Wet Glam pool parties are all the rage at City of Dreams (Image: Supplied)
If there’s one thing Las Vegas needs, it’s a bit of sea and sand. While the landlocked desert city might boast glitzy casinos and theatres, it is sorely lacking in beaches – which is where one of the most incredible hotels in Cyprus comes in. City of Dreams Mediterranean, located close to the city of Limassol on the island, has both – an incredible casino, celebrity DJ appearances and a nearby beach.
Every Saturday until September 2026 – and returning next year for 2027 – City of Dreams is hosting its Wet Glam parties. Inviting a series of celebrity performers, from Steve Aoki to Nicky Romero, to perform at its sprawling pools, the hotel is rewriting what it means to holiday.
The high-energy pool parties, which have also featured James Hype, Lost Frequencies and Fedde Le Grand, are the main offering for the summer at COD, but they’re not the only one. The hotel also boasts a string of incredible five-star restaurants, its own padel courts and an in-house spa, along with the usual gym and pool facilities.
When I got to jet out there myself, it was potentially on the worst weekend of the year for it. Cyprus was experiencing its first thunderstorm of the summer – the same weekend that saw passenger ferry the Filo Jet capsize and sink off the coast of the island.
The hotel itself looks a bit like a cruise ship on land (Image: Jess Phillips)
Dark clouds began to gather on our first morning in Cyprus, and soon the heavens opened. Wet Glam was, understandably, cancelled for the weekend owing to dangerous storm conditions.
It came after Meduza star Mattia Vitale was forced to pull out of appearing at the event at the last minute. City of Dreams announced he would instead be replaced by Israeli DJ duo Eli & Dani.
Thankfully, despite a few hiccups, things began to fall into place once again. By late afternoon, the weather had cleared up and the sun was scorching the sky again – and Eli & Dani confirmed they would instead put on a show at one of the hotel’s restaurants, Anais. The laidback venue offers French cuisine, but also an outdoor dining area which ended up making the perfect dance floor, complete with a huge DJ rig and a full bar.
Eli & Dani provided an incredible DJ set (Image: Jess Phillips)
It was there we headed for a late night party, and by the time we got there it was already in full swing. Eli & Dani know how to put on a show – starting with a remixed version of Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall and working their way up to a high-energy drum and bass blend that had even the oldest restaurant patrons bopping.
The night wouldn’t have been complete, however, without fire dancers – and the performers were incredible. Dressed head to toe in silver and leather, the trio wielded swords and spears bathed in flames, twirling them seemingly effortlessly, thankfully without catching anything else alight.
We also made sure to check out the casino during our stay. Offering blackjack and poker tables, along with row upon row of slot machines, the 18+ venue is cut off from the rest of the hotel’s family-style feel, and requires an ID check to pass through the gates. It was a fun way to lose a few euros before kicking back by the expansive pools.
The evening wouldn’t have been complete without fire dancing (Image: Jess Phillips)
And the pools really are impressive. While we didn’t get to experience Wet Glam itself, we did check out the base for the wild parties, and they’re impressive. City of Dreams offers an adult-only pool, along with a swim-up bar and several areas for kids to swim – including water slides and a play area. It’s a great mix for the adults in the party to chill out while the children tire themselves out for an early bedtime.
As if it weren’t already obvious from the Cartier shop sitting in its lobby, City of Dreams is one of the most luxurious hotels I’ve ever stayed at. That’s also reflected in its fine-dining offerings – two of which we got to sample.
First up was Prime Steakhouse, a steak restaurant boasting a “first-class cigar menu” as well as prime cuts of beef. It was here I tried my first ever wagyu tenderloin steak. Priced at €98, the Snake River Farm crossbred wagyu, hailing from the USA, wasn’t even the most premium option – that honour goes to the grain-fed Kagoshima wagyu from Japan, priced at €125 for a rib eye.
The luxe food offerings are not to be missed (Image: Jess Phillips)
Prime Steakhouse offers an expansive range of beef cuts (Image: Jess Phillips)
Prime Steakhouse boasts an extensive liquor menu, with whiskeys hailing from around the globe, but for me it was the food that stood out. The smoked seafood velouté, served as an appetiser, was potentially the best soup I’ve ever tasted – though calling it a soup feels like doing it a disservice. Served with caviar and calamari tagliatelle, it’s honestly a must-try.
Amber Dragon is a pan-Asian restaurant located at City of Dreams, combining sushi with dishes from the only authentic Chinese woodfired oven on the island of Cyprus. The dim sum is to die for – I tried the scallop dumplings, served with golden caviar, and the Sichuan pork dumplings, but there is everything from lobster to roasted duck on the menu.
Of course, room service is also available to order 24/7 – evidenced by our breakfast pizza splurge.
What really stood out to me at City of Dreams was the service. Staff took the time to learn my name, to pull out a chair for me – at Amber Dragon, I was even given an adorable origami note to thank me for coming. The hotel goes the extra mile to ensure you have a luxe and comfortable stay.
Our trip also included a journey into nearby Limassol (Image: Jess Phillips)
The city’s castle dates back to 1590 (Image: Jess Phillips)
The surroundings are very impressive, too.
Located just minutes from the city of Limassol, it’s just a short hop over to the Old Town and the marina, which was only opened to public vessels as recently as 2014. You can book a private fishing cruise or simply stroll around makers’ markets in the city centre. During our trip, we enjoyed a traditional Cypriot meze board at Kipriakon Restaurant, overlooking the water. From stuffed vine leaves to spicy sausages, the Cypriot answer to tapas was incredible – and made all the better in the surroundings of the Old Town.
We also popped over to Limassol Castle, close to the city’s old port. Dating back to the 4th century – though the version standing today was rebuilt in 1590 – the castle features an incredible rainbow crochet display on its walls, and historical artefacts in the grounds from recent excavations.
And keep an eye out for the stray cats that dot the city. They’re pretty well taken care of by the locals, and most don’t mind being petted.
