ME Dubai

Character and identity

Set inside The Opus in Business Bay, this 93-room hotel is the only property in the world designed inside and out by Zaha Hadid, and the architecture is the headline act: an undulating glass void, curved walls, custom furniture, and monochromatic rooms that feel closer to a spacecraft than a hotel suite. Deseo handles seasonal fish and Latin American plates outdoors, while Botanica pours gin and tonics under one of the city's prettiest ceilings. Spanish-led staff in Adidas sneakers set an easy, playful register, and the atrium hums with live DJs, sax, and guitar.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The reason to book is the building itself: staying here is the most immersive way to experience Zaha Hadid's work, and the food, music, and service register all play to that theatre. Spend up on a suite for the living-room space, request an east-facing room for the Burj Khalifa view, and target cooler months when the outdoor venues come alive.