Breakfast was good - best sambar I've ever had and good samosas - but the breakfast spread and restaurant ambience lacked any wow factor, perhaps it was scaled back because of Covid protocols. The staff at the breakfast reception desk and the chefs really stood out.
Club room was a great size, lovely bathroom, plenty of storage and a good selection of TV channels.
A big shout out to Ayoub and Wiam in the executive lounge, who are super helpful. The hotel is in a good location, you can walk to a few shops, cafes and a money changers - there is no ATM in the hotel - while Dubai Mall is a short taxi ride away.
I did one yoga class, which was excellent, and I would book these ahead of any future visit.
The big disappointment for me at the SGL Dubai was the pool area. Zero ambience - no background music plus no cold beers/alcoholic drinks to purchase - and totally disinterested, verging on rude, staff.
I enquired early in my eight-day stay whether it was possible to reserve a sun lounger for a later date and was told 'no'.
Yet when I next went to the pool area, one lady had three empty loungers beside her and I was informed that she had reserved them. Inconsistent hotel policy or perhaps she had paid/tipped the staff?
I also didn't like having to walk across the road bridge to access the pool area. The pool area was weakest point of the hotel for me and was what influenced my decision not to return to the SGL during my Dubai visit.