Abu Dhabi’s precocious twin may have the incomparable Burj Khalifa, but the UAE capital has set itself apart with the St. Regis Abu Dhabi, set in the coastal Nation Towers development. Two sturdy towers loom above the beachfront and its restless Corniche Road and, like the Eye of Sauron, the hotel’s skybridge suite gazes back across the city’s main island and over the Arabian Gulf. The Abu Dhabi Suite is affixed to the 48th and 49th floors, and is the premiere abode in the The St. Regis Abu Dhabi — a new urban counterpart to the brand’s Saadiyat Island resort, just 10 minutes away.
The St. Regis Suite
I’m checking into the St. Regis Suite. The charming three-room lodging occupies a corner of the west tower’s 35th floor and, while a little lowlier than the sky-high citadel above, it’s plush, palatial and utterly delightful. The 87-square-metre suite is head and shoulders above the hotel’s Junior Suites, with its own regal, but tasteful, aesthetic. In addition, the 24/7 St. Regis Butler Service emulates the ‘very’ in my newfound VIP status.
The regionally inspired art pieces and leathered closets lead me through to the snug yet commodious lounge and bedroom, towards to the marble-clad ensuite bathroom. There’s a remarkable amount of that rock in this hotel; it’s enough to make one pause for a moment to marvel at the feat of engineering, but I swiftly proceed to book an hour-long massage.
And though bubbles, truffles and a pair of strong hands await me at the Remède Spa downstairs, the elegant comfort of the suite and its snug furnishings draw me in like a silk-voiced siren. The cool marbled floor of the capacious bathroom soothes my soles as I tinker with the abundance of Remède-branded toiletries.
I continue to forsake footwear to reap the full benefit of the bedroom’s hand-tufted wool carpet. And though my idea of unwinding isn’t to reach for the remote, I have the run of two giant TVs that can be viewed from either the broad king-size bed or the lounge’s pair of sofas.
Then there’s the view. Surely one of the main draws for a skyscraper suite. The calm waters of the Gulf lie flat like a glass window pane year-round, but the sharpness of the horizon does depend on just how much desert sand is flying around in the atmosphere. I’m blessed with a still day and subsequently enjoy an unhindered urban view from my bedroom and a vantage over the Corniche from my lounge.
The suite is spacious enough and would be quite adequate to host an intimate gathering, but if you need extra space, some editions of the suite can connect with a Superior King room for families who need the extra elbow space.
Nation Riviera Beach Club
In addition to the third-floor spa and pool area, the hotel has recently added a full beach club. Set back from the private 200-metre beachfront is the Nation Riviera Beach Club with its pool, fitness centre, restaurants and bar. The access route is an experience all on its own. Yet more marble surrounds me as I stroll through the private underground tunnel that runs from the hotel’s main pool and spa area. A variety of activities are on offer, including beach circuit training, pilates and yoga — and, depending on whether or not you’re a morning person, you have the choice of sunrise or sunset.
The temperature-controlled swimming pool has its own swim-up bar, but one can also imbibe at the Cabana Bar & Grill, which specialises in Latin American fare throughout the evening, long after the sun has set over the Gulf. I choose to ascend the hotel’s curled lobby stairway to Villa Toscana, where regional Italian specialties are inflected with international ingredients. Pasta is handmade in front of the open kitchen while diners mull over their menus. And, evidenced by the four-hour steamed squid and delicately tenderised cuts of New Zealand lamb, it dawns on me that some of these ingredients have enjoyed almost as much pampering as I have.
THE IMPORTANT BIT
What: St. Regis Suite
Where: The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, UAE
Price: from AED 3,000 (US $817) per night
Tel: +971 2 694 4444
www.stregisabudhabi.com
