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Concierge.com's insider take:
One of Dubai's most respected contemporary art galleries, XVA opened in 2003 within the 100-year-old neighborhood of Bastakiya, first settled by Persian traders who built the original town of wind-towered houses along the creek, a stone's throw from the Fahidi Fort Museum and the Old Souk. In two courtyard houses built out of coral-colored stone, accented by dark wooden furniture, pottery, and plants, XVA comprises an amalgamation of ground-floor gallery space, eight art-hotel rooms on the second floor, and a courtyard vegetarian café serving a basic but fresh menu of soups, sandwiches, salads, and XVA's signature mint lemonade. Artsy expatriates are drawn to XVA, especially on a Wednesday, when it plays host to offbeat art-house films and lectures (Brazilian author Paulo Coelho chose XVA for the launch and reading of his book The Witch of Portobello). The Moroccan-riad-style rooms, with Wi-Fi, are airy, minimalist, and slightly snug; each was decorated by a local or regional designer, including Lebanese furniture-maker Nada Debs and Essa, a Dubai couturier. The service is friendly though a bit languid. This is not the hotel for guests looking for a luxury five-star experience, and dining and entertainment options are severely limited—but at least this will ensure you leave the confines of the hotel to explore the city, which can only be a good thing.
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