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TRIED & TESTED HOTEL Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers
BACKGROUND Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers is an iconic 280-metre-tall beachfront hotel, part of the five tower Etihad Towers complex. It is testimonial of a dramatic sculptural design, as seen by its innovative, fluid architecture.
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WHAT’S IT LIKE Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers exudes a modern, stylish, and comfort-driven aura. The hotel provides spectacular aerial views of the Arabian Gulf from every room, as well as a stunning observation deck on level 74. The hotel caters to the requirements of every traveller, with exceptional dining options, great service, and well-equipped event spaces.
WHERE IS IT Nestled in the Etihad Towers Complex, the hotel overlooks Abu Dhabi’s business and leisure hub. It is conveniently located 30 minutes away from the Abu Dhabi International Airport, and is in close proximity to popular tourist locations such as the Marina Eye, Qasr Al Watan: The Presidential Palace, White Fort, and Abu Dhabi’s yacht club. ceiling windows that frame spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf. The hotel o ers a variety of options to stay, with Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Premier Rooms, Executive Rooms, and suites, among others. I stayed in the King Grand Premier Room with a sea view, which sprawled over 60 sqm. The blackout curtains and comfortable king-size bed with feathery soft pillows made for a relaxing night’s sleep. Other amenities included a walk-in shower, an HD television, and tea and co ee machine.
FOOD AND DRINK With a collection of 12 restaurants and bars, the hotel o ers a bespoke experience for a variety of cuisines, right from Lebanon to Tokyo. Li Beirut is famous for its mezze platters and grills, while at Nahaam, one can enjoy casual dining such as burgers and sandwiches by the poolside. Ray’s Bar is ideal for good music and innovative cocktails. I ate a sumptuous breakfast at Rosewater, where I dined on fried eggs with toasted multigrain bread. I washed down my simple but wholesome breakfast with a refreshing glass of pineapple juice. MEETINGS With 13 meeting venues and a 1920 sqm Mezzoon Ballroom that can accommodate up to 1000 people, the hotel is fully equipped to provide a world-class meeting experience. The hotel’s multilingual professional planners assist with providing sound, lighting, and video technology. The hotel is up-to-date with modern AV technology to provide a seamless meeting experience.
LEISURE The hotel’s Conrad Spa is ideal for unwinding after a long day. The spa has 13 treatment rooms, including a Hammam Suite and Rasoul chamber. Take a dip in one of the three outdoor pools, or choose to unwind by the hotel’s 2200 sqm private beach. Grab a quick workout at the hotel’s 24 hour fitness centre.
VERDICT With a well-connected location, good service, and well-equipped meeting rooms, the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers blends comfort with practicality to cater to the needs of business and leisure travellers. BEST FOR The hotel’s private beach
DON’T MISS Authentic Latin American cuisine at VaKaVa
PRICE Upwards of ₹16,400 for a Queen Superior Room
CONTACT Corniche Rd - Al Bateen - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates; hilton.com
The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel and Residences
BACKGROUND Situated in close proximity to the Ambience Mall, the luxury property is located on the fringe of Gurugram and Delhi NCR. Furthermore, the hotel houses an impressive collection of art by renowned artist- Raghu Rai. A large part of the artwork that can be found across the five star property signifies how the landscape in Gurugram has evolved from agricultural land to its new avatar of high-rise buildings and multiplexes. The hotel features 322 rooms and suites with contemporary and Indian features.
WHAT’S IT LIKE As soon as I entered, I was in awe of the grand spiral staircase on either side of the lobby. Each nook and corner of the hotel was covered in some form of eye-catching art. The interiors exude a sense of comfort and warmth as they prove to be a successful mélange of modern amenities and traditional design.
WHERE IS IT Situated on the fringes of Gurugram, the hotel is conveniently close to the airport, and is a stone’s throw from Ambience Mall. The hotel is strategically sandwiched between the business centre and the capital city, making it an ideal getaway for the business traveller.
ROOMS The hotel o ers 322 rooms and suites that have been tastefully designed with a combination of contemporary and traditional Indian influences. Guests can choose from the 129 Deluxe Rooms, 75 Premier Rooms, 90 Royal Club Rooms, and the 22 Executive, 6 Panorama Suites, and the Presidential Suite. I stayed in the Panorama Suit. The 180-degree view of the peaceful Rajokri Greens through the floorto-ceiling windows provided an extremely soothing backdrop to my hotel stay. This spacious room sprawled over 104 sq m and provided access to the Royal Club Lounge. I greatly appreciated the complimentary airport pick-up and drop that the hotel provided, which captured their dedication to meet the needs of their guests. The ergonomic mattress and soft pillows made for a very comfortable night’s sleep.
