Review: Bulgari Dubai

Such is the paradox of my brain: on one hand, I love the simplicity of a luxury safari lodge—the wild surroundings, the joy of nature, and the blessed absence of pretentiousness. On the other, I’ll happily admit that Bulgari is one of the best hotel chains in the world. And trust me, it pains me to say that—and not just because a hotel designed to sell jewellery feels as shallow as it sounds and fundamentally at odds with true luxury, but because, at the end of the day, it’s basically a Marriott wrapped in a Bulgari label.

Getting there

Barely a 25-minute drive from Dubai International Airport (DXB).  Our arrival was very professional—met at the car, doorman walked us in, sat us down, took drink orders, and had someone come check us in from the table.

Setting

Bulgari Dubai sits on a private, seahorse-shaped island in Jumeira Bay, just minutes from the chaos of central Dubai. Connected to the mainland by a 300-meter bridge, it strikes a rare balance—close enough for a quick drive to Dubai Mall and Downtown, but far enough to feel like you’ve escaped the city. Well, almost. That is until you glance outside and spot the never-ending lineup of cranes and half-finished towers standing proudly across the water. Ah, Dubai—the city that never sleeps, because it’s too busy building more skyscrapers. If you’re expecting a private island paradise with nothing but you and the horizon, this isn’t Soneva Secret. Instead, you get a front-row seat to the world’s longest construction project, which is about as scenic as having cement poured into your mouth. The view is a lineup of almost finished or mostly barely started buildings – your pick.

The architecture leans into the maritime aesthetic—oak wood planks that nod to yacht decks and coral-like sunshades that soften the clean lines.  Unlike Dubai’s usual obsession with height, the resort’s low-rise layout feels intimate, standing in deliberate contrast to the skyline of glass and steel that looms in the distance.

The construction, though, was the big reveal since our last stay. Dubai was never going to be the Cook Islands, but you still hope your beachfront resort won’t remind you of that plastic wasteland in the Pacific either.

And it was windy. I found myself in a jumper in the early evening—Dubai, are you okay?

Facilities

With 101 rooms and suites, 20 standalone villas, a 1,700-square-meter spa, and a 46-berth marina with its own yacht club, Bulgari Dubai packs a surprising number of amenities into what feels like a boutique-sized property. Despite its relatively intimate vibe, there’s plenty on offer—especially with the Yacht Club just across the harbour. There, you’ll find the Yacht Club Italian Restaurant specialising in seafood, a members’ lounge, two outdoor pools (one for kids), a bar, and the Little Gems Club kids club. There’s no shortage of cabanas and sunbeds, which seemed to act like someone who was always expecting a party, but no one ever showed up.  Basically, my childhood.

Back in the main building, there’s—of course—a Bulgari boutique and jewellery store, along with the famous sweets in the lobby and their more infamous patisserie. The lobby itself is intimate, primarily serving as a spot for afternoon tea, with outdoor seating that’s pleasant enough. Otherwise, the property naturally draws you away—either to the beach or over to the superb spa.

Now, about those sweets. Every single one was hard-boiled—the worst kind—while other Bulgari properties at least have the decency to offer gummies. Dear god, what has the world come to?!  What next?  Piss instead of milk for my tea?  The patisserie didn’t do much for me either, despite my dedicated efforts to give it a fair shot in the name of a comprehensive review. It didn’t stand a chance after The Lana, where the patisserie was nectar from the gods.

The beach features a large pool surrounded by complimentary cabanas and plenty of seating—enough to stake your claim without having to fight for space. All the villas have direct beach access, while us peasants stayed in the main building. They consider the grounds large enough to offer bikes for both adults and children, though walking from the main building to the last villa takes about a minute—so if you’re using the bikes, I am indeed cycle shaming you.  The beach? It’s Dubai—no one’s mistaking it for the Seychelles. Still, it’s a better spot to hang around than under a bridge besides the Thames, where if you fell in the water you might emerge with three eyes.

