Metropolitan Palace Hotel, Dubai

The Cranley Report®: Metropolitan Palace Hotel

Metropolitan Palace Hotel, Dubai

Hotel Address

Al Maktoum Street
P O Box 56262
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Cranley Rating

Hotel at Night

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Hotel Summary

Category

Hotel

Hotel Opened	1997
Refurbishment	2006 Meeting and Conference Rooms

Cranley Summary

The Metropolitan Palace Hotel is centrally located on Al Maktoum Street in Deira. It is a short drive from the international airport and is in the heart of the business district of Dubai. The hotels decor is influenced by Far Eastern, Arabic & European styles, with an atrium feature on three separate floors. There are 212 guest rooms ranging from Superior to five varieties of suites, along with an Executive lounge providing special privileges for Executive Club guests. The hotel has a choice of four restaurants all offering live entertainment for the enjoyment of guests. Al Shindagah is a cosmopolitan all day restaurant, Tahiti is a Polynesian Restaurant with friendly island-style hospitality, Al Diwan is a traditional restaurant with variety of Lebanese dishes, and Sketch Bar & Grill offers guests modern European cuisine with a Mediterranean touch. In addition, the Gourmet Shop on the ground floor is an all day cafe offering a selection of pastries, snacks and hot and cold beverages. For leisure needs the hotel has the Nautilus Health Centre which includes a rooftop swimming pool, Jacuzzi, Sauna and Steam Room. Guests can browse the onsite shopping arcade, with gift shop and hair salon, while those with business needs can make use of the meeting rooms and business services. There is a daily complimentary shuttle bus service between the hotel and its sister hotel, the Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa which offers a wider range of leisure interests and entertainment for guests.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Metropolitan Palace Hotel is situated on Al Maktoum Street in Deira. It is a short drive from the international airport and is in the heart of the business district, close to the Gold & Spice Souks, Dubai Creek and major shopping malls. The hotel is an easy walking distance to Dubai Creek, Electronics Souk and the Gold Souk as well as a number of small shops and boutiques. The huge shopping complex Mall of the Emirates is about a 20 minute shuttle bus or taxi ride away. The Dubai World Trade Centre which hosts major local and international congress and exhibitions is ten kilometres away, public beaches ten kilometres and Dubai International Airport five kilometres with an approximate driving time of twenty minutes.

Airports
Distance	5 km
Airport Transfers	Taxi transfers. Executive Club guests receive complimentary airport transfers.

Cities and Sights
Distance	5 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi transfers. The hotel operates a complimentary shuttle service to the Dubai City Centre Mall.

Layout Description

Guests arriving by car or taxi will approach the hotel down busy Al Maktoum Street. The hotel entrance is right on the street and you enter a small vestibule at ground level with a short ramp or a few stairs taking you to the lobby itself. The building is square shaped with a central atrium two floors high from lobby level, a second atrium five floors from the second floor level and a third atrium reaching to the tenth floor from the eighth floor - guest rooms are all reached from a gallery around the perimeter of these atriums and have views facing out towards the city. On entering the hotel the Concierge and Reception is to the immediate left. Just beyond the Reception is the Business Centre and shopping Arcade. To the right of the entrance is the Al Shindagar Restaurant and Gourmet Shop. The Mezzanine floor has three of the hotels restaurants and the Conference Centre is on the first floor level. The Executive Club Lounge is on the eighth floor and the top floor of the hotel has the Nautilus Health Club with its rooftop pool and spa and the Pool Bar.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 hours
Languages Spoken	English, Arabic, French, Italian, German, Russian, Hindi and Tagalog
Payment Methods	Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners and cash are accepted.
Foreign Exchange	Most major currencies can be exchanged at reception.
Taxis Arranged	Street taxis.
Tours Arranged	The hotel's Guest Relations can arrange Dubai City tours, dhow cruises, desert safaris, wadi bashing, Al Ain City tours and other popular tourist activities. Most of these tours are provided by 'Lama Safari Cruises'

Guest Relations	Standard services.
Concierge Services	Standard services.
Medical Facilities	The hotel can call out a doctor in emergencies; according to the hotel the call out time will be no longer than 30 minutes. The hotel also has 25 trained first aiders.
Parking	Complimentary Valet parking.

Cranley Comment

The lobby of the Metropolitan Palace has a wonderful marble staircase at its centre which is the first thing the arriving guest will notice. The stairs lead to the Mezzanine level where there are three of the hotels restaurants. The lobby itself has marble floors, balustrades and columns with a gallery on the mezzanine level overlooking it and a huge glass chandelier hanging from the ceiling. To the left of the entrance is the reception desk, guest relations, Business Centre and the arcade of shops. To the right of the entrance is the Al Shindagah Restaurant and Gourmet Shop. The central lobby area is taken up by the Lobby lounge which has a piano where music is played most afternoons. The rear of the lobby has the hotels lifts, two of which are glass fronted and can be viewed from the lobby and are set either side of waterfall feature.

