Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai

Located in the faux-old part of Dubai alongside the Creek, this wonderfully atmospheric hotel manages to feel authentically vintage in spite of only having opened four years ago.

The comfy rooms are split into different bait, or individual ‘houses’, spread along the Al Seef waterfront area, and are filled with retro design details like old photos, oil lamps and clunky light switches.

Onsite restaurant Saba’a Café’s breakfast is worth getting out of bed for – Emirati-inspired items include cardamom waffles and saffron French toast. They’ll also drive you by buggy to sister hotel Canopy by Hilton, so you can use the rooftop pool with its fabulous views of the whole area.

Just a few minutes’ walk away is Al Fahidi, the ‘real’ old Dubai with some houses dating back 100 years, topped by traditional wind towers. If you want less of the city’s skyscraper futurism and more of a cultural stay, this hotel is a good choice.