Fairmont The Palm — Restaurant in Dubai

We have visited Dubai at least 24 times since our first trip in 2000. We have stayed at most of the Jumeirah Beach hotels as well as Jumeirah Palm some of these on repeat occasions. As a result, we feel justified in making comparisons and constructive criticisms. Unfortunately, the Fairmont ranks as one of the worst we have stayed at in Dubai.

The positives are the location, shuttle service to the Malls, common parts of the hotel and rooms were modern, well maintained and very clean. Staff were on the whole very friendly, polite and helpful ( some more than others). Seanberry (duty manager), Vivek (food and beverages manager), Rohit (breakfast area) Chef Karol (Sea Grill) , Wai (evening buffet / Shisha terrace), Jennifer (front reception), Mahmoud (luggage/ front ), Robinson (pool area), Irish (Boldly Asian) and Ghita (spa) deserve a mention for going above and beyond in terms of service and helpfulness. The spa was an expensive but not to be missed, thoroughly pleasurable experience - so much so, we visited on 3 different occasions and tried different treatments.

The negatives are the quality and variety of food in the main restaurant, quality of service in some of the other restaurants ie Little Miss India and the pool areas. We were disappointed by the lack of variety, especially at breakfast. This came as as shock given the variety we had always encountered not only at the other Dubai hotels but on our travels staying at 5 star hotels worldwide. Whilst staff were very responsive and apologetic when asked about the lack of variety, they missed the point that guests should not have to ask for items which are generally available at other hotels. Whilst the food was of a good standard at the evening buffet the lack of simple touches such as mood lighting and dressed tables gave the impression of a school canteen.

We disliked the way that some guests of particular nationality were visibly/ audibly rude to waiting staff. This made for uncomfortable viewing/ listening, totally unacceptable - the hotel should adopt a zero tolerance approach to such behaviour.

Whilst we can understand the staff’s desire to seat people during breakfast, more attention must be paid to guests right to choose. Being seated next to tables of screaming babies and young children is our idea of hell - especially early in the morning. If a guests states a preference to sit somewhere other than a table that the waiting staff have designated - this should be respected and not frowned upon. In fact, there should be a designated family section at meal times .

We liked the fact that there was a family pool however, for the size of the hotel, space and loungers at the other pools was grossly inadequate. We didn’t like the fact that the pools and loungers were so close together. It gave the semblance of packed sardines - not a pleasant experience. We appreciate that there was more space at the beach but let’s face it, the beach is for die hard sun worshippers who are impervious to the extreme heat.

We faced unnecessarily lengthy waiting times in Little Miss India. This was partly due to the fact that serving staff were too busy arranging takeaway staff meals at the expense of dealing with guests. There were also communication problems with some staff members where we had great difficulty understanding - poor English pronunciation / diction.

The half board option did not represent good value for money especially when additional supplements had to be paid in most of the restaurants. Having to pay for water at meal times was particularly poor show. Had we been aware of the proximity of Nakheel Mall before booking, we would have settled for B&B only.

Lack of evening entertainment!

On the whole, we had an enjoyable stay at the Fairmont - it could have been much better. We thank Seanberry immensely for his attentiveness, kindness and efforts to...

This was our 2nd year at Fairmont the palm. Last year was absolutely amazing (gold lounge access) the staff (Ashish 5 stars he was our favourite, such an amazing worker) service and overall experience was great, rooms I feel a bit dated and storage is an issue for a family of 4 slightly. Anyway, this year was slightly different, we noticed the cut backs straight away in the lounge. Drinks and waters now locked in fridges, last year you could take a drink and sit and enjoy it in the lounge without bothering the staff, this year you had to ask, they were delivered in small glasses and the majority of the juice was flat. Some days there was no water at all in the fridges so you had to ask the staff. I feel this felt like a punishment and a slight distrust towards the guests. This new arrangement ment that staff had to waste time during Golden hour to deliver waters and juice to guest who wanted meaning a backlog of guest awaiting for drinks during golden hour, staff were run off their feet, some guests had to wait 25mins for their drinks during this time which we feel is a vital part of the gold lounge package that we pay extra for, Not the staffs fault at all as they are doing what has been asked by management, personally this has only made their job so much more difficult and the experience less enjoyable.

Also some guests were in the Gold lounge with pajamas (nightwear) wet hair as they had just come out the shower and rushed to golden hour this was on more than one occasion, no staff said anything to them, one lady had her dressing gown on during such time, another lady had silk pajamas on and soaking wet hair prancing about the lounge as if it was her bedroom. We were always made aware during certain hours there was a dress code, obviously not now.

