Perched along the Marasi Bay waterfront in Dubai’s Business Bay, The Lana offers a calmer, more design-focused take on luxury, feeling thoughtfully put together rather than overly flashy.
Designed by Foster + Partners, with interiors by Parisian duo Gilles & Boissier, The Lana's architecture and interiors establish the refined design language that unfolds throughout the hotel.
From the moment the large doors swing back, it becomes clear that art and design sit at the heart of the experience as much as hospitality. The spacious lobby unfolds like a gallery rather than a traditional hotel reception. Soft natural materials, sculptural furniture and generous volumes create an immediate sense of openness, while thoughtfully placed artworks encourage guests to pause rather than simply pass through.
We checked-in and headed straight to The Gallery, a restaurant that is an extension of the lobby area. Here they serve arguably one of the best afternoon tea and experience in the city.
Did you know that staff at The Gallery are trained to speak about the artworks displayed throughout the lobby? Guests can simply ask at the front desk or in The Gallery to be guided through the collection. It is an easy way to extend an afternoon tea into a more immersive cultural experience, with added context and insight.
Rather than treating art as an accessory, The Gallery reinforces The Lana’s position as more than a luxury destination. Rotating exhibitions and contemporary creative practice are integrated into the hotel itself, reflecting a growing dialogue between hospitality and culture, where hotels increasingly become spaces of artistic exchange as much as places to stay.
Among the works that stand out is Sophie Coryndon’s honeycomb piece, commissioned for Dorchester Collection. The British artist explores the intricate geometry of honeycombs through cast and gilded Jesmonite, transforming natural structure into refined sculptural form.
"Insects, especially bees, have fascinated me for years", says the artist. "When you pull a frame out of a hive and see what they have created, it's miraculous: If I could only bottle that sense of wonder."
Near the front desk, visitors encounter a striking work by Flavie Audi. The French Lebanese artist works with the physical properties of glass, translating light into fragmented, almost ethereal landscapes that evoke geology and shifting terrain, capturing Dubai’s luminosity and futuristic energy.
Audi's glass translates Dubai's colour of the city throughout the day from sundown through to sunrise.
Latifa Saeed, an Emirati artist and 2019 fellow of the Sheikha Salama Emerging Artist Fellowship, explores the intrinsic qualities of regional materials. She documents earth sediments from across the UAE and encases them within glass panels, preserving and reframing the landscape itself.
Saeed introduces visitors to the shades of her homeland through materiality and colour. Her exploration of stratification and layering becomes a metaphor for Dubai's development, connecting the city's past, present and future.
Franco American artist Sergio Ruffato presents a metaphorical reading of Dubai through installation. A horizon of thousands of brass spheres is multiplied and mirrored into infinity, creating a hypnotic, immersive field of reflection.
As we settled into the refined surroundings overlooking the marina, the experience struck a balance between precision and ease. The Gallery team were knowledgeable and attentive, guiding us through the selection of delicately prepared pastries, savoury creations and curated teas before allowing the afternoon to unfold at an unhurried pace.
While piping hot Earl Grey scones may not have been something you thought you'd find on an afternoon tea menu, they're not to be missed. Served warm from the oven, they were one of the standout highlights of the experience.
Rather than rushing guests through each course, the pace encourages conversation and unhurried appreciation of the surroundings, making it feel less like a meal and more like an afternoon well spent.
The guest rooms continue the design language established throughout the hotel. A neutral palette, natural stone, warm timber finishes and layered textures create interiors that feel timeless rather than trend driven.
Our room had a stunning panoramic view. Large windows frame views across Business Bay and Downtown Dubai, allowing the city’s evolving skyline to become part of the room itself.
Bathrooms are equally considered, combining generous proportions with refined finishes and understated detailing. Natural materials continue throughout, reinforcing a sense of continuity between spaces. The result is an environment that feels calm and quietly luxurious.
As Dubai’s hospitality landscape continues to evolve, The Lana signals a shift towards a more culturally engaged form of luxury, where design, art and architecture sit alongside refined service. Rather than simply offering somewhere to stay, it creates an environment that encourages guests to slow down and notice detail.
Visit: dorchestercollection.com
Hayley is passionate about everything 90s, from art and fashion to music. Her love for glossy, artful coffee table books started early during her days in book publishing and has only grown since. She collects luxury magazines from around the world, enjoys exploring creative workshops around the city, and always chases dinners with a view, preferably by the beach.
