Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, run by Kempinski, was built as an iconic landmark showcasing Arabian culture and hospitality at its finest. It has created an enviable niche in luxury hospitality, welcoming world leaders, celebrities, global business travelers and leisure guests with a truly memorable and unique experience, luxurious contemporary facilities and amenities in comfortable and traditional Arabian surroundings with personalized world class service. Situated on a 1.3 km stretch of private white pristine beach and on 100 hectares of manicured lawns and lush landscaped gardens, the Emirates Palace comprises 394 luxury rooms and suites, and a variety of award-winning dining options, including the recently opened Hakkasan. The resort’s leisure facilities include two intricately landscaped swimming pools, an Anantara spa, tennis courts, and a state of the art fitness centre.

The Emirates Palace houses the most luxurious and technologically advanced meeting facilities in the region, which include an auditorium with up to 1,100 seats, the ballroom for up to 2,400 guests, over 40 meeting rooms, a Media Centre and a Business Centre, and outdoor venue capacity for up to 20,000 guests. As a world-class leader in the Meetings, Incentive, Conference and Events market, Emirates Palace plays host to a spectacular cultural calendar, including the Middle East International Film Festival, the largest Hotel Art Gallery with regular exhibitions, and a popular and classical music concert programme. With a FIFA standard football pitch and home to Manchester City’s winter training ground, Emirates Palace offers the best in world sports action including the annual Lashings Cricket Festival.

Mezlai
The trailblazers of fine Emirati cuisine, located within the fairytale-like Emirates Palace, is Mezlai, the first restaurant to serve a menu of strictly Emirati food with modern touches. The team of chefs is headed by Chef Ali Salem, who himself is as authentic as they comes. Choose to dine indoors where the design incorporates different elements of the seven emirates or outdoors on their patio. The most popular dishes are made from seafood however the lamb and goat dishes served with rice are also tasty options. Book the seafood brunch on a Friday from 2.00 p.m.

LUXOS RECOMMENDS: Hammour ‘Nacif’, fried hammour with fragrant spices, tomatoes and peppers

A.M. 8.9.11
 

Mezzaluna
Winning a host of awards as Abu Dhabi’s best Italian restaurant, Mezzaluna’s reputation is well deserved. Located within the majestic Emirates Palace and commanding stunning views over the beach and marina, the name is Italian for half-moon. With frescoed walls adorned with Venetian murals, high vaulted ceilings and the tempting scent of freshly baked bread emanating from the kitchen, the setting evokes a sense of authentic Italian hospitality. Italian chef Andrea Montella is at the helm and the menu offers the best of fine Italian cuisine, where fresh and timeless ingredients such as exquisite oils, hand-made pasta and gourmet Italian cheeses will truly delight the palette.

Luxos Recommended Menu:
Provimi veal chop roasted on the bone with herbs, white bean friccasse, foie gras and potato croquettes and rosemary

Havana Club
As one of the only seven star hotels in the world, it’s only natural that there be a resident cigar bar, and the Havana Club at Emirates Palace certainly fits the luxurious bill. Adorned with planted palms, tobacco leaf walls and masculine settees, the Havana Club is reminiscent of the British brandy and cigar clubs found expressed in the pages of Graham Greene. And like the characters in a Greene novel, gentlemen at the Havana Club can often be found sipping on fine armagnacs and smoking rare cigars, in luxurious and sophisticated surrounding, smack dab in the middle of the desert. But, it’s not all British-boys club here, Havana also serves up excellent creative cocktails and hosts live singing acts on most nights.

Hakkasan
Hakkasan, the London Michelin-starred, modern Chinese restaurant, opened in Abu Dhabi at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, on June 1st, 2010. Hakkasan is the Emirates Palace’s newest restaurant, bringing a new level of luxury dining to Abu Dhabi. The 165-cover restaurant, which features a unique take on modern Chinese, has four private dining rooms with stunning luxurious architecture, seating from six to twelve guests. The restaurant is situated on the main entrance level of the hotel, and has its own private entrance in the east wing with valet parking. Anchoring the kitchen is Lee Kok Hua, from Hakkasan London, who has worked underneath Head chef Tong Chee Hwee for five years. He brings his own flair to the menu with new dishes that have been specifically designed for the UAE market, alongside Hakkasan classics such as Peking duck with Royal Beluga caviar; steamed dim sum platters; and grilled Wagyu beef with King soya sauce. Hakkasan is open daily from 6pm-2am for dinner, drinks and bar snacks, with last dinner orders taken at 12am.
01.07.10

Sayad
This award-winning fine dining restaurant reopens on 15 September 2010, headed by Chef de Cuisine Shaun Anthony, whose illustrious career includes work in some of the top restaurants in Europe. Shaun's passion is fish, and his approach is "choosing the best sustainable produce available in season, respecting and understanding the ingredients, and supporting the preservation of the eco-system." His menu specialities include Ocean Trout cured in salt and honey, and then confit'd in clarified butter; Halibut with artichokes; and Barramundi with asparagus-chevre risotto, orange and fennel. Meat dishes include Wagyu Sirloin and Lamb3, and Squab and Foie Gras, with squab imported from the UK. The new-look Sayad Restaurant offers an idyllic and peaceful setting, with a terrace overlooking the pristine beach and Marina.

31.08.10

Le Vendome Brasserie
A restaurant that requires guests to book in advance is likely to be worthy of attention, and in fact, the cuisine takes center stage at Le Vendôme Brasserie in the Emirates Palace, where the restaurant lives up to the hotel's lofty reputation. The culinary options include a mouthwatering five-star buffet, or equally delectable à la carte options. This exquisitely decorated restaurant is the perfect setting for an unforgettable evening, with sophisticated tables both inside and outside. We recommend the latter, on the fourth floor terrace, with fine views over the beach and marina.

Luxos recommended menu:
Osso buco with egg plant and tomato

Spring 2011