Hotel Review | The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain

It’s February, a very exciting time for me as it’s my birthday month. As a special treat, my partner surprised me with a weekend getaway, and I honestly did not know what to expect and pretty much just went with the flow.

We lived in Abu Dhabi at the time, which is the Gulf winter, averaging 22-25 degrees.

Knowing this, I was told to pack lightly and take a couple of nice outfits to celebrate my birthday somewhere special.

My partner and I are world travellers, so we travel pretty moderately to high-end. And if I know him well enough, I wouldn’t expect anything less than four stars. So I trusted him and, as I said, just went with the flow.

What made it even more special was a couple of our friends decided to join us on this trip and surprise me. Can you imagine the look on my face when I saw them at the airport? My head could not comprehend seeing them at the airport! But once the surprise was out… I was one very happy birthday girl!

As there were now four of us, our friends had pre-arranged a hire car for the weekend, and our first stop was at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, a five-star hotel nestled in a secluded paradise in the heart of Manama’s Al-Seef District, Bahrain.

Driving through the private driveway, and being greeted by the white-gloved concierge, dressed in Arabic attire, made us feel very royal, and we could feel the hotel’s exclusivity immediately.

Upon our welcome at the entrance, we were in awe of the lobby’s grandeur.

We were escorted to the Club Floor where another more private check-in area was situated, and at this point, I now realised we were staying in a Club Room. 

Haili, our dedicated concierge, was very bubbly and welcoming. Her excitement and passion for checking us in were impressive. We were treated with ‘Qahwah’ (Arabic coffee), dates and tea while processing our check-in. 

A short distance from the reception and the lifts, Haili accompanied us to Room 715. As we walked in, I was shocked to see our room decked out with birthday greetings. My name on a banner over the king bed, pink and gold balloons scattered around the room, a beautiful bunch of pink roses and a stunning birthday cake with my name on it. I was speechless.

We are forever grateful to Haili and the Guest Relations Team, who prepared a warm welcome that made me feel so special on my birthday.   

Location

The Hotel is approximately 9 km from Bahrain International airport and about 3 km to the Manama city centre. So in less than 10 minutes, you are close to all the popular tourist attractions to enjoy Bahrain’s local culture before retreating to a paradise resort.

Self-Parking is available, as well as the comfort of valet service. The concierge can advise on local tours, points of interest, shopping areas and nearby restaurants.

The Ritz-Carlton 

With panoramic views spanning along the Arabian Gulf, the property features private white-sand beaches that stretch around the hotel’s lagoon and a private island beach. Luxury beckons you at this 20-acre resort situated on the shores of Manama. The ambience is elegant yet extravagant; it combines traditional culture with modern decor.

Rooms and Suites

Accommodation includes 31 suites, 42 Club Level rooms and 15 beautiful three-bedroom seafront villas, each with its private swimming pool, direct beach access and 24-hour butler service and free Wi-Fi services. 

We stayed in a Club King Room with a small living area, a separate study area overlooking the pool, a marble bathroom featuring state-of-the-art rain showers, WC and bidet, and an inviting spa bath. 

Signature Asprey bath amenities, comfortable robes, and slippers are available for your use. There is also a twice-daily housekeeping service, including turn-down service.

Club Lounge

A dedicated concierge will be available for your personalised check-in and attention while staying on the Club Floor. 

Privileged access to the Club Lounge allows you to enjoy additional services and amenities for working, dining, and relaxing, including breakfast, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. 

Perfect for catching the morning views, this is where we had our breakfasts, enjoying the impressive buffet station, offering fruits, yogurts, olives, savouries, a selection of teas and coffees and personalised service by the waiters. A chef you can watch through the glass window is also on hand to create a hot breakfast of your choice.

Spa

The Spa is open daily from 6:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Comprises a multi-level spa featuring a thalassotherapy and plunge pools with spa treatments of facials, massages and body treatments. There is also a traditional Turkish Hammam, atrium pool and relaxation areas for ladies and gentlemen.

Fitness Center

There is a conveniently located mixed gym and exclusive ladies gym for the health buffs. Alongside is a steam room and Sauna. Tennis and Squash Courts are also available.

Dining

The Ritz-Carlton restaurants and dining options draw on tradition, various cultures, design and authentic settings to create distinct experiences. 

Options:

La Table Krug By Y, Plums (Steakhouse), Catino Kahlo (Mexican), Primavera – (Italian), La Med (Tapa’s & Buffet), Nirvana (Indian), Lobby Lounge & Ritz Gourmet Lounge, Thai, Burlington Club (Gentleman’s Club). La Plage (Arabian & Meditteranean)

My birthday dinner celebration was at the authentic Italian restaurant, Primavera. A unique dining experience in itself, with magnificent resort views, an open kitchen and a vertical garden where we sat watching the chefs prepare the meals. The food was Bellissimo.

And then a surprise treat, where the chefs and waiters came out with a specialised birthday cake singing to the tune of Happy Birthday.

What a treat!

Catering & Conferences

The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, is ideal for any celebrations, catering to 1,000 guests, from weddings, anniversaries, corporate holidays, conventions, birthdays, and reunions. A dedicated outdoor tent lends to a beachfront luxury with two exquisite ballrooms.

Weddings

The hotel’s venue, led by a team of professional planners, creative chefs and experts, can create the perfect wedding at the Al Ghazal Ballroom or the new Masaya Pavilion. If you are looking for a smaller gathering, you have an option of an intimate Villa for your family and friends.

Lagoon Resort Walk

Enjoy the scenic ambience of paradise.

The lagoon of the hotel is stunning. For serenity and peace, you can stroll around the lagoon and enjoy the reef sea breeze, admiring the hotel from a distance and admiring the Marina end of the lagoon with its fancy yachts and boats.

The amazing feeling of having your very own private beach where you can immerse yourself in the true beauty of paradise was so special.

Here on this walk, you will be mesmerised by the secluded, private island-inspired villas with a beautiful landscape of the Arabian Sea, ladened with palm trees and the scent of fresh flowers. High rattan ceilings lend a natural feel and a dedicated butler to serve you breakfast on the spacious terrace to ensure a stress-free stay. What more could you want.

Ultimate relaxation by the Pool

A Secret Gem!

This is a bit random, but I had to share this!
Luxury awaits you in the hotel dining precinct, even if you have to go to the bathroom! As you enter the toilet cubicle, the toilet lights up, heats up and flushes without you having to touch anything. Now that’s what I call luxury!

Final Thoughts

There are not enough words to express how we felt from the moment we landed in Bahrain to arriving at a beautiful hotel to call our home for the next few days. The wow factor left us speechless, and there was nothing we could fault. The staff are incredibly polite and friendly and made us feel so welcomed. Our three days was just enough to see all the sights of Bahrain, but if only we had another extra day, we would have loved to have spent the entire day enjoying this luxurious hotel.