Review of The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain

The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain is set within 20 acres of lushly landscaped gardens and sandy beaches at the edge of Manama Bay with the private beach at the property sweeping around a picturesque lagoon and private island. 

The property is just a 20-minute drive away from Bahrain International Airport and a short distance away the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

The hotel is an ideal setting off point to appreciate Manama’s history – both old and new. On one side, there are winding streets, souqs, museums and mosques including the Al-Fateh Mosque - one of the largest in the world, the Bahrain Fort and the Barbar Temple, thought to date back to the second and third millennia BC. On the other side, there are the gleaming skyscrapers of the Bahrain World Trade Center and others, the City Centre and Seef shopping malls. 

It is even possible to visit the seat of the country’s wealth - Oil Well No 1 and the Oil Museum - a 45-minute drive from the hotel.

All the 245 guest accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain offer luxuriously spacious room layouts, classic modern furnishings, state-of-the-art entertainment systems, full marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and floor to ceiling windows to maximise the views of the resort, the garden or the sea. Each also features fine 600 thread count bed linens, Nespresso machines, iPod docking stations and luxury Asprey bathroom amenities.

The 42 Club level rooms are based on the top two floors of the hotel of this seven-story building and enjoy privileged access to The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge offering personalised check in and out and complimentary enjoyment of the Club Lounge buffet station. This hotel within a hotel space is furnished as a comfortable living area, stocked with books and international magazines and newspapers and features panoramic views of the turquoise waters of the Gulf, the white sandy beaches, the lush green gardens of the resort and the Manama skyline.

There are 31 suites with all offered complimentary airport transfers and complimentary access to the Club Lounge. The Diplomatic Suites offer around 150 square metre (1,679 square feet) of spacious accommodation with expansive living rooms and a dining area seating up to six people. There is also an additional powder room for visitors. The Royal Suites are slightly larger with fine artworks, a large Majlis en suite and a dining area for up to eight guests.

For those either craving more seclusion or who prefer to be as close to the sea as possible, there are 23 well-appointed seafront villas available offering at quite sizeable 450 square metres (4,843 square feet). Each offers three bedrooms, enjoys its own personal temperature-controlled private infinity pool, a large personal patio where a complimentary breakfast can be served daily, private beach access and 24-hour butler service.

The Royal Beach Club sets this Bahrain resort apart from any other with its white sandy beach overlooking a picturesque lagoon, complete with flamingoes, a marina and a private island. 

The Club features an array of wellness amenities including a fitness centre, jogging trail, a croquet lawn, three flood-lit tennis and air-conditioned squash courts, beach volleyball, temperature-controlled indoor and outdoor pools, a hammam and kid’s activities. The hammam features four plunge pools set at different temperatures along with a steam room and sauna.

Minerals from the Dead Sea, thalassotherapy and plunge pools are among the water-inspired elements of the resort’s luxury spa. Rejuvenating treatments draw from the rituals of Arabian history and complement the spa menu which includes facials, massages and body treatments in a serene environment to inspire the mind and restore energy to the body. The facilities include a couple’s suite, a steam room, a traditional hammam, atrium pool, hairdressers and barber and relaxation areas.

Bahrain is the smallest Arab nation in the Middle East and is comprised of 33 islands on the western side of the Arabian Gulf. It is understandable therefore that one of the most popular activities at the resort is to take to the sea on the resort’s Pearl 1 boat for daily excursions to explore hidden enclaves, cruise the Kingdom’s coastline, meet the dolphins, and more. 

Golfers can enjoy the 18-hole, par 72 championship course at the Royal Golf Club designed by golfer Colin Montgomerie. Just a short drive from the resort, the facility is managed by Troon.

For families, The Ritz Kids programme will keep junior VIPs occupied with a diverse range of activities based on four pillars – water, land, environmental responsibility and culture. Children aged between four to twelve years of age can enjoy activities such as culinary classes, water sports, arts and crafts, adventure games and talent shows. 

