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
-
Samsung and Sony have unleashed new phone flagships, with Nothing snapping at their heelsDo flagship smartphones still have a place in a world of masterful mid-range devices and a general move towards less screen dependence, rather than more? We explore two new entries into the genre
-
Find bubbly, chewy, perfectly crusted pizza at Cosetta, LA’s new Westside Italian gemLocated in a slightly industrial area by the Santa Monica airport, Cosetta, from pizza maestro Zack Pollack, champions the local Italian dining scene with tradition and innovation
-
Oscar Niemeyer: a guide to the Brazilian modernist, from big hits to lesser-known gemsArchitecture master Oscar Niemeyer defined 20th-century architecture and is synonymous with Brazilian modernism; our ultimate guide explores his work, from lesser-known schemes to his big hits; and we revisit a check-in with the man himself
-
The world’s best new hotels that we’re loving without reservationExplore the best new openings in the world, from glamping at The River Electric in Sonoma County to beachside bliss at Hôtel Villa Miraé in Cap d’Antibes
-
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
