Waldorf Astoria DIFC is one of the best new luxury hotels in the city for years, and in Dubai that is really saying something. The stunning hotel occupies the 18th to 55th floors of the Burj Daman, a vast complex made up of residences and office towers. High-speed elevators whisk you up to an opulent lobby that appears to be taken straight out of early 20th-century New York. Its rooftop bar St. Trop has opted for modern opulence. This stylish alfresco lounge has a pool and whirlpool for a daytime dip but becomes a trendy hangout by night. With a fantastic cocktail menu and a DJ, it feels like the place to be seen in Dubai’s financial district.

Al Mustaqbal St, Za’abeelZa’abeel 2, Dubai +971 4 515 9999 waldorfastoria3.hilton.com