We are delighted to list The St Regis Abu Dhabi, the luxury city-chic hotel in Abu Dhabi of the famed St Regis brand, as one of our The Luxe Diary accolade hotels.
The St Regis Abu Dhabi | 5 Star Hotel | Abu Dhabi Corniche | The Luxe Diary Review
The St Regis Abu Dhabi is situated in the skyline dominating, altitude defying Nation Towers, poised between the Al Bateen Marina and the pale sands and turquoise waters of the Corniche beaches in Abu Dhabi.
Upon arrival, expect your bags to be seamlessly whisked away with what feels like personal VIP attention to detail and service (a consistent theme throughout your stay at The St Regis Abu Dhabi) and to be ushered through to the lobby.
As you enter, let your gaze be immediately drawn upwards. Be overwhelmed by the majesty, grandeur, elegance and opulence of the lobby. From the sheer height of the ceilings, the dramatic double bronze banister staircase gently encircling the mid-level podium where a live pianist plays all-time classics during the ‘cinq à sept’, the elegant, heavy and intricate crystal chandeliers, everything will suggest to you the Art Deco, metropolitan magnificent greatness of the early 19th century New York era inspired by the Astor legacy.
Indeed, the legacy of the founder of the St Regis brand, John Jacob Astor IV renowned for his passion for innovation and commitment to impeccable service, is vibrant and almost palpable here at The St Regis Abu Dhabi.
The resulting experience transports you somewhat to another era. And that is partly the name of the game with a luxury escape at this level of luxury and service.
The Rooms.
Of The St Regis Abu Dhabi’s 283 sumptuosly-appointed guest rooms and 55 suites, you may be checking into a Grand Deluxe suite on either of the 33rd to 49th floors, where they are situated. Enjoy the dramatic and beautiful panoramic waterfront views over Al Bateen Marina and the Corniche with floor to ceiling windows. Enjoy the 65 square metres of utterly timeless elegance. You will note the classical-style furniture of polished dark walnut with sleek curves and ornate detailing, the white stone mosaic clad walls and the exquisite carved marble moldings at each doorway, corner and seam.
Every detail is considered. The standalone deep bath is a luxury its own right. The light white and grey marble of the bathrooms is elegant, peace and tranquility inspiring. Everything is designed for your ease and comfort but that Gilded Age legacy remains – everything is grand. Allow yourself the feeling of stepping back to another era.
You may have opted for the nec plus ultra of luxury experiences by booking the extravagant Abu Dhabi Suite. The Abu Dhabi Suite is the world’s highest suspended hotel suite – loftily positioned 200 metres above ground between the two towers and offering magnificent panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf, the Corniche and the city skyline. Spanning 1,120 square metres, the three-bedroom, two-storey suite occupies part of the skybridge connecting the Nation Towers. The Abu Dhabi Suite also features a spa, movie theatre, kitchen and gym, and comes with private elevator access.
In particular, the suite is famed for its ‘Brunch in the Clouds‘ experience, on which you can read more here.
The St Regis Bar & The Bloody Mary.
If you are checking in at cocktail hour, sweep down the bronze banistered staircase from the balcony Crystal Lounge and make a visit to the St Regis Bar, an elegant New England inspired grand library affair, where the blending of Arabian culture with Gilded Age aesthetics continues with the open fireplace, wooden panels with Arabian geometric motifs adorning the high ceiling, and Arabian-style rugs and cushions alongside the traditional dark wood laden library shelves and equestrian art.
In 1934, famed barman Fernand Petiot perfected the recipe for a vodka-and-tomato juice cocktail at The St. Regis New York’s King Cole Bar. Originally christened the ‘Bloody Mary’, the cocktail was initially dubbed the ‘Red Snapper’ so as not to offend the hotel’s refined clientele. More than 80 years later, the iconic Bloody Mary remains the signature cocktail of the St. Regis. The result is the creation of an iconic, replicated the world over and redefined in each St Regis across the world.
At the St Regis in Abu Dhabi we recommend that you try their signature version of this iconic cocktail, the ‘Desert Snapper’. The cooling cucumber juice and zaatar flavour subtly enhances this traditional recipe, harkening back to the the conviviality of the hookah lounge, so central to Abu Dhabi’s traditional social and cultural scene.
The Butler Service.
While you sip your Bloody Mary, let your butler unpack and turn-down your room. Indeed, one of our favourite features of the St Regis brand – and which also adds to the quality of the escapist journey through time to the height of turn of the century New York metropolitan glamour is the St Regis’ renowned butler service.
