Just when I feel that I have seen everything that is worth seeing in Dubai, something new and interesting pops up that draws me back there again! Dubai never fails to surprise me even though I have been there countless times. One of the new things I was looking forward to during my visit to Dubai in October 2022 was my visit to Raffles The Palm. I came to know about this newly opened hotel through an Instagram reel which immediately caught my attention due to the display of its opulent, palatial golden interiors. So I went on google maps to know more about this place and view its photos and oh my god the grandeur of this hotel left me speechless. I immediately decided that this would be my special location for our Diwali dinner. I chose to dine at Blüthner Hall as it had one of the most attractive and grand interiors I had ever seen in any restaurant. I had even looked up their menu online to check for vegetarian dishes and they had a decent selection of the same. All in all, I was really looking forward to basking in this royal atmosphere. I had even taken an advance reservation to ensure a good table.
Finally, the day came and we headed there by taxi with me in my dark blue Salwar Suit set all dressed up for Diwali! The anticipation built up as we entered the prestigious Palm Jumeira area, an island shaped like yes you guessed it right, a palm tree. It is home to some of the most exclusive and prestigious hotels and residential properties in the world. At the peak of the crescent, we turned left towards the western part of this crescent and in a few minutes, the hotel finally came into view. Stunningly lit up in green and gold, the exterior looked like an Arabian Palace.
As I walked in through the automatic doors, I was greeted by a vast marble lobby with crystal chandeliers on either side of the doors. Walking further in I saw the multi-level central foyer with the most beautifully designed grand carpet, marble arches and a magnificent gold and glass embellished dome. The pièce de résistance was the huge mesmerizing crystal chandelier adorning this glistening dome. I really truly felt like I had entered the most glorious palace in the world. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't fathom the sheer grandeur of this place. Everywhere I looked there was some stunning architectural element, gilded furniture, or impressive painting. The amount of effort that had gone into designing this space was awe-inspiring.
Anyway, after literally walking around with my face looking like the emoji with stars in its eyes, I proceeded towards Blüthner Hall which is the lobby lounge named after the bespoke Blüthner Louis XIV Grand Piano created especially for this space. It is mainly known for its sumptuous afternoon tea, but I wanted to have a relaxed dinner while taking in the beautiful surroundings hence came here at around 7 pm. As I entered this space I was able to view the gleaming interiors. An expanse of majestic red and blue sofa-style seating atop the grandest carpet flooring, marble columns with Greek influences and golden scrolls at the top and an even larger gilded dome with another stunning crystal chandelier.
We were greeted by the cordial staff and seated immediately at a table of our choice as there was no rush during this time. Shortly after the skillful resident pianist started playing some beautiful classical tunes. We went through the menu and ordered a falafel wrap and a vegetarian biryani. Then the photo session began posing against this stunning background for some memorable Diwali shots. Our dinner arrived shortly after. The dinner was served on brilliant gold-plated plates. I found the table a bit low as I had to bend each time to take a bite of my dinner, but it didn't hamper the overall impression of this place. The food was fine, I liked the biryani but the falafel wrap was just ok. To be honest it was more the experience of visiting this place that was important to me than the food. There are many other better options to dine here but I chose this one because of its splendid ambiance. The staff was really courteous as expected from this grand hotel. One of them even took the effort to compliment me on what I was wearing and asked more about the significance of my outfit.
After finishing dinner I enjoyed a bit more of the wonderful surroundings before heading back. I also stood near the piano to enjoy the sublime melodious tunes being played by the pianist. While trying to find the washroom, I got lost in the massive expanse of this hotel and stumbled upon even more amazingly designed spaces. Visiting this hotel, I felt transported to another world altogether. The experience was really overwhelming and really memorable for me. I am glad to have stumbled upon this hotel (that's why I love exploring Instagram reels) and overall I really feel this hotel is a must-visit in Dubai.
Thank you for reading ❤️
Comments