Shops & Amenities

Description

The Metropolitan Palace Hotel has the following shops on site:
Dar Al Almas
Jewellery & Watches
Burjwal
Jewellery & Watches
Amro
Ladies Hair Salon
Dyblus
Men's Hair Salon
The hotel shops open from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 22:00 daily, except Fridays when they open from 16:00 to 22:00.

Cranley Comment

Guests can browse the onsite shopping arcade, with jewellery and hair salons or venture out to the shops of Al Maktoum Street. For serious shoppers Dubai has a wide variety of shopping Malls - The Dubai Mall, which will be the largest in Dubai, is currently under construction and will be just 15 minutes away by taxi for hotel guests. The hotel can arrange taxi transfers to the Gold and Diamond Market, Wafi City, Mall of the Emirates, Mercato Mall and Ibn Battuta Mall between them providing a huge range of international stores and Arabic speciality shops.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	10
Total Rooms	212
Elevators	4
Rooms per Elevator	53
Total Staff	340
Staff per Room	1.6

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	Late check out subject to availability at a charge. Executive Club guests get complimentary guaranteed late check out up to 18:00.
Smoking Rooms	The hotel has 56 non-smoking rooms.
Room Service	24 hour full menu service. Children's menu.
Laundry Service	Items collected between 07:00 and 14:00 will be returned same day. Items collected after 15:00 will be returned next day. A 2 hour return service is available at a 100% surcharge.

Club or Executive Facilities

All Executive Club Floor guests receive the following additional benefits:
Use of the Executive Lounge on the 8th floor with the following benefits:
- Complimentary breakfast from 07:00 to 10:30
- All-day tea and coffee
- Evening cocktails and canapés from19:00 to 22:30
- Chargeable Wi-Fi access
- 2 PC workstations with complimentary high speed internet access
Separate check-in and check-out facility
Guaranteed late check out to 18:00.
Complimentary airport transfers.

Cranley Comment

The Metropolitan Palace Hotel features 212 guestrooms all of which have high speed Internet connections, large flat screen TV, a king size bed or two twin beds and bathrooms with separate showers and complimentary Elixir Spa toiletries. Rooms are decorated in traditional Arabic style with soft colours and dark green wood fixtures and fittings. The hotel has four types of suite from Junior Suites to the Royal Suite with three bedrooms and en suite bathroom, a large lounge and ten person dining room plus the added benefit of its own small gym, sauna and steam room. The rooms all have views over the buildings and streets of Deira City.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Superior	71	City	Flatscreen TV Complimentary newspaper Air conditioning/Climate control High Speed Internet access - surcharge Direct-dial phone with voice mail Fruit basket on arrival Minibar In-room safe Prayer Mat King size or two twin beds Private bathroom Separate bath and shower WC and bidet Complimentary Elixir Spa toiletries Bathroom telephone Bathrobes Slippers Bathroom scales Hair dryer Sewing kit Iron/ironing board (on request)	3 adults	27

Cranley Comment

Superior rooms are located on floors 2 to 7 and are reached down richly carpeted hallways with balconies overlooking the central atrium. The marble framed door leads to a small lobby with the bathroom to one side and wardrobe the other. The room is decorated in traditional Arabic style with soft blue, gold and green colours and dark green furniture with light green inlays. The bedrooms have a king sizeor two twin beds, TV and desk with chair. The private bathroom has white/grey marble tiles and sink units and is fitted with a large tub, separate shower and wc with bidet.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe	69	City	As per Superior room with the added benefit of: Daily fruit basket and soft drinks	3 adults	27

Cranley Comment

Deluxe rooms are located on floors 2 to 7 and are the same room type as the Superior room with the exception that they have a complimentary daily fruit basket and soft drinks. The rooms are reached down richly carpeted hallways with balconies overlooking the central atrium. The marble framed door leads to a small lobby with the bathroom to one side and wardrobe the other. The room is decorated in traditional Arabic style with soft blue, gold and brown colours and dark green wood furniture. The bedroom has a king size bed or two twin beds, a two seat sofa and small table, TV and desk with chair. The private bathroom has brown/cream marble tiles and sink units and is fitted with a large tub, separate shower and wc with bidet.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive	57	City	As per Deluxe room with the added benefit of: 2 seat sofa Separate desk space Luxury toiletries Use of Executive Club Facilities listed above.	3 adults	27