The spa is as beautiful as I remember and the highlight of the property—on the ground floor for a change, so you’re not tucked away in some basement that Jeffrey Dahmer’s ghost still lurks. Natural light floods in from the pool area, which is surrounded by those signature Bulgari cabanas, plus a large, warm hydrotherapy pool.  There’s an outdoor deck facing the beach and ocean if you wanna sunbath in erm the shade. Separate men’s and women’s sections have their own hydrotherapy pools, saunas, and steam rooms.  The hydro pool temperature is spot-on—warm enough to relax without feeling like you’re slowly being cooked. And the best part? It’s open from 8 AM to 11 PM.  

Then there’s the gym. Small enough that if three people show up, it feels like someone needs to leave. It has all the equipment you could want, but the layout—and those strategically placed mirrors—mean you can’t help but notice the person next to you, which means they notice you, as you make noises and facial expressions that look like you’re about to birth what you ate last night. It’s one of the busiest hotel gyms I’ve ever seen. At home, I can lift my embarrassingly light weights without having to elbow through a crowd to grab the smallest dumbbells. Lastly, there’s a hair salon, though I didn’t try it, as my workout-induced humiliation was enough focus on me for one day.

Rooms

The rooms strike a nice balance between sleek Italian design and laid-back beachfront style.  You know you’re in a Bulgari, but it was the start of a lighter, happier place than the moodier London and Milan properties.  They must have moved on from their emo phase.  We stayed in Deluxe Beach #202, which basically means you get views of both the beach and some skyline. Is it worth paying extra for?  No.  However, for a standard room, it was actually excellent—spacious, stylish, and mostly well thought-out. No Toto toilet, though, which automatically knocks off ten stars.

At 55 square meters, the room felt generous, with tall ceilings that added to the airy vibe. The layout is practical, with a separate luggage room that keeps the main space free of clutter. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows allow lots of light in, and the furnishings strike a nice balance between function and style: a comfortable sofa, a desk that doesn’t feel like an afterthought, and a TV mounted at the foot of the bed.  The outdoor terrace offers plenty of space with a dining table, two chairs, and a large sofa that actually fits more than one person. It feels more like a second living room than a balcony.

The bathroom, however, was on the smaller side. It managed to squeeze in a bathtub, though the single vanity felt a bit basic. And whoever designed the door ergonomics clearly approached the task with a sense of humour—they open in ways that defy both physics and logic.

The standard rooms are genuinely excellent. But this is me—when am I ever truly happy? My main gripe with Bulgari Dubai is the leap from a room to a suite, which comes with a fourfold price increase. Look, I once booked a nine-bedroom villa in the BVI for my family of four, so I’m no stranger to spending money unnecessarily. But here, it’s harder to justify—especially for a resort perched on a man-made island with a beach that falls into the “would be okay if it were in England” category, all while you get to enjoy front-row views of construction sites. And I’ve not even got to villa prices. But hey, that’s just me. You go live your best life, sunshine—book that three-bedroom villa and send me a postcard.

Service

Upon arrival, we found a generous selection of welcome amenities in our room—pastries, a birthday cake for Isabelle, and a decent fruit selection. They even wrote “Happy Birthday” on the window.  Throughout our time there, staff frequently checked in to make sure everything was going well. As we passed through the lobby, we were regularly greeted by the head butler, the head of rooms division, and the reception manager, all of whom were attentive without being intrusive. The Director of Rooms also knew about Isabelle’s birthday, which added to the sense that they’d taken the time to know their guests.  While sitting by the pool, they surprised us with a cheesecake and drinks after noticing my birthday in their system—another example of their attention to detail. Except it wasn’t my birthday.  It was Isabelle’s.  But you can’t have everything in life, and I ain’t turning down free stuff, so I ate that cake by myself to teach someone a valuable lesson.  And that lesson was: I like cake.

The team was a mix of younger and more experienced staff. The older team members stood out for their professionalism and polished service—they were always prompt, quick to anticipate needs, and attentive without being overbearing. The younger staff, while polite and eager to help, sometimes showed a lack of experience, with lapses in attention to detail. The request for a nanny at the kids’ club, for example, never received a follow-up from the butler, though they did offer complimentary childcare as a gesture of goodwill.  So I guess you could actually say they did a great job.  The resort does have an annoying obsession with signing bills—every order seemed to require a signature, be damned if you don’t.

