Nestled across 17 floors of the UAE capital’s Nation Towers, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi is one of the city’s most elegant vantage points. The urban escape peers over Corniche Beach, Emirates Palace and the breakwater island at the north, with the sprawling urban expanse of the city to the south and east. All of the 283 rooms offer exceptional vistas, with many facing toward the hotel’s Nation Riviera Beach Club, complementing the refined tower experience with a sun-soaked lifestyle destination, complete with a pristine 200-metre beach.
None, however, are quite as magnificent as The Abu Dhabi Suite, perched on the skybridge between the twin Nation Towers. The astonishingly capacious abode is accessed via a private elevator, leading guests to 360-degree views from the 48th floor. In true St. Regis style, décor is discreet yet luxurious, with hand-tufted wool carpets on marble floors, furniture hewn from Asia cherry timber and burled walnut and an L-shaped sofa, coffee table, and armchairs inviting guests to enjoy a beverage from the lounge bar.
INDULGE
The lucky few who aren’t distracted by the suite’s five-seater cinema, two-storey majlis or library have even more on offer across the hotel. Whatever you pick from the 10 room categories, the exquisite range of six dining venues is guaranteed to ensure you leave fully satiated. What could arguably be the hotel’s foremost dining venue, Villa Toscana, is inspired by a stately Italian summer residence, neatly complementing the overall aesthetic and blending seamlessly from the grand lobby area.
The fine-dining restaurant boasts handcrafted specialities from Tuscany, Umbria, and Emilia-Romagna, with imported cheeses and cured meats to dine for. Villa Toscana’s “Super Tuscan Dining Series” showcases the very best cuts and grapes paired each month. This month, the award-winning restaurant invites grape and food connoisseurs to an evening of perfectly prepared beef tagliata & artichokes, paired with a glass of Tuscan wine. Available daily from 7-11pm until April 30, the dining experience is priced at AED 390 per person.
Gourmands will also be keen to ‘catch’ the Seafood Festival at Villa Toscana; nine days of premium selections of seafood from April 19-27. The selection of à la carte dishes includes the catch of the day, freshly prepared by Chef Rosario and the team in the traditional Italian kitchen. Alternatively, ‘La Tavola Del Sabato’ – the à la carte Saturday brunch – pairs the homely interiors with carefully prepared Tuscan favourites, such as homemade lobster and prawns ravioli, grilled rosemary and mint lamb rack or salmon fillet with a mascarpone and parmesan sauce. The brunch takes place every Saturday from 12.30-4pm and is priced at AED 330 per person and AED 210 with soft drinks (www.villatoscana-abudhabi.com).
Elsewhere, the Mediterranean Supper Club at Azura Panoramic Lounge is a journey through southern European specialties, so expect smatterings of virgin olive oil, sundried tomatoes, fresh meat and seafood paired with the glittering lights of sunset on the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The four-course set menu with different options is priced at AED 150 per person.
CELEBRATE
Spring has sprung and The St. Regis Abu Dhabi is celebrating Easter with family-friendly celebrations. The Chocolate Easter Brunch at The Terrace on the Corniche takes place Friday April 19 and kids are invited to join the festive fun with a giant egg hunt, while parents keep themselves busy at The St. Regis Bar, sipping cocktails before savouring hand-carved meats and favourites from live stations; cheese fondue, foie gras, fine risotto and creamy lasagne to name a few options.
Alternatively, the ‘Pranzo Di Pasqua’ Easter brunch at Villa Toscana takes place on Sunday April 21. Inspired by regional specialties from the aforementioned Italian regions, the restaurant invites connoisseurs to indulge in tempting delicacies that combine tradition and elegance, with chefs serving guests at their tables. All pasta is made in-house with raw ingredients sourced freshly from Italy, and special imports of cheese, prosciutto, cold cuts, and salamis ensure the brunch takes all guests to an unforgettable culinary journey to Italy this season.
Later in the month, ‘The Fragrances Collection’ will pop up at The St. Regis Bar featuring Arnd Henning Heissen from Berlin. The German mixology masters transformed ‘The Curtain Club’ and ‘Fragrances’ at The Ritz-Carlton Berlin and will be showcasing their top tipples from April 22-28 and presenting perfumer techniques combined with cocktail ingredients. The limited menu finds its origins in the world of exclusive perfumes from the hotel’s Remède Spa, boasting characteristic cocktail and mocktail creations; the choices are dazzling, featuring the likes of soft and exotic scents as well as spicy and sweet fragrances.
It would be remiss not to make the most of the available altitude, which is why the hotel has organised Grape Series – Tasting in the Clouds. The St. Regis Abu Dhabi opens its helipad again on April 12 for 20 guests to experience a 90-minute wine tasting, 255 metres in the air. Live violinist, distinctive world-class selections of grape, extravagant canapés and magnificent views of the Arabian Gulf and the UAE capital from the highest active helipad in the Middle East, make this a truly unique and exciting experience during the enchanting hours of sunset. The experience is priced at AED 750 and includes selected bottle and canapés.
For something equally flavourful with an East Asian twist, the ‘Gentlemen’s Toast’ at The St. Regis Bar takes place daily from 7pm until midnight. This April, the bar introduces ‘Kanpai!’ – a selection of finest Japanese whiskey creations. Cigar aficionados may join the bar’s Cigar Lounge for a lengthy selection of world acclaimed cigars. The tasting set of three whiskeys starts from AED 110.
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi experience isn’t merely one of decadent dining and non-stop indulgence – there’s plenty of room for stress-reducing self-care options
PAMPER
The St. Regis Abu Dhabi experience isn’t merely one of decadent dining and non-stop indulgence – there’s plenty of room for stress-reducing self-care options. The ideal venue to your body on charge is the hotel’s Remède Spa – along with two fitness facilities – providing a re-energising escape from daily grind. There’s even a rooftop swimming pool allowing guest to soak up the celebrated sun with sea views. The spa’s Elemis Biotec Firm-A-Lift Facial allows you to rediscover the true shape of your face with a groundbreaking blend of massage and sculpting galvanic technology. The facility pledges that your skin will be visibly strengthened for a contoured complexion that is remarkably lifted – priced at AED 790 for a 60-minute treatment.
Even more sumptuous, the Gold & Pearls Body Ceremony promises silky-soft and radiant skin. Gold stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, while caviar – rich in vitamins A, B, D, trace elements and amino acids – intensifies cell turnover while the ‘pearls’ element reduces fine lines and brightens the skin. The beauty session begins with a body scrub to leave the skin soft and smooth, followed with a velvety mask of champagne extract and AHA fruit acids to stimulate skin regeneration and gives a youthful radiance. The experience includes a relaxing 30-minute massage to enhance the state of bliss with skin visibly rejuvenated, nourished and sparkling with gold – priced at AED 850 for the 90–minute treatment.