Inspired by Italian Renaissance design and nestled in a 57-acre estate, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal treats guests to the very best of opulence in the UAE capital.
After arriving through the hotel’s luxuriously landscaped gardens, visitors begin their experience at the hotel’s palatial-like lobby, with marble floors, glittering chandeliers and elaborate decor serving as a none-too-subtle hint as to the quality of visit.
The luxury theme continues through into the guest rooms. Each room features a spacious balcony, with views across the Abu Dhabi’s Grand Canal, or, in our visit, the breathtaking Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The expansive room also offered a plush king-size bed, boasting 400-thread count Egyptian cotton linen, serving as a welcome reminder that our stay was in the service of relaxation.
Culinary delight
Any visitor or resident of the UAE would already know the country’s reputation as a home to a highly competitive and competent culinary ecosystem, and, in this regard, the Ritz-Carlton is no disappointment. The hotel features a total of eight different food and beverage outlets and covering a wide range of cuisines catering to a variety of tastes. This includes Li Jiang, an Asian restaurant serving authentic oriental dishes, The Forge signature steakhouse, and the al fresco contemporary Arabic restaurant Mijana.
Avid brunch enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that the Ritz Carlton offers its own spin on the UAE tradition, with the hotel playing host to its own “Chef’s Brunch” on Saturdays. Featuring a wide array of dishes, ranging from Wagyu beef, to freshly cooked seafood, and sushi, there are options to suit any palette.
Bars also dot along the hotel’s extravagant outdoor facilities, with Sorso, a high-end classic sports bar, offering drinks late into the evening, while 24-hour room service is available for those continuing into the small hours.
In line with the lavish nature of the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, it is perhaps no surprise to find that the hotel’s recreational facilities are suitably extensive. A fully equipped fitness centre boasts state-of-the-art equipment, while an on-site studio is also available for group and private fitness lessons, with personal trainers available on request.
The growing popularity of padel in the UAE is also represented at the hotel, with the Ritz offering five world-class padel courts for guests and visitors to take advantage of. A cross between tennis and squash, padel offers a fun racquet game and the Ritz has proven to a fantastic location to try the sport out. Close by to the courts is Dolce, a sports café and another of the hotel’s eateries, offering health drinks and food to relax with after a hard round on the court.
If padel is less your game, then the hotel’s putting area and practice mats also offer in-house guests an opportunity to keep their golfing skills up. In testament to the sheer scale of this hotel, its latest addition is a full size football pitch. While during our stay we were unable to take advantage of the pitch, owing to a lack of team mates, the pitch offers an additional private gym and recovery room, along with a dedicated goal keeper practice area.
Outdoor amenities
Another feather in the hotel’s proverbial cap lies just beyond the lobby and down its grand staircase where guests will come across a 1,600 sq m outdoor swimming pool, one of the largest in Abu Dhabi. During our stay, we were lucky enough to enjoy one of the private cabanas by the poolside. Highly attentive staff ensured that we were never without sun cream, cooling aloe vera gel, or a refreshing drink.
As an additional differentiator, the hotel offers individual sunglass cleaning to its guests, ensuring that you will never miss out on any portion of the amazing view over the water towards the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
A short walk from our cabana lay one of the hotel’s two private sandy beaches on the shore of Abu Dhabi’s waterways. A quick, refreshing swim in the canal during our stay warded off the worst of the unseasonably hot day.
While perfect as a romantic retreat for two, parents with accompanying little ones are in for a treat too, with the hotel’s Ritz Kids Club offering an extensive programme of supervised activities for children aged four to 12. Activities for children change on a daily basis, providing opportunities for children to mingle with others in their age group and engage in indoor and outdoor activities, including henna design classes, recycling arts and crafts, creating traditional Arabic drawings, and treasure hunts.
Situated inside Abu Dhabi, but away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Ritz Carlton offers easy access to some of the city’s best attractions, including the aforementioned stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the elegant Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the adrenaline-pumping Ferrari World.
Opulence, luxury, extravagance, lavish are buzzwords that are often thrown around with little fanfare. However, in this case, The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal is one of those few hotels that truly deserves the terminology. From its breath-taking views, Venetian magnificence, to scrupulous attention-to-detail, visitors will be in for a stay worthy of the UAE’s capital city.
- The Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal: Quick facts
- Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Eight different restaurants
- Fantastic poolside service
- Variety of activities for children
- Easy access to Abu Dhabi landmarks
- Modern and extensive sports facilities