Cranley Comment

Executive rooms are all located on floors 8 to 10. They are the same physical rooom as the Deluxe Room but have the principle benefit of access to the Executive Lounge and its additional benefits such as complimentary breakfast and evening canapes. The rooms being the same as the Deluxe are reached down richly carpeted hallways with balconies overlooking the Executive Club Lounge. The marble framed door leads to a small lobby with the bathroom to one side and wardrobe the other. The room is decorated in traditional Arabic style with soft blue, gold and brown colours and dark green furniture. The bedroom has a king size bed or two twin beds, two seat sofa and small table, TV and desk with chair. The private bathroom has brown/cream marble tiles and sink units and is fitted with a large tub, separate shower and wc with bidet.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Junior Suite	10	City	As per Executive Room with the added benefit of: Additional space Separate lounge area Second TV	4 adults	40

Cranley Comment

The Junior Suites are in a corner position on each floor of the hotel. The marble framed door leads to a small lounge area with a two seater sofa, armchair, table and flat screen television. The corridor to the bedroom has the bathroom to one side and a wardrobe the other. The bedroom has a king size bed or two twin beds, two seater sofa and small table, TV and desk with chair. The suite is decorated in traditional Arabic style with soft blue, gold and brown colours and dark green furniture. The private bathroom has brown/cream marble tiles and sink units and is fitted with a large tub, separate shower and wc with bidet.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Executive Suite	1	City	As per the Junior Suite with the added benefit of : Additional space Seperate lounge Dining area with table and six chairs	4 adults	50

Cranley Comment

The Executive Suites are enterred through the marble framed door to a dining area with table and six chairs. The lounge area has a two seater sofa, two armchairs and a flatscreen TV and has a corner position overlooking Al Maktoum Street and The Creek. The bedroom has a king size bed or two twin beds, two seat sofa and small table, TV and desk with chair. The suite is decorated in traditional Arabic style with soft blue, gold and brown colours and dark green furniture. The private bathroom has brown/cream marble tiles and sink units and is fitted with a large tub, separate shower and wc with bidet.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Palace Suite	2	City	As per the Executive Suite with the added benefit of: Additional lounge space	4 adults	70

Cranley Comment

The Palace Suites are enterred through the marble framed door to a dining area with table and six chairs. The large lounge area has a three seat sofa, two armchairs and a flatscreen TV and work area with desk. The bedroom has a king size bed or two twin beds, two seat sofa and small table, TV and desk with chair. The suite is decorated in traditional Arabic style with soft blue, gold and brown colours and dark wood furniture. The private bathroom has brown/cream marble tiles and sink units and is fitted with a large tub, separate shower and wc with bidet.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Presidential Suite	1	City	As per the Palace Suites with the added benefit of: Additional space Seperate WC 10 seat dining room 2 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms Massive lounge area with: 3 three seater sofas 2 two seater sofas 4 large armchairs 2 large screen television Bar and bar stools	6 adults	205

Cranley Comment

The Presidential Suite is located on the 9th floor. You enter into a large marbled foyer with a guest wc to the left and a 10 seater dining room to the right. On the left is the bedroom one with its King size bed and en suite bathroom, 2 seater sofa and large TV. On the right of the lobby is bedroom two with two twin beds, ensuite bathroom, coffee table and two chairs. The large lounge area is directly ahead and has a number of sofas and armchairs, bar and bar stools and two large screen televisions. The decor in the Presidential Suite is lavish with deep piled carpeting, gilded mirrors and plenty of Arabic ornaments and artwork adorning the walls.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Royal Suite	1	City	As per Presidential Suite with the added benefit of: Third bedroom and en suite bathroom Small private gym Jacuzzi Steam Room	9	250

Cranley Comment

The Royal Suite is in a commanding position on the 10th Floor with great views over the city skyline. It is identical in design to the Presidential Suite with the added advantage of having access to a third bedroom with en suite bathroom at the end of the room by the study/bar area. Linked to this room is a separate room which has the gym, jacuzzi and steam room. There is a private entrance to this room as well as the third bedroom. As you would expect, the decor in the Royal Suite is lavish with deep piled carpeting, gilded mirrors and plenty of Arabic ornaments and artwork adorning the walls.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

The Metropolitan Palace Hotel has a choice of four main restaurants all offering live entertainment for the enjoyment of guests. Al Shindagah is a cosmopolitan all day restaurant located on the Ground Floor. The restaurants on the Mezzanine level include Tahiti a Polynesian Restaurant with a friendly island-style hospitality, Al Diwan with a variety of Lebanese dishes and a nightclub ambiance, and Sketch Bar & Grill which has modern European cuisine with a Mediterranean touch. In addition, the Gourmet Shop on the ground floor is an all day cafe offering a selection of pastries, snacks and hot and cold beverages.

Tahiti

Restaurant Type	Polynesian
Restaurant Capacity	120
Opening Times	12:00 to 02:00 Bar 12:30 to 15:00 Lunch 19:00 to 23:30 Dinner
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non smoking.
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available