Heaven on Earth, paradise, or your escape getaway, you can call it what you want but this five-star luxury hotel is not only the place to go to for the best 60-minute massage you can get (trust me, I've had one) but it's also home to five world-class restaurants serving worldwide cuisines. With nine suites and luxury rooms with seaside views, private balconies and even an island where you can sit back, relax and enjoy your stay, if you're still not on your way to the hotel after this paragraph, you're really missing out..
Khaleejesque was invited for a two-night stay at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa Hotel and I had no choice but to pack my bags and head to the beautiful country of Bahrain. Upon arrival, the GM of Sofitel Bahrain, Mr. Bert Plas, welcomed my friend and I alongside Ms. Debbie Ngoshi, the marketing executive of Sofitel, and offered us coffee and wet towels to freshen up after our short flight.
After exchanging information on our respective businesses, we were then lead to our Prestige Suite which overcame our expectations by a mile. The interior design, paintings, furniture, bathroom and private balcony really made the trip more remarkable. After unpacking, we were invited for lunch at the Saraya restaurant, which served international cuisine. The only nuisance was that flies were flying all over the place during lunch, which did get irritating.
We then had a site-inspection tour and saw every inch of the estate including the restaurants, beach, swimming pool, spa, gym, kids room, the So Island, and all the beautiful suites. There are six different themed rooftop suites (the Moroccan Opera Suite, Gulf Arabic Opera Suite, Nubian Opera Suite, Indian Opera Suite, Turkish Opera Suite and Levant Opera Suite), the astonishing Royal Suite and 21 Prestige Suites. All these suites are like nothing you've seen before. The Royal Suite has luxury written all over it. The suite even has its own corridor, so you can imagine the size and view you get with the Arabian Gulf waters outside your balcony. Each one of these suites has its own particular flavor filled with panache and elegance suitable for all visitors.
The service throughout the stay was wonderful. Random people from the hotel were coming towards our table or during breakfast, lunch, dinner and even when tanning at the beach! They were thoughtful and very attentive and the fact that almost all the employees knew my name was fascinating!
We couldn't resist but stay under the sun and soak up the heat by the beach with some ice-cold lemonade on a sunny afternoon. After a couple of hours, we then cooled down in the waters and then had the chance of trying Wok restaurant, which served South East Asian cuisine (which our stomachs approved of greatly). After a great meal, we went back to the suite and relaxed outside the balcony overlooking the amazing view of the beach and pool.
The next day, we had complimentary massages that turned out to be the most relaxing 60-minutes of our lives and had a lovely dinner at Le Mar, a seafood restaurant that serves delicious salmon, salads, and every single seafood platter you can think of. From every single fish in the sea to dishes that look strange but taste divine, Le Mar was definitely our favorite restaurant at the hotel.
The whole stay at the hotel is a superb 9 out of 10. It is definitely a great choice of place to stay in Bahrain. I certainly recommend it for people who want to escape the stressful daily lives, or hours of the office, or for people who want to enjoy great service and fantastic facilities. Whether it's couples, groups of friends, or family, this hotel is the ideal choice for everyone.
– Adnan Al-Timimi
Images courtesy of Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa Hotel