We also noticed this year the air con has had a slight adjustment in bedrooms, it used to go to 18, now 20 which meant most nights when all 4 of us slept in the room it was far too hot. The pool toilets used to have air con too, now switched off. The cleanliness of the outside toilets were in a poor state too, same with lounge loo, all seem smelly and not checked up on as well or often as they were last year.

Can't complain about the staff, Ashish ⭐ Myint Roju, Amzae all doing their very best to accommodate with what power they had. The cleaners too that did the rooms, all very helpful and always asked if we needed anything.

All in all we felt the gold lounge wasn't justified this year for what we paid as we ended buying our own refreshments for our fridge in the room instead of the hassle of going to ask for them, golden hour was just not fun some nights, also got really hot in the lounge too, some nights the golden hour went amazing some nights when not too busy.

The beach area needs some attention too, water felt dirty with bits floating in it, cigarette buts and some litter here and there.

Be prepared to share your holiday with day/weekend guest who come for a quick stay or day visit, pool gets busy and can be a bit crazy with kids.

We did want to sit at the adult pool with our 2 teens one 17 and one 15(nearly 16) for peace and quiet but we were hounded by a staff member about our sons age as he wasn't 16 yet, totally understand but we just wanted peace and quiet with our 2 older teens away from all the little kids to chill and read. We left anyway and didn't come back.

All in all we feel yes we still had a good holiday but feel the Gold package just wasn't the same as last year and has lost its magic touch. Probably not worth spending the extra money but if you're half board be prepared to be overcharged for...

Absolute Perfection – Unforgettable Stay at Fairmont The Palm

We stayed at Fairmont The Palm from 30th June for 9 nights and I can honestly say this was the most incredible hotel experience I’ve had anywhere in the world. From the moment we arrived until the moment we left, we were treated like royalty — and the genuine warmth and hospitality of the staff elevated this stay into something truly special.

We had booked two Palm Sea View rooms but arrived early in the morning and expected to wait a while. The welcome we received was just amazing. Indisham at reception gave us the most wonderful surprise — upon hearing it was my birthday and that we were returning guests, he arranged an early check-in and upgraded us to a stunning 2-bedroom suite on the penthouse floor! The view of the Palm was breathtaking. When our family staying at Atlantis Royal came to visit, even they said our suite was better than theirs — a true wow moment and the best possible start to our holiday!

The facilities are superb — from the pristine private beach to the relaxing and luxurious pool areas (there’s even a quiet adult pool), everything is spotless and beautifully maintained. You can tell every detail is carefully considered. The hotel smells divine throughout — fresh, clean, and luxurious.

We were on the half-board option and were blown away by the quality and variety of the food. Every meal felt like a fine dining experience. A special shoutout to Little Miss India, where the ambiance, flavours, and service were exceptional. Pratheek Rai, the restaurant manager, was a true gentleman who went above and beyond to make our evening perfect.

Our suite was cleaned to perfection every day, with Prashad and Ajit keeping it immaculate. They were so friendly, always smiling, and took time to chat — which we really appreciated. They clearly take pride in what they do, and it shows.

Midway through the trip, I had a bit of an accident on a desert safari and returned to the hotel a little bruised and sore. This is where I met Avinash Shetty, the Assistant Manager of Guest Services and Concierge — and let me say, he is an absolute gem. Seeing my black eye and bruises, he personally arranged medical assistance at no cost, ensured I was okay, and even followed up the next day with a note, fruit platter, and the cream the nurse recommended — which he went out and bought himself. This level of care is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. He continued to check on me throughout the stay and was just a truly kind and caring person.

To top it all off, on our final day, when our Emirates transfer messed up, Avinash once again came to the rescue and sorted our family’s transfer to the airport within minutes. Incredible service from an incredible professional who clearly loves what he does.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Sherif Ibrahim, one of the hotel’s senior leaders, to tell him just how amazing his team is. It’s clear the culture of excellence and genuine care runs throughout the whole team.

Fairmont The Palm isn’t just a hotel — it’s an experience. Spotless facilities, exquisite food, unbeatable service, and most importantly, a team that genuinely cares about your stay. I would return here in a heartbeat and will recommend this hotel to everyone I know. If you want luxury, warmth, and memories that last a lifetime, this...