Forget rooms and suites. Raffles has more exclusive accommodations waiting for you in the Middle East. The Singaporean hotel chain recently opened a new resort in Bahrain that it claims is the country’s first and only all-villa property. Designed in collaboration with GFH Financial Group, the lavish outpost comprises 78 private villas with striking swimming pools.
Located in the modern village of Zallaq on the west coast of Bahrain, the new Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain features an exquisite white facade of palatial proportions. Through the decorative front doors lies a light-filled lobby brimming with lush greenery. The interior showcases hallmarks of Moorish architecture, such as horseshoe door arches and complex tilework, as well as sleek modern furniture and works by local Bahraini artists.
The villas come with one, two, or three bedrooms and can sleep two, four, or six guests, respectively. The Royal Three-Bedroom Villa is the grandest, with nearly 8,000 square feet of living space, a lavish lounge and dining area, a luxe bathroom with an oversized bath, and a private pool and Jacuzzi.
Beyond the villas, the on-site spa offers a range of treatments that combine innovative practices from the East and West. (The “milky chocolate bath” sounds particularly intriguing.) The spa is staffed by expert local practitioners and is stocked with eco-conscious products. Facilities include a gym, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, steam rooms, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, tennis courts, and squash courts.
The resort caters to gourmands, too. All-day Mediterranean restaurant Palma serves up locally-inspired fusion dishes prepared by renowned chefs. (Noted French pastry chef Yazid Ichemrahen is responsible for the sweet treats, for instance.) In addition, guests can enjoy in-villa dining or even have a private chef whip up meals.
To top it off, the property offers a range of on-site experiences. You can take an art tour with a butler-curator, flex your green thumb with a botanist-led workshop in the hotel’s secret garden, or enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner. Outside the grounds, you can explore the nearby wildlife reserve, partake in a little retail therapy in the city, or check out sites such as the Bahrain International F1 Circuit, the Al Dana Amphitheater, and Exhibition World Bahrain.
“Raffles has a strong presence in the Middle East and this spectacular new hotel will offer guests an opportunity to explore the enchanting allure of Bahrain like never before,” Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles Hotels & Resorts, said in a statement. The villas start at about RM5,700 per night. You can book your stay now online.
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