Dinner in the Sky

Perhaps I can start a  BK fan club?!

We're used to the biggest, the tallest, the best in Dubai, and this week is no exception…the world’s highest restaurant  opens on Sunday, in the resplendent Burj Khalifa.  As I love this building to the point of obsession, it will come as no surprise to you that I am all over it like a rat up a palm tree (rats do live up palm trees, we witnessed one in Creek Park!).

Not only is the location ideal ( a hop skip and a jump from my front door) but there’s obviously the small matter of the spectacular view.  Overall, it promises to be a fabulous experience. As one of my girls squeaked: “Am so excited!  If a boy took me there on a first date I would marry him!”

It’s on the 122^nd floor, just two floors below the viewing platform.  This means that it is very likely that the world’s shortest homo, Tom Cruise, probably had his size nines all over the windows when he was filming Mission  Impossible.  I do hope they’ve washed them before I pop in for dinner on Monday night!

Finally...Armani

So, finally, I made it to the Armani…and it was worth the wait. I was there for a work party, and we were actually the first event that they had hosted since the opening. What can I tell you? Overall, it was a great, great night, with some hilarious stories at the end of it.  Highlights:

• The Burj: To get to the hotel – which is in the Burj – you access it via a long drive,with lots of security checking that you have a reservation. And then you’re there, in front of the Burj. It’s a beast. I see it all day, every day, but nothing prepares you for standing right at the foot of it, looking up at it against an inky sky. Breathtaking.
• Décor: It’s Armani, darling, so as you would expect, it is the epitome of stylish, minimalist chic. Greys, browns, muted colours and textures…..achingly elegant.
• Staff: Amazing. Despite dealing with 400 rowdy, drunk, very excitable people, they were always polite and efficient. Oh, and girls: great uniforms (silver space age styles dresses with huge angular shoulders.)
• Food: Divine. I really don’t know how they did it given the huge numbers of people they were catering for. Starter was fish, then there was some sort of potato soup, then it was a medallion of beef (unbelievably good and melt in the mouth, and considering I was vegetarian for 18 years before moving to Dubai, this is quite a verdict), all finished off with a chocolate tart type thing with after eight ice-cream. Thanks heavens for the roomy vintage Halston dress I’d dug out of retirement!

I won’t go into the event itself, suffice to say that the entertainment was an acquired taste, and the singer murdered many, many popular tunes, but let’s just say: there was a stage, and we were dancing on it.

I couldn’t tell you what time that ended, but the second phase of the evening was Armani Privee – the nightclub within the hotel. It involved leaving the Burj and re-entering through a different door – don’t ask me how exactly and if you paid me money I’m not sure I could show you again….

The club is very typical Dubai and the sort of place I usually avoid. Visually it’s again completely Armani, with what looked like mother of pearl booths….the whole space is dominated by a giant, and I mean giant, screen, which plays Armani fashion shows over and over again. Not sure why anyone would ant to watch these when in a club, but who am I to argue. Couple of points to note:

• If you try to remove your shoes and dance barefoot (blisters) they will come and tell you off and make you put your shoes back on
• If you try and dance on the seats/tables, they will come and tell you off and make you stop
• If you try to enter the club whilst wearing a dish-dash (not me, obv) they will tell you off for trying and refuse you entry
• If you start breakdancing, they do not try to stop you
• If you start spank-dancing, they do not try to stop you

On the last two points: please do not take my word for it. By this time it was 3 am and the staff were probably too exhausted by our antics to stop us.

So overall, it’s an amazing experience, and the food alone was worth the trip. Apparently it came from the Italian restaurant (not sure of the name) we will be back. Next time I will try my best to remember more of it….

Well Hello, Giorgio

Another new hotel opened in Dubai last night.  But not just any hotel...the new Armani Hotel in the wonderful Burj Khalifa (world's tallest building, if you've been living under a rock for the last few years..).  It was supposed to open last week but the ash cloud delayed things a little.

Despite our best efforts we couldn't secure an invite to the super-exclusive event.  Word on the street from those who were lucky enough to make it to the party is that Naomi was there....further celeb sightings to be confirmed.  My good friend A has been inside for a sneak preview, and testifies that it is just as gorgeous as you would expect.  We're having an agency party there in May, but I don't think I'll be able to wait that long to get inside for a look!

The fact that it's literally a six minute walk from my office and staggering distance home to my apartment also makes it a tip-top location all round.  It's as exclusive as you would expect from a hotel in uch an iconic building, so much so that in order to even gain access to the hotel for a drink, you have to have a reservation.  They do the same at the Burj Al Arab (too many tourists going in for a gander and causing a kerfuffle) but this is no hinderance.  We'll book.  We'll go.  I'll keep you posted.