There’s something infinitely soothing about The Abu Dhabi EDITION hotel, that it immediately lulls you into a soporific state of serenity. Perhaps it’s the contemporary-cum-cosy design approach, the pockets of greenery scattered around the lobby, the soft mood-enhancing lighting come dusk, or the mellifluous movements of the kinetic art installation in flight. Whatever it might be, it feels warm and inviting and somewhere to decamp when you’re looking to down tools and recharge your batteries.
Boats bobbing in Al Bateen Marina lure the eye to the outside, with the hotel’s busy downtown location serving up a tick-list of things to do on early morning ambles or sunset strolls around the neighbourhood. Inside, the to do list will grow bigger, spreading your time between restaurant, bar, spa, swimming pool, three-storey social space and a Rossano Ferretti hair salon. Take your pick from any of its 198 guest rooms, each continuing the lobby’s ode to contemporary minimalism, with an elegant neutral colour palette, grey oak timber herringbone floors, off-white marble bathrooms and beautiful wood panelling a backdrop to American photographer Brett Weston’s sand dune and nature-infused prints. The rooms and suites come with or without a balcony, but why forgo the chance to sit for a soulful few minutes as the sun sets at the end of each day? Especially when Gandia Blasco outdoor furniture is on offer.
The room’s muted tones of browns, beige and off-white enhance the light that floods the suite each morning, whilst at night they riff off the soft lighting to create a cocoon of cosiness.
You’ll be hard pushed to see a better made bed than in a Superior Suite. Almost too good to climb into it, but not quite. The space fans out into the bathroom where there’s a deep-soak bathtub perfectly positioned in front of a floor-to-ceiling glass window that looks out from bedroom to balcony and beyond. The custom-made Le Labo bath products come with a signature EDITION scent, a blend of black tea and bergamot.
If you can’t bring yourself to leave your suite, you can of course order room service. But there’s plenty to tempt you out of hibernation. There are two swimming pools, two fully-equipped fitness centres and The EDITION Spa with seven treatment rooms and a focus on both tradition and innovation in the wellness space. The treatments feature bespoke scent, sound, touch and premium products, with everything from a hammam and a hot volcanic stone massage to triple oxygen glow facials and foot reflexology.
Before you segue from spa to supper, pop into the Rossano Ferretti Hair Salon - created in partnership with the man known as the most exclusive hair dresser in the world. Whether for a trim or a treatment (Prodigo is perfect for dry hair or try Vita to inject some moisture back into your strands), the salon is home to both visionary artistes and state-of-the-art equipment.
Prepped and ready to eat? Depending what you’re in the mood for, there’s Mediterranean, a new-age steakhouse, and farm-to-table clean cuisine. Market at EDITION is fuelled by a desire of British wonder-chef Tom Aikens’ to create healthy, no-waste, farm-to-table cooking, with the kitchen making use of each ingredient in its entirety. Perfect for breakfast, a light lunch or early dinner, you can feast on an all-day breakfast, seared and cured beef carpaccio, miso beef shortrib, green earth vegan burger, salmon teriyaki and lamb sliders.
Alba Terrace is pretty by day, but ramps up the charm after dark, with a water- and foliage-fringed terrace that proves popular for al fresco suppers under the stars. The menu, curated by Tom Aikens, conjures up elegant Mediterranean summers, flitting between wood-fired pizza, sharing plates, seafood and salads, best accompanied by something refreshing from the brass-clad aperitif bar.
Oak Room definitely turns up the dial on a new-age steak house, with its modern menu, sumptuous interiors, and best-in-season produce paired. Sample some of the best beef in the world whilst sipping a glass or two from its far-reaching wine selection.
When you’re ready for the next part of your night, pull up a chair at Library Bar for a more intimate space to sip cocktails, mocktails and craft gin, or head to Annex, a three-storey social space, for a night on the dance floor, or to enjoy one last digestif at the rooftop bar before turning in.