The entrance of 25hours Hotel One Central immediately makes a unique impression: offbeat, bold, and steeped in stories. A restored Emirati race boat, marked with the UAE flag and the number 22, rests just outside the doors, nodding to local heritage. Inside, the lobby bursts with personality. A towering fountain wrapped in bookshelves houses a glowing globe, while the ceiling above comes alive with constellations reimagined by Dominik Bulka in a playful mural called Under the Same Sky. Nearby, oversized swing chairs invite a pause amid the buzz.
Every corner of the hotel adds another layer to its narrative. Elevators are home to intricate dioramas by Sandra Havemeister, offering miniature scenes of old and new Dubai. The interiors, created by Woods Bagot, nod to Bedouin heritage while staying defiantly current. From pottery workshops and podcast studios to co-working spaces with skyline views, 25hours doesn’t just offer a place to stay. It creates an environment that sparks curiosity, nostalgia and connection.
Accomodation
Rooms come with an analogue upgrade including Polaroids, typewriters and vinyl records, while the first floor’s Analogue Circus offers a break from digital life through over 500 vinyls and a working Walkman station. The floor also features works by Jalal Abuthina and Tulip Hazbar, who explore memory, collecting and old Dubai through photos, objects and installations. Their collaboration highlights stories from the city’s underground music scene, including The Flip Side, the UAE’s only independent record store.
Each floor continues the visual journey. The second and third levels reflect Dubai’s Bedouin and pearl diving past with tribal art and desert-inspired design. Rooms echo these influences with hammocks, rainfall showers, vintage bikes and playful details. Suites range from the cosy Glamping Room to the sprawling Hakawati Suite, which includes a triple-king bed, dancefloor and views of the Museum of the Future. Upper floors trace Dubai’s evolution from desert to metropolis, culminating in futuristic themes and space-inspired works by regional and global artists that align with the Museum next door.
The Artist Village Suite feels like a creative hideaway suspended above the city. Spanning 72 square metres between the fourth and eighth floors, the suite combines space and style to feel like a true home away from home. A king-size bed anchors the layout, while a separate living area includes a dining table, a majlis-style sofa, and thoughtful design touches throughout. From the windows, the Museum of the Future curves into view, offering a stunning contrast to the suite’s softer, handcrafted interior.
Art-filled panels float like hanging canvases, gently dividing the space while adding artistic flair. The open shelves are curated with artist tools and tactile pieces that give the room a lived-in, expressive feel. Splashes of colour animate the setting, with a red chair in one corner brightening the room. Details like potted plants and a vintage globe lend a sense of personality. The open-plan bathroom includes double showers and a bathtub, with curtains that can be drawn for privacy. With warm wood tones and soft lighting, the suite balances creativity and comfort, offering a personal setting.
Culinary highlights
For a late lunch, we headed to Tandoor Tina, where the pastel pink interiors and open flame cooking set the tone for a relaxed, flavour-forward meal. We started with crisp onion bhaji served with a truffle aioli and a sprinkle of chives, followed by a spicy mango salad that balanced sweetness and heat with peanuts, cucumber, ginger and chilli. The butter chicken was rich and well-spiced, while the chicken tikka came straight off the grill, smoky and tender. Both were perfect with the confit garlic naan and the green chilli & lime butter version, soft, charred and full of flavour.
For dessert, the cardamom milk cake was creamy and fragrant with a crunch of rose and biscotti, while the coconut kheer paired with mango and mandarin sorbet offered a fresh and cooling finish.
For dinner, we made our way to Ernst, a Bavarian biergarten and wirtshaus where the atmosphere is loud, lively and unmistakably German. We started with the Beladene Pommes, loaded with cheese sauce and smoky beef brisket bacon, and the Gebackener Camembert, crisp on the outside and melting within, served with a tangy cranberry sauce that cut through the richness.
For mains, the Currywurst “Heiße Paula” delivered exactly what it promised, classic bratwurst with a spicy curry sauce and a pile of fries, while the Nürnberger Rostbratwürstchen offered a more traditional take with five sausages, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and beef gravy, with mustard on the side for a bit of sharpness. We ended on a simple note with the Vanille-Eiscreme, a scoop of vanilla gelato topped with mixed berries – light, sweet and just enough after a heavy meal.
The next day, we woke up for a sumptuous breakfast at Tandoor Tina, featuring an extensive buffet offering an array of culinary specialties. Fresh juices, tea, and coffee were readily available, complementing the array of offerings, including succulent chicken sausages, grilled chicken, scrambled eggs, a cheese and breads station, and a variety of salads and pastries. Personal favourites included the flavourful Foul Medames, crispy hashbrowns, followed by the chocolate croissant and the cream cheese danish.
If you’re looking for another breakfast and lunch option, Nomad Day Bar is also a solid pick. The menu leans international with an emphasis on all-day breakfast and express lunch options, paired with fresh, housemade pastries and Nightjar specialty coffee. For something light and refreshing, the açaí bowl is fully loaded with granola, fresh fruits, flax seeds, goji berries and coconut.
Heartier options include the Turkish eggs served on sourdough with garlicky yoghurt, herb-chilli oil and crumbled feta, or the egg Florentine with kale, baby spinach and onions under a rich hollandaise. The eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and avocado is a classic done right, while the shakshuka arrives bubbling in tomato sauce, topped with poached eggs, feta and flatbread on the side. For those on the go, meals are prepped fresh and ready to take away.
For lunch, don’t miss out on the newest desserts at Nomad Day Bar. The Strawberry Rose is light, fragrant and just sweet enough, while the Coffee Bean Triple Chocolate Cake leans richer and darker. The signature Pistachio Cake, filled with brigadeiro-style cream and crushed nuts, has become a customer favourite, closely followed by the Dulce de Leche Cheesecake with its silky texture and slow-cooked caramel flavour.
Facilities
25hours Hotel One Central balances high energy with thoughtful wellness offerings. The sixth-floor gym blends indoor and outdoor zones with a relaxed Venice Beach atmosphere, while the rooftop pool and Dubai’s first outdoor mixed-use sauna provide calm open-air escapes. The Extra Hour Spa takes a fresh, flexible approach to self-care, offering everything from express fixes to full-length treatments.
My partner and I booked the 60-minute Deep Tissue Massage, designed to release built-up tension and restore body balance. After filling out the standard forms and briefly discussing pressure preferences with our therapists, the session began with deep, focused work on the shoulders and back, gradually moving to the legs, arms, and neck. Each movement felt purposeful, easing knots without discomfort. The treatment ended with a relaxing scalp massage and a few quiet moments in the lounge with tea, leaving us both feeling restored and grounded. The property also houses a salon by renowned stylist Wassim Steve for those seeking a full refresh.
Book now
From AED1,998 per night for the Artist Village Suite. Visit website.