Nikki Beach has been the last word in luxury travel since its debut on Florida’s Miami Beach in 1998 in memory of Jack Pernod’s daughter, Nicole. The idea was simple: a place to escape and celebrate life with those closest to you. And it’s a mantra that’s stuck. Despite becoming a global brand spanning eleven destinations, the vibe remains carefree, indulgent, and surprisingly intimate.
Nikki Beach Club Dubai opened in 2016, with the resort and hotel (one of five across the globe) following in 2018. Neatly surrounded half by the impressive downtown skyline and half by the outrageously beautiful Arabian Gulf, the beach club is a visual representation of luxury living.
Understated opulence underpins the entire experience, with dedicated staff attending each guest’s cabana, food options spanning from exquisite fine dining to pool snacks, and extremely Instagrammable cocktails (although the beach club does not allow cameras, to respect guests’ privacy). The décor is exactly what you’d expect from the Nikki Beach brand: crisp whites and ocean blues wind through the pool area and spill out onto the 450-metre stretch of private beach. Naturally, guests are understated and achingly cool, clad almost universally in designer swimwear.
Location
Despite being just a 15-minute drive from Downtown Dubai, Nikki Beach has a feeling of remote seclusion thanks to its position on the achingly exclusive Pearl Jumeira island. The best way to get there is via local taxi or Uber, which is astonishingly efficient throughout Dubai.
Pool parties
Nikki Beach Club is open from 11am to 8pm, Tuesday to Sunday. The lounge pool winds lazily between the DJ booth and swim-up bar, surrounded by an array of loungers, cabanas, and group seating areas. Laidback music trickles out of hidden speakers, coaxing guests into the water for a dip. Just beyond, a further smattering of cabanas face straight onto the ocean, surrounded by the golden sands of Pearl Jumeira beach.
As the sun sets, the vibe shifts up a gear: the music gets louder, the string lights come on, and the dancing in the pool becomes more energetic. As though obeying the command to ‘Celebrate Life’, guests are fully engaged in the euphoric party atmosphere. Music is at the heart of the Nikki Beach experience – resident DJs while the hours away, with the occasional sax player popping up on the raised walkway that intersects the pool.
Spa
Day visitors to Nikki Beach have the option of treatments at the hotel’s in-house spa, or al fresco massage on one of the private beach cabanas. The spa is set back from the beach, accessed via an impressive sheltered walkway, hugged by a low-lying water feature. The sense of calm is overwhelming, and continues within the vast spa reception: high ceilings, white décor and stunning array of natural light. Treatment rooms are plush, with large, extremely comfortable beds, adjustable lighting, and a seating area where the massage experience kicks off with a decadent foot bath.
Food and drink
Nikki Beach Club Dubai’s extensive menu has been uniquely curated in homage to the tastes and spices of all the countries in which Nikki Beach is located across the world, using locally-sourced ingredients. The choices are lavish and plentiful, from healthy salads and decadent poke bowls, to indulgent sushi and freshly caught seafood.
Guests can choose to order from their sun-drenched cabana, or head to the restaurant for a slightly more formal experience. Naturally, the standard of service is unparalleled.
Rates range from AED 300 per person (£64) for a single sun lounger on the beach to AED 25,000 (£5,314) for Ultimate Cabana (up to 12 people).
Factbox
Address: Nikki Beach Dubai, Pearl Jumeira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 376 6162
Website: dubai.nikkibeach.com
All imagery supplied by Nikki Beach Dubai
