February is a very exciting 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 moderately to high-end. If I knew 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, which surprised 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. We could feel the hotel’s exclusivity immediately.
We were in awe of the lobby’s grandeur upon our welcome at the entrance.
We were escorted to the Club Floor, where another more private check-in area was situated. At this point, I realized we were staying in a Club Room.Â
Haili, our dedicated concierge, was very bubbly and welcoming. Her excitement and passion for checking us in were impressive. While processing our check-in, we were treated to ‘Qahwah’ (Arabic coffee), dates, and tea.Â
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.
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, and valet service is comfortable. The concierge can advise on local tours, points of interest, shopping areas and nearby restaurants.
The Ritz-Carlton
With panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf, the property features private white-sand beaches that stretch around the hotel’s lagoon and a private island beach. Luxury beckons at this 20-acre resort situated on the shores of Manama. The ambience is elegant yet extravagant, combining 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 own private swimming pool, direct beach access, 24-hour butler service, and free Wi-Fi.Â
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, a WC, a bidet, and an inviting spa bath.Â
Signature Asprey bath amenities, comfortable robes, and slippers are available. There is also a twice-daily housekeeping service, including a turn-down service.
Club Lounge
A dedicated concierge will be available for personalised check-in and attention while staying on the Club Floor.Â
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.Â
Perfect for catching the morning views, this is where we had our breakfasts. We enjoyed the impressive buffet station, which offered 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. It is 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 an exclusive ladies’ gym for health buffs. A steam room and Sauna are also available. 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.Â
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. It was 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: the chefs and waiters came out with a specialised birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday.
What a treat!
Catering & Conferences
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, is ideal for 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 professional planners, creative chefs and experts, can create the perfect wedding at the Al Ghazal Ballroom or the new Masaya Pavilion. If you want a smaller gathering, you can have an intimate Villa for your family and friends.
Lagoon Resort Walk
Enjoy the scenic ambience of paradise.
The hotel’s lagoon 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 the Marina end of the lagoon with its fancy yachts and boats.
The amazing feeling of having your own private beach where you can immerse yourself in the true beauty of paradise was so special.
On this walk, you will be mesmerised by the secluded, private island-inspired villas, which are surrounded by 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 will 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 welcome. Our three days were 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.Â
Ritz Carlton is part of Marriott International’s “Luxury” division, and you can join their programme through the Marriot Bonvoy programme.
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