A couple of weeks ago me and my partner Tom travelled 3,500 miles to surprise my mum in Dubai to celebrate her 60th birthday.
We were following a tight itinerary to fill our four days with lots of birthday fun and surprises, so we needed a hotel that was central to most of our pre-planned destinations. Aesthetics were also important since we had content to shoot during our trip and the Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai looked like everything we needed in a hotel.
The Hyatt Centric is a relatively new, sleek and contemporary hotel, with a ‘lifestyle’ vibe. Offering 173 stunning rooms with incredible views of either the Arabian Gulf or the breath-taking Dubai skyline. There’s a 24-hour fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool, a spa, hairdressing salon and my new all-time favourite restaurant; Eunoia by Carine.
The Centric name represents putting the guest at the centre of the action (in whichever destination you might be), and I truly felt I was at Dubai’s epicentre. We had the wonderful La Mer Beach with the warm waters of the Arabian gulf on our doorstep and every landmark we planned to visit was a short taxi ride from the hotel. We felt extremely connected to everywhere we needed to be.
Our room was one of the 20 plus suites in the Hyatt Centric and it was absolutely unbelievable. We had 180 degree views of the Arabian Gulf with a balcony that looked down over the beautiful pool. We had a huge king size bed, a flat screen TV, a sofa, a living room, a dining table, double sinks, and a huge wet room. If that wasn’t enough, we also had a double dressing room, fridge, a coffee machine and daily chocolates and sweets delivered whilst we were out, these little touches were just the best surprise that made our stay even more amazing.
Although the aesthetics and details are impeccable at the Hyatt Centric, the staff are on another scale entirely. There is nothing they can’t and won’t do for you. If you need a shave, they’ll bring in the barber, if you’re looking to eat something that’s not on the menu, they’ll make it for you. The guests needs are everything at the Hyatt and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more looked after. There’s even a lovely person who’s soul job is to make sure your taxis are booked and your luggage is taken to the car- she was so lovely and always made it her mission to sort us out whenever we were running late (which was often!).
This hotel takes away all those little holiday niggles and worries. The added freedom allows you so much more time to make the most of your trip and spend a lot less time stressing. There is someone in every department who will look after you. If you fancy just lounging around the pool, then the guys around the pool will find you the perfect bed, they’ll also be on hand to serve food and drinks as and when you need through the day. All in all, the hotel offers a 5-star service in every single department, so to say I was impressed is an absolute understatement.
Now, let’s talk about food. I am a self-proclaimed foodie and I’ve always been impressed with food at Hyatt hotels wherever I am in the world, but the Hyatt Centric is in a league of its own. Breakfast in Eunoia by Carine was epic and probably my favourite hotel breakfast to date. I started every morning with an almond milk latte (made to perfection) and a glass of fresh watermelon juice. I attempted to go through the whole menu during our stay, but I only managed the pastry basket, eggs on avocado and also the baked eggs (wow wow wow). However, the star of the show was definitely the French Toast. I have never had French Toast coated in crunchy Brulé before and I can honestly say it’s what dreams are made of. It didn’t matter how full we were, we always had to share the French Toast without fail and it’s something I still crave weeks later.
We also had an epic dinner at Eunoia by Carine which was hosted by the incredible Fifi. The chefs, waiters and Fifi orchestrated one of our favourite meals of all time which consisted of Baked Salmon, Chilli Prawns, freshly made Tomato and Mozzarella Gnocchi, Watermelon and Blue Cheese and the most gorgeous Sashimi. The menu has been designed by Chef Izu, so it’s no wonder we died and went to heaven whenever we ate at the restaurant.
I really can’t recommend the Hyatt Centric enough, whether you’re a family, a couple or travelling solo to Dubai, this lifestyle hotel is everything you’ll ever need and more.
Review and images by Luke Williams @stanleydru
