How to Find Matryoshka: Carlton Downtown Hotel Visitor Guide

Matryoshka Beauty Salon sits inside the Carlton Downtown Hotel on the mezzanine (“M”) floor, on Sheikh Zayed Road. The location is excellent — five minutes from Burj Khalifa, four minutes from Financial Centre metro, ten minutes from Dubai Mall — but finding the right entrance inside a five-star hotel can confuse first-time visitors.

This is the practical guide for getting here without circling.

The exact address

Carlton Downtown Hotel, M Floor, Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Centre Second, Dubai, UAE.

Coordinates: 25.2093371° N, 55.2748061° E.

The hotel’s official side of Sheikh Zayed Road is the city-bound side (heading away from Abu Dhabi). If you are driving from Marina or JLT, you will need to take a U-turn at Trade Centre roundabout to reach the correct entrance.

By metro

Financial Centre station, red line. Four-minute walk.

Exit the station from the eastern side (signposted “Sheikh Zayed Road / Trade Centre”). Walk along the metro footbridge toward the Boulevard side, then back down to street level. Carlton Downtown is the building with the rounded glass façade and the brand sign visible above the entrance. Walk through the main lobby, take the lift on the right, press M.

In summer, prefer the air-conditioned metro footbridge over walking at street level — Dubai heat between June and September makes the 400-metre outdoor portion uncomfortable.

By car

From Downtown / Burj Khalifa direction, take Sheikh Zayed Road heading toward Abu Dhabi. Carlton Downtown is on the right after the World Trade Centre exit. Slow into the right lane and turn into the hotel forecourt.

From the Marina / JLT direction, head toward Downtown on Sheikh Zayed Road. Cross Trade Centre roundabout, take the first U-turn (sign reads “Sheikh Zayed Road Return”), then re-join Sheikh Zayed heading away from Downtown. The hotel will be on your right after 500 metres.

Parking: the hotel has an underground paid car park accessed from the service road behind the building. The entrance is clearly signposted. Parking costs 5 AED per hour, payable at the exit terminal in cash or card. The garage rarely fills before 20:00.

Valet: available at the main hotel entrance, 50 AED for up to 4 hours.

By taxi or Careem/Uber

Set the pin to “Carlton Downtown Hotel” (not just “Matryoshka”) — the salon name will not always resolve in older ride-hailing apps. Drivers know the hotel.

When you arrive, ask the doorman for “the mezzanine floor — beauty salon”. They direct guests here several times a day; some staff have started directly leading guests to the salon door.

On foot from Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall

Eight-minute walk. Exit Dubai Mall from the Boulevard entrance, cross the bridge over the lagoon, follow the Boulevard footpath toward Trade Centre. After the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard signage, Carlton Downtown is the building on the right side.

In peak heat (June–September) this walk is uncomfortable above 10:00 AM. Most clients in those months prefer a 6 AED taxi.

What to tell your hotel concierge

If you are staying at a nearby hotel (Sofitel Downtown, The Address Boulevard, Vida Downtown, Manzil), the concierge desk almost always knows Matryoshka by name now. The booking is fast: “Beauty salon at Carlton Downtown Hotel — five-minute drive.” Most concierges will arrange the taxi or car within ten minutes; some will book the appointment for you on WhatsApp directly.

Inside the hotel: the last 30 seconds

After you enter the main lobby, the salon is not visible from the entrance. Walk past the reception toward the elevators on the right, press M for mezzanine, exit and turn left. The salon entrance has a burgundy door with our matryoshka doll logo.

If you are unsure at any point, the hotel security guard at the main door speaks English and Russian (often) and will walk you to the salon if needed.

When to come

The salon is open daily 10:00–21:00 including public holidays. Walk-ins welcome — but for the busiest hours (Friday and Saturday after 18:00) we recommend booking via WhatsApp +971 58 554 9788 at least 30 minutes ahead.

For service details and prices visit our Downtown location page or the Russian Manicure service page.