Five Luxe JBR review: Where Dubai's party brand meets refined beachfront luxury
Opened in April last year, the beachfront property is meant to be the most premium offering of the three, hosting an impressive line-up of bars and restaurants, including the Ibiza-famous Pacha brand, acquired by Five in 2023.
Located in a quieter part of the vibrant Jumeirah Beach Residence area, the hotel offers sweeping views of Ain Dubai, Bluewaters Island, the Arabian Gulf and Palm Jumeirah. Plus, it can be easily accessed by taxis and the tram in the neighbouring Dubai Marina.
It houses 222 rooms and 222 residences and, I'm told, is already frequented by celebrities, from sports stars to movie producers and DJs.
The National checked in to find out what you can expect from this glamorous resort.
The welcome
As we drive in, there are supercars parked in front, a signature of the Five brand, before luggage porters whisk away my bags.
Once inside the lobby, the first thing I notice is the triple height glass window that faces out to the swimming pool on the other side. A massive glass chandelier resembling a school of fish and bubbles hangs above the lounge.
The staff are friendly and welcoming, helping me seamlessly change my restaurant reservations for my two-night stay.
The room
We stay at the city-facing Luxe Spa Suite. At 235 square metres, it is generously sized – one of the largest I've ever stayed in – and comes with a lavish bathroom, an in-room steam and sauna, jacuzzi, a shower, his and her faucets, a walk-in closet and an outdoor terrace.
All the drapes and lights are electronically controlled.
But the highlight of staying in the Luxe Spa Suite is having our own personal VIP butler, Khalid, who offers to unpack our luggage. He even escorts us to all our dinner, spa and beach club reservations during our stay.
The food
The ninth floor of the hotel houses most of the culinary action, and the variety of food and drink offerings make it stand apart from other Five hotels.
We have dinner at Ronin, the Michelin Guide-recognised Japanese restaurant, where the chef welcomes guests by theatrically firing the teppanyaki. Although the air conditioning was not optimal, highlights of the night include the melt me Wagyu sandwich with caviar and 24k gold leaf (Dh160), kimchi bob chicken fried rice with sunny side up (Dh95), Wagyu tenderloin toban yaki (Dh280), BBQ yuzu miso black cod (Dh220) and Japanese doughnuts with salted miso caramel (Dh55) for dessert.
After dinner, we head to Paradiso, a Barcelona export and former winner of the world's best bar, which opened its first international outpost at Five Luxe JBR. The Dubai outpost has a circus feel thanks to balloons and merry-go-round horses hanging from the ceiling and a carousel bar outside on the terrace overlooking Ain Dubai. Expect to be served some theatrical drinks, a tapas-style menu and groovy music.
Five Luxe JBR food - in pictures
My favourite dining spot, however, was Tete-a-Tete, a Monte-Carlo-inspired, fine-dining restaurant with a lavender-filled ceiling and glass jewellery boxes for private dining rooms. A perfect date night spot with ocean views, this venue also hosts the Bisou Bisou brunch on Saturdays.
For our meal there, chef Daniel Welna recommends several dishes, but my favourites include the grilled prawns (Dh105) and seared foie gras toast (Dh110) for starters, roasted duck (Dh200) and beef short ribs (Dh220) for the mains, and creme caramel (Dh45) and chocolate fondant (Dh45) for dessert.
I didn't have the opportunity to dine at sports bar Goose Island Tap House. On Sundays, this venue also hosts a roast brunch.
Breakfast scene
Breakfast is served beachside at Cielo and offers plenty of choice. There's something for everyone, including an Arabic spread as well as Indian fare. There's also a live station for pancakes, waffles and French toast, cereals and milk, plus a bread station. There is also an impressive pastry selection and an a la carte menu for eggs. The hummus on toast was a personal favourite.A selection of detox shots is also on offer.
Avoid going too late in the morning as it gets very busy and it's hard to get a table indoors.
Spa and wellness
My husband and I try the 60-minute rebalancing massage at the ReFive Spa. Our masseurs Phat and Loppy work magic with their hands and put us to sleep during the treatment (Dh675), which is for deep relaxation. We are offered a detox water before and a fruit tea after the massage.
Guests can unwind further in the sauna and indoor pool, while those hoping to keep their fitness on track can work out in a 24/7 indoor or outdoor gym with skyline and sea views.
Hotel facilities
Playa Pacha, a pool and private beach club, offers Ibiza party vibes. It was a tad too hot for us to indulge in a pool party, but we spot several guests at the spot, where the service is quick.
The beach club offers three pools – one at the top reserved for in-house guests and families, one in the middle and one at the bottom right in front of the DJ booth. There are light bites available – think pizzas and Wagyu beef sliders.
Despite the party vibes, the property bills itself as family-friendly and is home to a club and pool for children near Cielo restaurant. However, I didn't see too many family guests at the property, instead there were more couples and groups of singles.
The hotel also houses a flower shop, a rent-a-car kiosk and a boutique, while the concierge desk arranges tours to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as a range of water sport activities.
Accessibility and sustainability
Five Luxe JBR offers wheelchair-friendly rooms. The hotel is taking steps towards sustainability by reducing plastic use and installing solar panels to complement water-saving and recycling systems.
Our spa suite houses a recycling bin and refillable glass water bottles. No fresh flowers are used at the property.
Value for money
Room prices start from Dh1,800 ($490), while a Luxe Spa Suite is priced Dh1,950 per night, inclusive of taxes. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is at noon.
As part of a summer promotion, guests can avail of either an early check-in from 10am or late check-out until 4pm and a 20 per cent discount on treatments at ReFive Spa for bookings through the hotel website, valid until September 30.
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