The Habtoor Palace at Al Habtoor City in Dubai, is part of a grand complex associated with the Hilton hotels chain. With over 1,000 rooms, an array of restaurants, meeting and conference facilities and on-site entertainment like La Perle, this really is a City unto itself.
Habtoor Palace
I almost believe we are arriving at a palace as we enter the lobby of the hotel in the early afternoon. It is grand indeed with marble flooring, high ceilings and sweeping staircases. The staff friendly and helpful but our room is not yet ready. However, we are invited to make use of the facilities and so, we head on up to the rooftop pool. Settling in for the afternoon, some shade is in order, as is a cocktail or two.
The Pool
We relax into the holiday vibe, waiting for friends to arrive. The children are happy splashing In the pool. We wade around, cocktails close to hand, delighting in the cool water. The pool area is nicely appointed. There are sun lounges facing the pool, a good amount of shade and the landscaping is tasteful. However, I am a little underwhelmed. Perhaps with access available to the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeriah’s private beach, most of the clientele have opted for that.
Our friends arrive and the sun moves lazily across the sky, giving us more welcome shade as the afternoon inches on. Eventually we decide we must retire in order to be ready for tonight’s show.
Heading to our now available rooms I am pleasantly surprised. The rooms are large and as palatial as the lobby leads me to believe. There is a large walk in robe, sumptuous furnishings and a hushed grandeur eludes from the damask wallpaper and soft carpets. The room is spacious, well appointed and comfortable. On entering the bathroom I immediately wish I could transport it home with me! It’s completely luxurious.
We organize showers for all and I am grateful that we booked two rooms. As spacious as they are, once the boys have left all their clothes on the floor, the luxury feels slightly less and I am happy to return next door to our tidier version.
Once ready, we may our way back to the majestic lobby and make some family memories with a portrait on the stairs. Then, it is off to La Perle for the 6pm show.
La Perle
Prepared for the spectacle of La Perle, we enter and join the queue to collect popcorn and refreshments. There is an air of expectation, despite the current social distancing requirements, and the boys are excited.
The excitement is with good reason. La Perle, created and produced by world renowned Artistic Director, Franco Dragone, is rather special. Dragone is recognised internationally for ”reinventing the genre of theatre and changing the face of live entertainment”.
Taking our seats we have a few minutes to admire the imposing stage before the lights dim and the music takes hold.
After the music, the first thing we notice is the water. It is perfectly still, then bubbling, then flooding, falling and receding.
The storyline is based loosely around a young girl who falls into a dream and travels around the UAE searching for a pearl while meeting people from all places and cultures. The story is modern and imaginative while capturing some of the cultural diversity and aspirational desires of the country.
Described as a “breathtaking fusion of immersive artistic performances, imagery and technology” the show is really an overload for the senses. It is hard to take it all in in such a short space of time and it leaves me slightly overwhelmed. The boys are completely wowed.
It is an incredible performance and a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience.
Ribs & Brews
After the show we head upstairs to get the boys to bed and then regroup at Ribs & Brews, Al Habtoor City’s take on an American gastropub. Handcrafting of cocktails and the drawing of brews is happening at the large bar which centers the space.
We order drinks and then some food to share. We start with some popcorn shrimp and then – ribs, ribs and more ribs, plus a couple of side salads. The ribs are the specialty: 36 hour slow cooked barbecue angus short ribs. We order three servings for the 6 of us: secret barbecue sauce; honey roasted garlic smoky sauce; and an Australian lamb version with a balsamic glaze. The salads, Cobb and Caesar, really just add color to our plates. They are bland in comparison to the meat and the ribs are a hit.
The next day after a sleep in and slow breakfast I need to leave as I have a function to get to, a baby shower at The London Project. I leave Jason with the boys and head off, wishing that I could return to the pool for another lazy afternoon of swimming and cocktails instead.
Good To Know
La Perle is showing at the Habtoor Palace
The staff were friendly and helpful but not quite helpful enough to honor my Hilton Honors membership and add the points to my account. The reason given was that the booking (2 rooms!) was under my husband‘s name, rather than mine.
Would I Return?
Yes. Having seen the show twice I would not seek it out independently. However, if I had a friend or visitor that wanted accompanying, I would return.
The Habtoor Palace is a beautiful hotel with sumptuous rooms. Be sure to align your booking to your Hilton Honors membership in advance to avoid disap’point’ment! It is a shame that such a delightful stay has been tainted by this detail.