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    Bodrum bound? The essential guide of where to stay, dine, and reset

    Life

    July 5, 2025

    Beyond the yachts and beach clubs, Bodrum is having a chic moment. Here, we shortlist the essential guide of where to stay, dine, and reset.
    STAY
    Maçakızı Hotel

    Tucked into a cove in Türkbükü, Maçakızı Hotel is the original understated icon of Bodrum’s hotel scene. Loved by insiders for its barefoot-glam energy, this destination is a summer fixture for tastemakers and royals alike.
    METT Hotel & Beach Resort

    For something more serene, the METT Hotel & Beach Resort in Bodrum is a laidback-luxe escape set against a dramatic backdrop of Haremtan Cove. It boasts spacious suites and elevated dining venues – take your pick from Folie Bodrum for seaside dining, Isola Manzara Gardens to curb Italian classic cravings, or Dubai-born concept The MAINE for a vibrant and social time with friends. Visit the spa with a Himalayan-salt room and exclusive therapies for the perfect summer reset.
    Mandarin Oriental

    Tucked into the hills of Paradise Bay, the property feels like a private playground for those who prefer their summer days sun-soaked and detail-driven. Think: sleek beachfront villas, private pools, and interiors that whisper understated luxury complemented by impeccable service, and restaurants like Gigi, Roka, and Hakkasan to cater to any craving.
    DINING
    Gigi Rigolatto

    Set within the grounds of the Mandarin Oriental, Gigi Rigolatto takes over the Aegean for a luxurious pop-up this summer. The ultimate all-day Mediterranean escape – Gigi is where you can enjoy discovering curated treasures at the Gigi concept store, stylish sips and Italian favourites, barefoot dancing on Riviera playlists, and elegantly undone tablescapes under olive trees.
    The Maine Bodrum

    The Turkish Riviera outpost of the Dubai brasserie by restaurateur Joey Ghazal blends its signature East Coast elegance with Mediterranean flair. Expect oysters on ice, sea bass crudo, and Amalfi lemons the size of your hand – all served in a dramatic setting with views that stretch to the Aegean horizon.
    Roka

    Anchored in Mandarin Oriental grounds, this celebrated Japanese robatayaki concept debuts two venues: one for lantern-lit dinners, the other a toes-in-the-sand casual setting, both offering refined sashimi and signature beverages under olive branches with panoramic sea views.
    WELLNESS
    The Spa at The Bodrum Edition

    Slick, soothing, and scenically tucked away, The Bodrum Edition’s spa is an elevated wellness escape, offering a modern edit of beauty rituals and clinical-grade facials. Ask for the jet lag recovery massage or a traditional Turkish Hammam and stay for the magnesium pool and open-air hammam garden.
    Scorpios

    The Mykonos legend arrives in Bodrum with suites, two restaurants, a Ritual Space for breathwork and beachside sound healing, plus a sandy stage for daytime live music and DJs – a culture-rich sanctuary for those seeking a scene to be seen, with a dose of vibes.

    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Supplied  More

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    Dubai’s most serene night swim spots to cool down this summer

    Life

    July 3, 2025

    Without limiting outdoor pools winter, Dubai is always a step ahead when it comes to enjoying outdoor activities such as a night swim even during summer.
    Ideal for cooling off after work or starting your weekend, night swims offer spectacular skyline and sea views, cool waters, and the laid-back glamour that defines the emirate’s warmer months.
    Overall, night swims have emerged as the city’s chicest way to cool off, offering a blend of serene ambience, skyline views, and elevated leisure. Whether it’s a twilight dip at AURA Skypool with panoramic vistas of the Palm, a curated evening affair at La Cantine Beach, or the understated luxury of Drift’s moonlit lounging, these after-dark escapes redefine summer in the city.
    Curated with softly lit pools, curated soundtracks, and menus designed for poolside indulgence, night swims are no longer just a reprieve from the heat, they’re the new social hour for those who prefer their summer soirées served with a side of starlight.
    So if you’re deciding where to go and what to wear, see our full Emirates Woman guide to keep you occupied during summer.
    SĀN
    Nestled along the scenic Palm West Beach, SĀN Beach invited guests to experience the allure of moonlight waters and starry skies with late-night swims. Guests can bask under the stars and experience the vibrant pool bar until 9PM. Post swim, visitors can savour a delectable dinner at the restaurant to further elevate their evening. It starts at 6pm, with access priced at Dhs300, making it full redeemable for ladies and half for gents.
    For more information visit sanbeachdubai.com
    Maison De La Plage

    Maison de la Plage is turning up the heat and cooling things down with the launch of its Night Swims experience. As the sun sets over West Palm Beach, the venue transforms into a tranquil twilight escape, inviting guests to dine, unwind, and enjoy a moonlit swim. With the beach closed for summer, all sunbeds are relocated poolside, where the water is cooled to offer the perfect evening dip. Running daily from 7PM to 11PM, the experience blends laid-back luxury with the charm of coastal nights. Guests on sunbeds can enjoy the Beach Lounge menu, while those at dining tables will indulge in the à la carte offering. Rates start at Dhs250 on weekdays (Dhs100 redeemable) and Dhs350 on weekends (Dhs200 redeemable), making this the ultimate summer sundown ritual.
    For more information visit maisondelaplage.com
    One & Only Royal Mirage

    As the sun dips below the horizon, Al Janoub Pool at The Palace shimmers to life, setting the stage for Moonlight Swim—a sultry, starlit escape held every Friday and Saturday from 7PM to 11PM at One&Only Royal Mirage. This adults-only affair transforms the infinity pool into a twilight sanctuary, where summer beats echo through the night and the views stretch endlessly across Dubai Harbour Marina and Palm Island Bay. Guests can sip handcrafted cocktails in plush private cabanas, float under a canopy of stars, or sink into loungers surrounded by lush gardens and curated soundscapes. With its dreamy setting and effortless elegance, Moonlight Swim offers a chic new way to soak in summer, where the vibe is cool, the water warm, and the night full of possibility. The minimum spend is Dhs250 for poolside access and Dhs500 for private cabanas.
    For more information visit oneandonlyresorts.com
    La Cantine Beach – Delano

    As golden hour fades into an indigo glow, La Cantine Beach unveiled its Après-Soleil Night Swim, an elevated twilight ritual. Running every Thursday to Saturday from 7PM onwards, this moonlit dip comes with sunbeds for Dhs249 and lounges Dhs299, both fully redeemable against a curated night swim menu. A bottle of chilled grape is also offered at a special price of Dhs400 for those looking to toast the evening in style. With ambient lighting, panoramic views of Ain Dubai, and chic summer bites by the shore, it’s your new after-dark escape—where the city’s heat gives way to something far cooler.
    For more information visit lacantinebeach.ae
    Here’s your styling guide for the perfect night swim:

    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Instagram @zozoewitherspoon More