Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi

You can be sure of few things in the world of travel – spoiler alert, the weather’s not one of them – but one certainty is the standard of service at a hotel managed by Mandarin Oriental. Never does it fall beneath excellent, no matter where in the world it is.

That’s certainly the case in Abu Dhabi, the latest city to hoist the Mandarin flag – or, more specifically, wave the Mandarin fan – as the luxury brand officially takes over management duties at Emirates Palace.

The term ‘iconic’ is typically used with wild abandon by marketeers these days – and just as typically, incorrectly – but Emirates Palace is indeed iconic. More a symbol of the city than a mere hotel. Not that you’d attribute the word ‘mere’ to anything at the twin-winged, marble-laden Emirates Palace.

Besides the superior levels of service, Mandarin Oriental has added a dash of its renowned hospitality throughout the hotel. You’ll feel it in rooms that, but for all their lavish materials, were previously designed in way that left them feeling a little sterile, a touch cold. Now they’re warm and inviting while no less luxurious. This is particularly true of the hotel’s revamped suites, where an overload of gold has been softened to something much more contemporary and reflective of a forward-looking city.

Speaking of which, in a first for the region Emirates Palace is now home to Vegan Rooms, which house nothing made using animal-based products or materials and include sustainable bedding and crueltyfree bath amenities. Guests can also select from an exclusively vegan in-room dining menu and minibar.

Gastronomy is another area in which Mandarin Oriental excels. To Emirates Palace’s pre-existing line up of restaurants, which includes an outpost of the ever-excellent and Michelin-starred Hakkasan, Mandarin Oriental has added Talea by Antonio Guida, a multi award-winning chef heralded by critics and diners alike as one of Italy’s finest. This restaurant is helmed by his protégé Luigi Stinga, whose subtle modernising of homemade, family-recipe staples saw Talea scoop a Michelin star within months of its opening. That’s a rarity anywhere in the world. Somewhere within the vast expanse of the palace’s spectacular entrance level you’ll find Episodes, a new beautifully decorated area comprising a tea apothecary, which offers exclusive blends drawn from around the globe; a gourmet deli where lobster terrine is a highlight; a cake shop replete with fanciful creations small and large, and a gelateria full of interesting local flavours to which you can add edible 23k gold.

But here you don’t even have to turn to everdependable ice cream to charm your children into obedience. At this palace, kids are king. In addition to having their own club, they have the run of a huge pool, lazy river (rubber rings come as standard) and a duo of fun water slides to conquer. More than enough to keep them occupied while you spend time in The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, a revamped haven fit for a palace.