Located in the up-and-coming business district of Dubai, 25hours Hotel One Central may be one of the most un-Dubai hotels of them all.

The fun, quirky hotel fluidly combines tradition with modern-day vibes. The history of the region is reflected throughout the design of the hotel, created in partnership with the acclaimed interior design firm, Woods Bagot, and 25hours Hotels.

With the 434 rooms and suites, you can get a taste of unique interiors from Bedouin, Glamping and Farm Stay, all the way through Artists Village which is perfect for those looking for more space. The jewel of the hotel has to be the Hakawati Suite, displaying true Dubai glamour with a double bathtub, triple king size bed aka “sheikh sized”, incredible views of the Museum of the Future, a secret staircase and more.

All rooms and suites provide an idyllic oasis for nomads after a long day of exploring. Each sanctuary draws on local influences, featuring quirky design elements such as hammocks, double rainfall showers, roll-top baths, Schindelhauer bicycles and analogue telephones.

The Food & Drinks

Foodies watch out… the hotel has everything you could want from day to evening dining. Choose from Tandoor Tina, Nomad Day bar and recently opened Traditional Bavarian Biergarten & Wirtshaus, Ernst.

Tandoor Tina is the fun frivolous ‘younger daughter’ restaurant to London’s famous Tandoor Chop House. A tantalising Northern Indian food menu awaits with a playful British Twist that both excites the palate and the eyes. Tandoor Tina is located in the heart of the hotel courtyard, and although there are inside seats, I’d highly recommend sitting outside, enjoying the weather and twinkling lights surrounded by generously sized portions of flavourful food. Rumour has it that the Head Chef came over from London to train everybody up and after tasting the dishes, I can absolutely believe it.

It doesn’t stop there though.

Ernst breaks the mould of Dubai restaurants with doughy pretzels, Bavarian cheese delicacy elicacy obatzda, truffle flatbread and a sausage pan-fried on the menu amongst plenty of German beer. The vibe in Ernst is completely different to that in Tandoor Tina which is what makes the experience entirely unique.

Let’s not forget The Nomad Day Bar and The Monkey Bar though, both of which have a wide selection of food on offer throughout the day, with Monkey Bar offering delicious Latin American inspired food including tacos, ceviche and sliders along with cocktails including The Martiki (my personal favourite) which combines diplomatico mantuano rum, coconut water, banana shrub and falernum.

Nomad Day Bar has coffee perfect for that morning pick me up with Dubai-based Nightjar Coffee Roasters as their partner.

Biggest gems when dining at 25Hours?

– Saag Aloo shepherds pie with Stilton Gravy – A mash-up (literally) of everything I love
– Butter Chicken – The most tender well-flavoured butter chicken packed with spices and creaminess
– Chicken Tikka Masala Wellington – What’s not to love? Flavour upon flavour wrapped in pastry
– Original Pretzels with butter – Fluffy dough, melt in the mouth
– Pork Knuckle, bread dumpling, Sauerkraut and gravy – A traditional dish that you wouldn’t expect to find in Dubai, tender and moreish.

The Activities

You’ll not be surprised to hear that there’s also plenty to do in the hotel.

For Global booklovers, the first thing you see when you walk in is the ‘Fountain of Tales’ library with thousands of books for hotel guests to pick and choose from during their stay, it’s a real architectural statement piece too.

The Extra Hour Spa however is on a completely different level. Dedicated to ‘you time’ with everyone welcome the experience speaks for itself. I booked in a facial and had the best one of my life (thus far) as I found out my masseuse had moved over from the Four Seasons, South Africa. Unprompted, she said that she chose to work at 25hours Hotel One Central because she can be herself completely and get to know the guests well. It was heartwarming. The Extra Hour Spa is also Dubai’s first outdoor mixed-gender sauna.

After your spa, mosey over to the gorgeous rooftop pool, stop by Monkey Bar for a drink or head to the private dome egg-shaped sauna for an extra sweat. There’s also a well-stocked gym with the tip-top equipment, inside and outside training area and even Monkey Bars (which I’d advise you to have prior to heading to the actual Monkey Bar for a tipple).

Cycling enthusiasts can look forward to the Schindelhauer Bikes: a fleet of e-bikes for guests to use for a leisurely bike around Dubai. But if you fancy going further afield you’re free to explore the area with a MINI. Thanks to 25hours partnership, you can borrow one of 4 MINIs… paperwork pending of course!

To Conclude

This is a brand that defies traditional UAE hospitality and trail-blazes. 25hours Hotel One Central is the edgy design-forward hotel that’s perfect for global creatives and nomads alike.

There’s no doubt that in trendy European cities 25hours is synonymous with playful carefree delights, and with One Central being the first outpost outside Europe this was a boundary-pushing embodiment of new Dubai. 25hours Hotel One Central has succeeded in this with something incredibly unique, fresh and authentic. With cheeky slogans like “let’s spend the night together” (branded on pillows) and “caution hot and wet inside” (on coffee cups), you can feel the German roots winking from the corner. Prepare for an incredible unexpected adventure.

Written by Kaya Cheshire  for Luxuria Lifestyle London and International