Dubai does things on the small, discrete scale, said no one – ever. At literally every level, its outsized ambitions and extraordinary project budgets dominate.
Case in point is Morah (which apparently means ‘star of the sea’), a 140-seater eastern Mediterranean restaurant by the team behind Byblos restaurant in Toronto and Miami. For the Canadian studio Navigate Design, the greatest challenge was to humanise both the awkward star-shaped space on the 71st and 72nd levels of the JW Marriott Marquis, for now, the world’s tallest hotel, and the literally dizzying 270-degree views from the windows.
The designers drew from a formidable bag of tricks. These include twirling a giant spiral staircase around a cascading chandelier, installing a curvaceous 35-foot bar of satin lacquer and hand-carved wood scallops, and curling banquette lounges against giant mirrors with hand-applied gold leaf and digitally printed mermaid tails.
Meanwhile, the chef Stuart Cameron works on a lively menu of east-meets-west flavours and ingredients, including zucchini flower kibbeh, wood-fired pide flavoured with black truffles, and lamb ribs spiced with dukkah. Acrophobic diners should steer clear of the window tables which offer thrilling views of downtown Dubai, the otherworldly spire of the Burj Khalifa and the huge expanse of the Persian Gulf.
ADDRESS
JW Marriott Marquis
Tower B
71st Floor
Dubai
-
This refined Manhattan prewar strikes the perfect balance of classic and contemporaryFor her most recent project, New York architect Victoria Blau took on the ultimate client: her family
-
This is your chance to invest in some ultra-rare Maison Margiela Tabi bootsPart of the new ‘Tabi Collector’s Series’, these one-of-a-kind Tabis are adorned with 8,000 hand-embroidered beads, sequins and metallic shards – an ode to the pioneering split-toe style, introduced by Martin Margiela in 1989
-
Robbie Williams' chair for Moooi 'is a complete mood'Softly padded and cocoon-like, Robbie Williams’ Introvert chair makes a surprisingly gentle addition to Moooi’s theatrical universe
-
The best new hotels to love without reservationExplore the best new openings in the world, from city buzz in Vienna and Macau to laid-back escapes in Thailand and India
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Delano Dubai, a fresh chapter for a design iconDelano Dubai lands on Bluewaters Island, bringing Miami cool, Mediterranean flair, and a dose of design-forward glamour to the city’s shoreline
-
One&Only’s portfolio of ultra-luxury escapes reaches out to new horizonsFrom the Maldives to Mexico, One&Only’s resorts and private homes around the world offer exceptional stays in idyllic locations, soon to include a first USA property, designed by Olson Kundig
-
The Dorchester Collection boosts Dubai’s hospitality scene with The Lana hotelThe Lana is the latest opening from The Dorchester Collection with interior design by Gilles & Boissier
-
The Serai Wing launches its minimalist architecture in SharjahThe Serai Wing opens in Sharjah to a design by Dubai-based studio Anarchitect
-
Abu Dhabi travel guide: 8 cultural must-sees in the UAE capitalAs the Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates its fifth anniversary, we spotlight the UAE capital city’s cultural highlights, from contemporary art in historical sites to an architectural Apple Store, and a waterside wellness ecosystem
-
Villa One at the One & Only Palmilla — Los Cabos, Mexico -
Sixties sci-fi meets Dali at ‘Secret Room’ speakeasy in Dubai
