upscale options kept the travelers coming back. But at Ronin – the Japanese warrior-inspired restaurant replete with outdoor seating overlooking the pool and the ocean below – fine dining has truly established itself in JBR. A5 Wagyu truffle gyoza is a knock-out opener that sets the tone, and a cornucopia of delicious dishes follows suit; garlic lobster bisque curry, lime, crispy shallot, miso brioche bread; smoked Wagyu short rib, galbi sauce, kimchi, leek bbq miso; and a robata-grilled yuzu miso black cod with miso cream sauce that I could happily eat three times a day, every day, for the rest of my life. If you fancy something a bit more French, don’t fret! Tête-a-Tête is just next door. The Monte Carlo-inspired bistro ceiling is festooned with flowers, with decor below inspired by a baroque French jewelry box – beautiful. And the menu is just as delectable: if escargot in garlic butter is up your alley, go wild; if you’re more of a fois gras terrine kinda gal, get stuck into that instead. You might not think a beetroot salad could be a whole heap to write home about, but you’d be wrong – the pairing with red berries and coulis is quite the coup. And whatever they swirled into the chocolate mousse…! It tasted like some sort of creamed cookie. If you skip out on dessert, may that cookie haunt you for all eternity, it was divine.

THE BAR

There is, quite simply, nothing like Paradiso Bar in the whole of Dubai, let alone JBR. In fact, if there is anything like it anywhere in the world, I owe you dinner and drinks. Perhaps at Paradiso, if you’re lucky. Set on a rooftop with infinite views, it feels like you’re atop some magical tower. Have you ever read The Night Circus? The bestselling fantasy novel by author Erin Morgenstern? Paradiso feels like that – a black and white fantasy circus-land surrounded by clowns and filled with performers in dazzling costumes. The original in Barcelona has been voted the best bar in the world, and truly, the wonder has translated electrically. It’s like stepping into a surreal dream, with a tingling energy that buzzes around the space. Everyone there seems to laugh and banter like there was no before, and there will be no after, and this is the only true moment. In a city where bars and lounges abound, discovering something so unique is quite literally a dream come true.