Longing for a unique experience without leaving the island, Fernanda Langhammer and her family headed to Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain, for quality time and delectable food.
Sometimes all we need to feel refreshed is a little escape. And when I say little, I mean one night somewhere that makes you feel like you’re in a completely different place without boarding a plane. Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain creates this effect, adding a luxurious touch to the experience. The drive gives the sense of a short road trip, and the hotel is like entering a parallel world where all worries stay behind the imposing doors that lead into the lobby.
One of the hallmarks of the Raffles Hotels & Resorts brand is its exceptional butler service, available worldwide. The whole idea is to provide guests with a personalised and discreet service throughout their stay, acting like personal assistants. In Bahrain, this would be no different, and the assistance began before I even set foot on the property. Margaret, my butler for the stay, sent me a WhatsApp message asking me to share my live location during my drive to the hotel, so she could greet me and my family and make our check-in as smooth as possible.
As we parked for valet service, there she was, with a large smile to welcome us. The doorman wears a traditional outfit and, when the intricate doors opened, we found a sanctuary of crisp, white walls detailed with arabesque patterns in a botanical environment featuring stunning green plants contrasting with black accents. Natural light streams through the ceiling and the place looks like a fairytale scene – quite magical – the right touch to put you in vacay mode.
A haven of luxury and relaxation, where you can immediately notice Raffles’ sophisticated hospitality, seemingly blending with Bahrain’s Arabian flair.
We crossed this beautiful space and reached the other side, where a buggy was waiting to take us straight to our villa. The secret garden formed the backdrop to our drive and we made a pit stop near a lagoon to check on the family of flamingos that had taken up residence in the hotel grounds. With the Al Areen Wildlife Park right across the property’s walls, they certainly felt at home. Margaret told us that there is a team taking care of them, making sure they receive the necessary nutrients.
CHIC ABODE
The all-villa hotel offers 78 private pool villas, ranging from one to three bedrooms and one of them was ours for a day. When the door opened, a luxurious, secluded space appeared before our eyes. The pool was the first detail we all spotted – a large rectangular expanse of water that reaches the doors to the living area, bedroom and bathroom, meaning you can jump in from any of these rooms! The dark blue tiles add a touch of refinement to the finishing. Surrounding the pool were a big dining table, loungers and an outdoor cabana daybed.
On the right side, there is a closed lounging area with sofas, similar to a majlis, and a TV. On the left side, a closed dining space, where we had our in-villa breakfast the next morning.
We then headed to the main villa. A personalised card and chocolates were waiting for us, along with refreshing water in the mini bar and an in-room coffee machine and tea options. The living room is spacious and makes you feel at home with its subtle décor, books and a good-sized desk in case you need to work a bit (I did, and the desk came in very handy to have a proper place to put my laptop).
The bedroom had one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever tried, like a cloud that enveloped us for a very relaxing night. Crisp white sheets, dark wood contrasting with pale beige tones, with elegant touches of gold complementing the ambience.
The bathroom features a massive tub, two sinks and a shower that provides access to the outdoors, complete with all the necessary amenities. I have to say the fluffy robes were a success.
We got into our swimsuits and stayed in the temperature-controlled pool until dinner – that’s what we call a good life.
DINING IN STYLE
We had dinner at Ycone Paris, Chef Yazid Ichemrahen’s signature restaurant that has a permanent location in a charming spot near the lobby. The chef is well-known for his sweet creations, such as the Black Forest cake in the shape of an apple. But we were there to try the savoury options. Divina was our attentive server. She promptly brought a refreshing drink called Passionella, a concoction made with passion fruit and mango.
For the food, we ordered the Spaghetti Zucchini, cut into yellow and green strands that resemble spaghetti, accompanied by a hazelnut and praline sauce. We also had the Beef Tartare with Parmesan foam, Beef Tataki and the Cucumber Salad. The zucchini and beef tataki were our favourite dishes, thanks to their innovative yet straightforward flavours. If you are looking for something light with a twist, you’ll find it there and if you have a sweet tooth, Ycone Paris is definitely the place to go.
For breakfast, you can choose to eat at Palma restaurant or have it delivered to the comfort of your villa. We opted for the latter and arranged everything via message with Margaret. We opted for the in-villa option to enjoy a little more of our favourite feature: the pool.
Of all the meals we had, I must say that lunch was the ultimate experience. To our joy, Palma has a new chef and a new menu. Chef William Khala, who has worked in Japan for the past nine years, demonstrated his passion and care for the food he created very clearly. We had a pleasant chat prior to embarking on the culinary journey that he had carefully prepared for us.
The starters were a delightful and refreshing Rocket & Date Salad (dates from the hotel’s garden) with pomegranate vinaigrette and goat cheese, as well as Prawn Crudo, which featured thin slices of raw prawn adorned with bottarga powder for a salty and rich kick, accompanied by velvety basil mayo. We also had the Black Angus Beef Carpaccio, complemented by aged pecorino and cacio and pepe cream, which absolutely melted in our mouths and the Grilled Asparagus, accompanied by béarnaise sauce and a touch of Dukkah (a traditional Egyptian blend of nuts, seeds and warm spices) on top, adding pleasant crunchiness and taste. What a brilliant start! Everything was super fresh and delicious.
The mains included two completely different pastas: the spectacular (and my favourite dish of the entire stay) Orecchiette di Gamberi, a delicate pasta in a glassy and creamy shrimp sauce, and Fagottelli, handmade parcels filled with tender beef short ribs that had a delicate texture yet deep flavours. The other two mains were the Black Cod, beautifully glazed (not too sweet or too salty, just perfectly balanced) with a touch of coriander foam that added a peppery and floral note, leaving a pleasant lingering taste, and an impressive Wagyu Beef T-Bone Steak. I am not a meat eater, but I was accompanied by two carnivores who said in unison that this was the best dish – a rare, tender, cooked to perfection piece of meat – any meat lover’s paradise.
Pastry Chef Romain Jeunet joined us for the final leg of the journey: the desserts. We tried three of his creations: Orange Blossom Crème Brûlée, Citrus and Basil Variation and Mille-Feuille. Wow! I am not a sweet enthusiast, but I have yet to find a place that serves desserts as stunning as Palma. The restaurant demonstrates that its savoury and sweet options have impeccable quality, showcasing its chefs’ incredible skills.
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
It was time to say goodbye, but we will take the good moments lived with us forever – it was indeed a memorable stay that we would love to repeat soon. Just like the check-in, check-out was done with no hassle. Margaret picked us up at our villa and dropped us off next to our car, simple as that. We went home with the feeling of having spent an incredible time, where the hustle and bustle from our busy day-to-day lives had no chance to show up – it was the perfect little getaway.
For more information or to make a reservation, please call or WhatsApp Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain on 1784 5000.
@rafflesalareenpalace.bahrain