XVA Art Hotel

XVA Art Hotel in Dubai, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a distinctive and tranquil retreat that stands in charming contrast to the city's modern skyscrapers and bustling pace. Guests consistently praise its unique artistic ambiance, exceptional service, and prime location within the historic Al Fahidi district.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The XVA Art Hotel garners overwhelmingly positive feedback, with impressive overall ratings such as 8.9 on Agoda and scores between 9.0-10 on Booking.com. The sentiment highlights its uniqueness, peaceful atmosphere, and artistic charm as a welcome escape from the typical Dubai experience. Many guests describe it as a "haven of artistic delight" and a "serene refuge".

Key Highlights

• Design & Ambiance: Guests are particularly drawn to the hotel's distinctive art decor and its setting within a beautifully restored historic building. The hotel features three shaded courtyards adorned with contemporary art installations, traditional woodwork, and textiles, providing numerous relaxing spots. It's celebrated for preserving the rich Persian heritage of the neighborhood.
• Service: The service is consistently described as exceptional, friendly, helpful, and personalized. Staff are often noted for going "out of their way" to ensure guest comfort and a memorable stay.
• Location: Situated in the heart of the Al Fahidi Historic District (Old Dubai), the hotel offers an authentic cultural experience. It boasts easy walking access to major attractions like the Dubai Museum, Al Fahidi Fort, the Gold and Spice Souks, and Dubai Creek. Public transport, including metro and bus stations, are also conveniently nearby.
• Amenities: Key amenities include an on-site art gallery, a celebrated vegetarian café, ample common areas for relaxation, free in-room Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping, and 24-hour room service.

Room Quality

The XVA Art Hotel offers 10 to 15 individually designed rooms, each uniquely themed with local art and locally-inspired details, such as the Henna room or Moon room. While some rooms can be "snug" or "comfortable if small," they are well-appointed with comfortable beds, air conditioning, and clean private bathrooms with good showers. Atmospheric touches like draped veils, ornamental dark-wood fixtures, and black-out shutters contribute to a cozy and authentic feel. Notably, rooms are often secured with padlocks rather than key cards, and many do not feature televisions, encouraging a true escape.

Dining Experience

The hotel's award-winning vegetarian café, located in one of its charming courtyards, is a significant highlight. It serves Middle Eastern-inspired gourmet vegetarian cuisine, including creative mezze, salads, soups, and cheesecakes. Breakfast is highly recommended, described as "scrumptious," "fresh and tasty traditional food," often featuring homemade labneh and flatbread. The café is renowned for its signature mint lemonade. The café does not serve alcohol. Room service is available 24 hours a day.

Service & Staff

Guest feedback consistently praises the staff for their exceptional hospitality, describing them as "friendly," "helpful," "kind," and "wonderful". Many reviewers mention that the staff "will go out of their way to make you comfortable", even preparing breakfast for guests who sleep in late. This personalized service contributes significantly to the welcoming and memorable experience at the hotel. A thoughtful amenity is the provision of a shower room for guests with late flights.

Location & Accessibility

Nestled in the pedestrian-only Al Fahidi Historic District, the XVA Art Hotel offers a uniquely calm and peaceful setting in Old Dubai. It's an ideal base for exploring cultural landmarks such as the Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort (5-minute walk) and is within a 10-minute walk of the Gold and Spice Souks and Dubai Creek. Dubai International Airport is approximately 9-15 kilometers away, a taxi ride of about 15 minutes. While taxis might require directions due to the pedestrian nature of the area, the hotel is also accessible via public transportation, being a short walk from Sharaf DG and BurJuman Metro Stations.

Value & Pricing

The XVA Art Hotel is frequently highlighted for offering "exceptional value for money," with an impressive rating of 8.8 for value. With an average room price around $134, it provides a more affordable option compared to the average $165 in Dubai, without compromising on quality or comfort. Room rates typically start from approximately US$120-134 (or AED 340).

Common Complaints

While generally highly rated, some guests have noted a few recurring issues. The early morning call to prayer can be heard from the rooms. Some older features in the rooms might appear "a little tired," with a desire expressed for more luxurious touches like "fluffy white towels, fancy toiletries and perhaps flowers". The hotel does not have a swimming pool, which some travelers might miss, though for many, this was not a significant concern given its unique charm. While breakfast quality is superb, guests staying for extended periods sometimes wished for more variety. Due to its location in a pedestrian area, finding the hotel by taxi can sometimes be challenging, and minimal signage at night might make it hard to locate. Finally, the vegetarian café does not serve alcohol, which might be a consideration for some guests.

Sources

1. agoda.com
2. booking.com
3. booking.com
4. theluxtraveller.com
5. quiltripping.com
6. michelin.com
7. forbes.com
8. trip.com
9. hotels.com
10. agoda.com
11. booking.com
12. expedia.com
13. dubaitravelblog.com
14. h-rez.com
15. happycow.net
16. myboutiquehotel.com
17. kayak.com
18. michelin.com