The opulence of the St Regis Abu Dhabi is disguised, with the hotel occupying swathes of two office-style skyscrapers.
‘Oh,’ I thought, feeling slightly disappointed as my car from the airport pulled up at the main entrance.
But ‘oh, wow’ I said under my breath as I entered a lobby fit for Mount Olympus. Vast pillars soar, dazzling chandeliers dangle and two epic staircases sweep up to a mezzanine that encircles the entire space.
An ultra-courteous receptionist checked me in – and the service during my stay from his colleagues never wavered from his impeccable standards.
MailOnline Travel’s Ted Thornhill checked in to the St Regis Abu Dhabi (above)
Ted’s room, above, was on the 39th floor – and afforded him magnificent views
This is the view from Ted’s room out over the hotel’s private beach to a mini peninsula breakwater that’s home to the majestic Rixos Marina hotel – designed as a colossal arch
Room with an epic view: Downtown Abu Dhabi, as seen from Ted’s suite
My room was on the 39th floor.
After exiting the express lift and equalising the pressure in my ear drums, I stepped into a corner-suite bedroom that, like the lobby, was fit for the gods.
My eyes widened at the opulent ensuite, smothered in marble, and plush king-sized bed, with the pupil dilations joined by a dropping jaw as I drank in the stunning views – from one side to downtown Abu Dhabi, and from the other out over the hotel’s private beach to the eye-catching breakwater, a mini peninsula that’s home to the majestic Rixos Marina hotel – designed as a colossal arch.
Delights continued at lower altitudes.
There was a wonderfully fun Champagne sabering – a St Regis tradition – at the mezzanine bar, with a bar-team member expertly dispatching the top of the bottle with a hefty saber.
Ted describes the lobby (above) as being fit for Mount Olympus
The hotel’s private beach (above) up close, accessed via a gilded subway
‘An ultra-courteous receptionist checked me in,’ writes Ted, ‘and the service during my stay from his colleagues never wavered from his impeccable standards’
Pictured above is the hotel’s inviting outdoor pool
Ted enjoyed breakfast on the ground-floor terrace (above)
On the same floor, I thoroughly enjoyed an al fresco meal at the hotel’s impressive Villa Toscana Italian restaurant. The standard would satisfy any Italian grandmother.
Breakfast was served on the ground floor at The Terrace on the Corniche restaurant – and what a feast – for the stomach and the eyes. Sit outside and you have the option of staring up at the hotel’s twin towers, the taller of which soars to a height of 233.2m (765ft).
On one morning, the tops of the towers were bewitchingly garlanded with clouds.
Another ground-floor treat was a meal at the hotel’s seafood-focussed Catch at St. Regis.
The indoor breakfast area (above) – technically The Terrace on the Corniche restaurant. Here, a ‘feast’ is laid on for guests
Al fresco diners at The Terrace on the Corniche have the option of looking up at the hotel’s lofty twin towers (above)
It’s located next to the property’s private beach and is reached via what is surely the world’s fanciest subway, a gilded passageway with gleaming floors and soft lighting.
At Catch, eager-to-please waiting staff brought me one winning dish after another, including top-tier sushi presented theatrically on a little wooden tray on a bowl filled with dry ice.
If the hotel was fishing for compliments – it certainly didn’t need to.
It’s a class act.
TRAVEL FACTS
Rooms at St Regis Abu Dhabi start from around £325 ($410) a night.
PROS: Epic views, opulent interiors, very good dining options, eager and very polite staff, extremely comfortable bedrooms.
CONS: Not the place to go if you like your hotels to feel more boutique-y.
Rating out of five: 4.5
Getting to Abu Dhabi
Etihad flies regular services from London to Abu Dhabi. Visit www.etihad.com/en-gb.
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Inside the St Regis Abu Dhabi – a stunning hotel in the clouds that has an interior fit for the gods
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