For those looking for peace, privacy and a retreat from the day to day, this hotel is for them. Elegant, comfortable and welcoming, with everything from double rooms to suites and enormous beachfront villas with private infinity pools.

The breadth of facilities at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain marks this resort out as one of the best in the Middle East. With the look and feel of the best of the expansive American resorts, this property has certainly everything needed for guests to enjoy a fabulous visit – either enhancing a business trip or having a wonderful holiday. With this range of activities and restaurants, it would certainly never be boring. It would be easy to do and eat something different every single day of even a long stay here!

The eleven restaurants and bars at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain all offer distinct dining experiences with one drawing inspiration from the modern Mexican art scene while another complements a sea view with an Arabian-Mediterranean cuisine.

La Table Krug by Y enjoys an intimate club-like atmosphere with dark wood walls, a fireplace and leather banquette seating. The gastronomic menu has been devised by Executive Chef Yann Bernard Lejard and leads diners on a journey through the senses in partnership with Krug, probably the most prestigious champagnes in the world. Plums restaurant meanwhile enjoys an elegant setting elevated by brilliant jewel toned fabrics and décor and is said by some to be the region’s top steakhouse. Enjoy a selection of premium meats and fresh seafood, cooked to perfection on Bahrain’s only Josper Charcoal grill.

Cantina Kahlo, as the name might suggest, is a flamboyant, bright venue with its bold colour palette and patterned fabrics inspired by noted artist, Frida Kahlo. The menu serves a selection of salads, tacos, tamales and other authentic, street-inspired food alongside premium grilled meats, seafood and delicious desserts. Primavera by contrast offers a trattoria moderna style with outdoor veranda seating and serves some of the most authentic Italian cuisine in the Kingdom. 

La Med offers lavish buffets blending Arabian and Mediterranean influences in a backdrop of pure French Riviera style. The décor is predominantly white with marble floors and turquoise and blue tones with wicker furnishings on the pool and garden view terrace. Nirvana could not be more different evoking the style of an Indian palace with elegant arches, intricately carved wooden screens and deep jewel-like fabrics, serving a menu of grilled platters, aromatic rice and curries.

The aptly named Thai restaurant, between the beach and the pool, offers Thai-inspired cuisine and mixed beverages highlighting typical Thai fruits. It has a relaxed, cosy ambience offering both indoors and outdoor seating with a menu designed for sharing with traditional dishes and curries, alongside Japanese sushi and tempura. A live DJ deck is in place nearly every night.  La Plage is another outdoor dining venue bringing a touch of the Mediterranean glamour to Bahrain. Surrounded by pools, palm trees and shaded gazebos, the casual restaurant and adjoining Bar de la Plage presents a fusion of Arabian and Mediterranean cuisines.

The Lobby Lounge offers a stylish yet relaxed setting with a floor to ceiling wall of curved glass looking out over the lush hotel gardens. Large, oversized sofas and armchairs offer a comfortable venue to just hang out, enjoy the à la carte menu or take Afternoon Tea. The Ritz Gourmet Lounge on the other hand has been inspired by the golden Belle Époque age of César Ritz and Auguste Escoffier and is decorated with rich velvet upholstered Napoleon chairs and sofas with the ambiance of a Parisian salon du thé.  The menu is influenced by Escoffier’s world classics.

With a singer and pianist in the evenings, The Burlington Club is the perfect intimate spot for a late-night drink.  As the name suggests, it features comfortable leather sofas and wing-backed armchairs reminiscent of a classic gentlemen’s club and features a freestanding humidor with some of the finest Havana cigars and a cellar with fine cognacs and wines.  

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is focused on environmental sustainability throughout their business, including architecture and construction, hotel operations and procurement. A comprehensive set of initiatives and practices are in place designed to reduce energy use, water consumption and waste while database and monitoring systems help them track consumption and monitor progress against goals. 

These initiatives include reducing energy and water consumption, increasing local and organic dining options by partnering with local farmers, growers and seafood purveyors, souring environmentally preferred products, empowering the brand’s hotel development partners to build green hotels and engaging and inspiring their employees and guests in conversation efforts.