Exceptional service and outstanding staff are an integral part of the St. Regis experience, and the St. Regis Butler personifies this. The St Regis Butler Service is accessible at any hour via email.
Upon check-in, the Butler will present you with a business card on which there is a number and an email address to which you can make requests to make your stay even more seamless and luxurious.
From coffee and tea, to pressing garments, unpacking and repacking as well as the signature St Regis shoe-shine, it is an excellent service.
Nation Riviera Beach Club.
If you are checking in and have some time to spare to relax, head to the Nation Riviera Beach Club.
You will enjoy the unique vantage position of private access to one of the best beaches of Abu Dhabi.
Whether you want to relax, play, do water sports or dine whilst enjoying the Arabian sunset, the 200-metre stretch of pristine beach is stunning.
You may wish to hire one of the Nation Riviera’s cabanas to soak up the warmth of the sun. Or you can jump in the temperature controlled pool and swim up to the pool bar for a refreshing cocktail.
If you are feeling a little more energetic, you might wish you use the state of the art equipment in the Nation Riviera Beach Club’s exercise room.
The colonial inspired pool-house style architecture and design of the exercise room is calming and functional. The change rooms and facilities are extremely well thought out, finding everything you need for an enjoyable workout.
Dining.
Whether you have just finished your cardio work-out, your time relaxing by the pool, whether you have just come from a rejuvenating treatment at the Remède Spa or from enjoying your pre-dinner cocktail in the St Regis Bar, you may be starting to think about your supper.
If you are leaning towards dinging at the hotel, head to the Villa Toscana – The St Regis’ award winning Tuscan restaurant. Expect absolutely stellar service, the highest standard of Italian cuisine, and the most exceptional produce and accompanying beverage options.
You may particularly enjoy the burrata with papa al pomodoro, focaccia crouton and emulsion. It rivals the best burrata available here in the UAE – having tried the likes of La Petite Maison and Le Cirque, The Luxe Diary team are real aficionados.
You may also enjoy the Chiana beef carpaccio and especially the hand made artichoke and ricotta ravioli with warm artichokes and Jerusalem artichoke sauce. Expect to be blown away by the beef tenderloin, eringy mushroom, potato and celeric crisps and marsala glaze.
Breakfast.
Upon awaking from your luxury Starwood quality oversize Emperor (English size) bed, you may wish to let the natural ocean-hued light in by opening the seamless automated blackout curtains and allow room service to deliver the breakfast you have have pre-ordered. You will delight in the selection of bakeries in the continental options, the fresh coffee, the quality and variety of ways to enjoy your eggs as well as as the variety of fresh fruit and berries.
The Design.
The hotel was designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates, who we think successfully fulfilled the brief of marrying the majestic metropolitan manor design of the flagship St. Regis New York with rich Arabic culture and the opulent Art Deco era. At The Luxe Diary we love the artistic and cultural forethought in the design and planning of the hotel. The St Regis Abu Dhabi’s design team worked closely and proactively with local curators and artists to ensure that the Art Deco and Arabic culture styles blend harmoniously throughout the hotel with an authentic Middle Eastern identity.
For example, renowned Emirati artist and jewellery designer Azza Al Qubaisi was commissioned to complement the signature St. Regis diamond pattern with Arabic geometric motifs and flower designs, while Al Arjun Gallery has helped showcase art illustrating the Abu Dhabi culture and, in homage to Abu Dhabi’s natural resource-based economy in the past, the centrepiece in the lounge is an exquisite tapestry that depicts a pearl diving scene paying with low-hanging Arabian lantern-inspired chandeliers in the foreground.
The Final Word.
If The St Regis Abu Dhabi’s independent guest reviews are anything to go by, the voice is practically unanimous in naming a stay at The St Regis Abu Dhabi the ultimate in luxury experiences. The St Regis Abu Dhabi is clearly an elegant luxury city hotel and in The Luxe Diary’s opinion, it deserves every accolade it receives.
But what sets The St Regis Abu Dhabi apart from the range of luxury like-rated hotels in Abu Dhabi? We must admit that in Abu Dhabi we are very much spoilt for choice for ultimate luxury hotel spectrum.
There is always something grand, magical and slightly unique about a stay at The St Regis Abu Dhabi. Once you have stayed there, we expect, like us at team The Luxe Diary, that you will be back
Reservations: For further details and to book, click here.
Nation Tower, Corniche, P.O. Box 60476 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Phone: (971) (2) 6944444
For more luxury event listings & news click here.
READ THE LUXE DIARY TO DISCOVER HOW TO LIVE DUBAI LIFE IN STYLE. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK & TWITTER.