The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai

Artfully situated overlooking the sparkling azure waters of Dubai, one of the city’s most lauded addresses encompasses dreamy topaz pools and a sumptuous design blending Arabic flourishes with classic splendour. With its idyllic landscaped gardens, the long white sandy beach and two magnificent neighbouring golf courses, the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai provides the ultimate retreat after revelling in the playground of Dubai. Guests have an amazing choice of relaxation: basking in the sun, enjoying the warm ocean waters, or the pools and waterfalls; or again, a spa treatment, or a superb meal. The Ritz-Kidz club provides secluded facilities for children. Read on to discover more about this unique destination.

Rooms and suites
All 138 rooms and suites at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai feature cable internet, two-line speaker phones with private voice mail, fully stocked honour bar with refrigerator, plush terry bathrobes, electronic in-room laptop safes, ironing board, iron and slippers. The suites provide prestige accommodation, culminating in the Ritz-Carlton Suite, 2,050 square feet of pure luxury located on level five. This sea view suite has a spacious dressing area, marble bathroom with whirlpool, steam room and sauna. There is a superbly-furnished lounge and dining area, with a kitchenette. Club level rooms and suites on the fifth and sixth floors provide wonderful views of the hotel's landscaped gardens and pools, and across to the Arabian gulf. An exclusive Club Lounge serves food and beverage presentations throughout the day.
The Ritz-Carlton beds are luxury in themselves, with bed linen commissioned exclusively from Italian company Frette. The feather beds are made using duck feather and luxurious Egyptian cotton.

Splendido
This Italian restaurant is in contemporary New York décor, featuring timber, copper and marble. It has a large outdoor patio providing lovely sea views. The menu reflects the skills of Chef de Cuisine Corrado Pani, whose training includes work with Alain Ducasse. It features Italian favourites with touches of international creativity, such as a risotto made with Venere black rice, mussels, sea urchin and gold leaf, or, as a main, Alaskan black cod with Martini, pumpkin cream and fried mozzarella; and, for dessert, orange-flavoured panna cotta with crumble and peach ice cream. These are just examples from a superb menu that comprises an exceptional selection of Italian cheeses. Splendido is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an international brunch served on Fridays, 12.30 p.m.-3.30 p.m.

Amaseena
This unique restaurant presents a tented Bedouin village, where guests can enjoy the atmosphere of a meal and entertainment in the sea breeze, under the stars. The menu features traditional regional specialities, and an evening at Amaseena becomes a complete entertainment, with board games, aromatic shisha, oud music, and a belly dancer. The menu includes cold mezzeh, hot mezzeh, grilled meats and fish, and traditional desserts. The restaurant is closed during the summer months. It reopens on 1 October 2011.

Lobby Lounge
This lounge is an architectural masterpiece, with timber ceiling and paladin windows. It offers a fine setting for morning coffee and pastries, and afternoon tea, the latter served daily from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.. A terrace provides seating with spectacular views over the Gulf and the gardens. The Lobby Lounge is open every day, 24 hours a day, and the menu includes light lunch and dinner options – chef's salad, mozzarella salad, Arabic mezzeh, sandwiches, pasta, desserts and so forth – as well as the signature afternoon teas that can include Devonshire clotted cream and preserve, with freshly baked scones.

Gulf Pavilion
Gulf Pavilion is a restaurant located next to the pool, for al fresco dining in the shade of canopy umbrellas and date palms. The menu includes healthy snacks, original sandwiches, grilled seafood and other light recipes based on Asian and Pacific Rim cuisine. For example, the menu includes a Sushi bento box, a Thai beef salad, a chicken tikka wrap, grilled local fish, an Asian noodle wok dish that is different every day, and much more. Lunch is served every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Library Bar
This venue offers a sophisticated, intimate and mellow atmosphere, with plush carpets, leather sofas, wing armchairs and tapestries that set the scene for pure, refined post-prandial enjoyment. The bar features a fine selection of cocktails, malt whiskies, cognacs and vintage wines. If you like a cigar, the cigar smoker's menu provides all that you need to savour the lingering finesse of a good cigar in the perfect setting. There is a tapas-style menu to accompany aperitifs or late-evening drinks. The Library Bar is open every day from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Spa at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai offers an escape from the rigours of everyday life. Recharge your bodily and spiritual energy in the spa, providing an artful combination of mystical Eastern therapies with European wellness and beauty techniques. There are eight treatment rooms, a dry sauna, whirlpool and eucalyptus steam rooms, with two new ladies-only treatment rooms for complete privacy. The Spa Menu includes face and body treatments, body scrubs, massage, and fruit infusion hydrotherapy baths. An example: a series of Naturally Beautiful Body Rituals is an award-winning collection, which begins with a full body exfoliation, conditioning body mask, and full body massage. The wellness facilities at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai include a fitness centre with cardiovascular and strength trainer equipment, weights, and trained staff. Contact spa.dubai@ritzcarlton.com or +971 4 3186 184 for bookings and info.