Still, what stood out most was the relaxed atmosphere. Unlike some luxury resorts where strict rules and endless policies can make you feel more like a guest in someone else’s home, Bulgari Dubai strikes a nice balance. There’s a sense of freedom here.

I got told off for using “professional camera gear” while trying to photograph this. Bulgari wants to look good, just not too good.

Food

Il Caffè served breakfast and was where we mostly ate dinner, largely because while La Spiaggia is open in the evenings, the combination of chilly temperatures and relentless wind made outdoor dining feel more like I was in The Revenant and about to climb in a horse for shelter.

Being a creature of habit, I fell for La Spiaggia’s grilled baby chicken on the first day and promptly ordered it every day thereafter—perfectly cooked, well-seasoned. Situated right on the beach, La Spiaggia offers both smoking and non-smoking sections, though the separation is more symbolic due to the wind giving zero fucks about where you sit. The real issue, however, was the swarm of flies that seemed determined to join me for lunch. I’m not opposed to making new friends, but ideally not ones that land on my food.

Breakfast offered a small buffet—seriously small, with just one table of fruit, cheese, and pastries—but the chocolate brioche made up for it. The à la carte menu was more successful, with hazelnut crepes and chia seed pudding with fruit standing out. Unfortunately, you can ignore all my previous praise, as someone decided to hand over a hot banana milkshake.  What timeline are we on?  The one where everything is the shittest it can be?  No amount of retail therapy can make up for this.

However. However. They have a pizza called La Pizza Dolce Bounty. Let me just list the ingredients so you can fully appreciate its glory: caramelized pizza dough, chocolate cream, coconut cream, chocolate nibs, chocolate pearls, and coconut. Fuck yeah. I don’t care that I’m pushing 40—I ate the whole thing, fully aware it shaved nine years off my life.  And I have zero regrets.

Overall, I enjoyed La Spiaggia, while Il Caffè was mostly good—solid, but nothing particularly memorable. It’s a shame I can’t provide a full review of the resort’s signature dining options this time. On a previous visit, I dined at Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, the resort’s two-Michelin-starred Italian restaurant, and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The resort also boasts Hōseki, a Michelin-starred Japanese omakase experience, though that too remains on my to-do list.

Kids Friendly

Bulgari Dubai is surprisingly child-friendly. There are two kids clubs to choose from: The Little Gems Club at the Yacht Club offers fewer structured activities but a decent outdoor playground and plenty of toys inside. The second club, located near the beach, and is the most convenient one to use for hotel guests, is open from 10 AM to 10 PM—yes, 10 PM, which is borderline revolutionary for a hotel kids club. One of the 8-10pm activities was playing on a Nintendo Switch though.  But look, it’s open until 10pm!  I wouldn’t care if they were teaching the kids how to cook meth, with those timetables.  My heroes.

The kids club isn’t exactly a wonderland of imagination. Outside, there’s a shallow pool, a lone toy house, and a lifeguard who looks like they’re contemplating their life choices one minute at a time. And I don’t blame them. Inside isn’t much better—a single room with a PS5, a few small tables, and nannies stationed like they’re waiting for an incoming storm. Yet, despite the less-than-thrilling setup, Isabelle absolutely loved it—proof that kids can find magic in places where I’m left wondering what, exactly, I just paid for.

Back in the room, kid-friendly amenities were a nice touch—bibs, toiletries, and, of course, the infamous Bulgari snake soft toy, which we already have a collection of at home. The dedicated children’s menu made dining easier, and on weekends, the resort buzzed with families, though the crowd thinned out noticeably during the week. Overall, while the kids club’s hard product could use a bit more imagination, the long hours, and lovely staff made it a hit with Isabelle.  But more importantly, a win for us.

The Good

• Service
• Food
• Accommodation

The Bad

• The views
• Crowded gym

The Luxurious

• Spa

Conclusion

Good food, solid service, stylish rooms, an excellent spa, and a convenient location.  Sure, there are a few areas they could improve, but the biggest drawback is the view, and that’s beyond their control. It is what it is. Four Seasons has faced similar challenges in recent years, and no doubt Aman will face the same when they open nearby. But for now, there’s little doubt that Bulgari Dubai is the best hotel this region has to offer.