7 Best Hotels in Bur Dubai and the South Bank, Dubai

The Arabian Courtyard is caught between the bustle of the exotic Indian Meena Bazaar and business district, and the historic Al Fahidi Quarter; this is reflected in its inability to adhere to either style completely, but hover in the center. The interior has ornate fretwork and heavy wooden furniture, offset by vibrant silky fabrics. There’s a lively restaurant on-site with excellent biryanis and Bollywood singing or dancing most nights. The exterior is geometric and attempts to match the fort that now houses the Dubai museum. The clientele includes leisure travelers visiting the cultural center of Old Dubai, or those conducting business within the bazaar and souks.

As Bur Dubai's largest hotel, with a colossal 600 rooms and almost 200 serviced apartments, this property makes a real statement. The building is designed in two sweeping sensuous curves and is surrounded by 37 acres of beautifully manicured grounds on Dubai Creek. On-site amenities are extensive, including an ample choice of eateries, a nightclub, kids club, cinema, and a large sports club. Big free-form pools sit among tropical gardens. Public areas are on a grand scale, decorated with flourishes and flounces popular in the 1980s. Rooms are spacious with a classic international design, including pale stone, and tan and brown hues. The Grand Hyatt has excellent conference facilities and often holds large conventions.

The crowning glory of Wafi City (an ancient Egyptian-inspired mall), this majestic glass pyramid houses a classy five-star hotel. It's a beautiful property—albeit extravagantly opulent. The theme goes overboard only in the huge lobby where Egyptian columns overwhelm the space. The rest of the hotel is more subtle, with contemporary Arabic and Asian design themes that increase in grandeur with the price of the room. Suites are very generously sized, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows leading to wide terraces, many with views of Dubai Creek and the downtown skyline. There's a lovely pool, complete with gold mosaics, and a luxurious spa. The hotel may be older than some of Dubai's five-star properties, but remains incredibly plush, and is frequented by high-profile visitors.

Dubai's first boutique hotel still has a faithful following of on-trend and artsy guests. Housed in a century-old mansion in the old creekside Fahidi district, the property has just 14 unique and quirky rooms set around two intimate courtyards. Each room is individually designed by local professionals and personalized by local art. Within the complex is one of the hippest galleries in the city, which hosts prestigious exhibitions of avant-garde arts, film festivals, and product launches throughout the year. XVA also has a cool courtyard café that serves light and traditional Arab fare, and a fabulous cup of Turkish coffee. Note, no alcohol is served.