FOOD AND DRINK The hotel has a variety of cuisines for guests to go on a gastronomical adventure. At Spectra, I breakfasted on a flu y white egg omelette paired with a lightly browned sourdough toast. I washed that down with a cup of espresso. I sipped on some wine at the Royal club Lounge and proceeded for dinner. At Diya, I dove into the true essence of India with tastefully designed interiors that captured the country’s dynamic nature. The menu o ered a culinary tour through the country, right from the mustard flavoured fish of Bengal to the coconutinfused dishes of the South. On the second day, I dined on Italian fare at Zanotta. The interactive kitchen and exquisite views of the millennium city set the mood for a sophisticated dinner, with authentic dishes like Rucola, Pere alla griglia, and Polenta.
MEETINGS The hotel is amply equipped with meeting and event spaces that provide state-of-the-art technology for the ultimate seamless meetings experience. There are 4 meeting rooms and 6 boardrooms, and a spacious 855 sq m Pearl Ballroom which has access to a pre-function area. The Maple Room and Royal Room can be divided into two parts.
LEISURE The hotel’s design intends to cater to the requirements of luxury and relaxation of its guests. The Ambience Golf Greens is ideal for avid golfers to unwind. The hotel’s traditional Ayurvedic spa o ers personal therapy rooms, where one can reinvigorate the mind and body with chemical-free, natural face and body scrubs and aromatherapy. VERDICT An ideal hotel for guests who have a penchant for art and wish to immerse themselves in a world of curated luxury. BEST FOR its art collection
DON’T MISS The breakfast bu et at Spectra
PRICE Internet rates are upwards of ₹12,000
CONTACT National Highway 8, Ambience Island, DLF Phase 3, Sector 24, Gurugram, Haryana 122002 theleela.com
The 180-degree view of the peaceful Rajokri Greens provided an extremely soothing backdrop to my hotel stay
The authentic dishes at Mikusu celebrate the rich culinary roots of the East through fresh ingredients which add a rich flavour to all the dishes. I started my dinner with Omiso Shiro, which is a delicate soya bean soup with wakame, tofu and spring onions. Followed by the delightful Mikusu Platter that consisted of sashimi, nigiri and the chef’s signature rolls. The platter was especially
The star of the show was the pan-fried chicken dumplings that were accompanied with a refreshing carrot and loban sauce
Mikusu at Conrad Bengaluru
delicious because all the ingredients used to craft the dishes in the platter were fresh and enhanced the taste. The star of the show was the pan-fried chicken dumplings that HOURS Monday-Sunday: 1230 to 1530, 1900 to 2330
PRICE Approximately ₹3000 for two people
CONTACT Kensington Road, Conrad Hotel, Ulsoor, Bangalore hilton.com
flavoured sweetened coconut milk with water chestnut.
VERDICT Dining at Mikusu is a memorable experience filled with rich flavours crafted using high quality ingredients. Ravi Lalwani
perfection. I ended my meal with a hearty helping of tiramisu.
VERDICT Scrumptious food and serene views come together to create a blissful experience that fills the stomach and heart. Ravi Lalwani
Tiamo features Mediterranean bistro classic dishes that are specifically made to relish under an open sky. The restaurant overlooks the deck of the infinity pool with panoramic views of Ulsoor
Tiamo at Conrad Bengaluru
Lake. I began my meal with a delectable portion of garlic prawns along with some bruschetta which was truly divine. For the main course I chose the muddica crusted sea bass, which was seasoned to were accompanied with a refreshing carrot and loban sauce. The sweet end to my dinner was a unique dish called the Tab Tim Krob, a delicious Thai dessert which is made up of pandan leaf
HOURS Monday-Sunday: 1100 to 2330
PRICE Approximately ₹2500 for two people
CONTACT Kensington Road, Conrad Hotel, Ulsoor, Bangalore hilton.com
82 BIG PICTURE THE
Sights of Sweden
The light in the charming city of Stockholm is every photographer’s paradise. Similarly when Debdeep Mukherjee, a full time producer and cinematographer, embarked on his first international trip he was enamoured with the skies in Europe. The level of light play he could indulge in with his Sony Alpha 7R 2 left him in awe of the world around him. “I distinctly remember the moment I clicked this picture. It was July, 2018 and I was filled with excitement since it was my first trip abroad but nothing could have prepared me for all the beautiful frames I would capture on this trip. Taking photographs in Sweden led me to a larger epiphany that things are always in your control and that introduced an element of calmness to my photography.”
The Diwali Grandeur
Illuminate the festive season with luxury gifting experiences by The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore.
Diwali is a celebration of our most traditional festival. Presenting a range of artisanal sweets, gourmet gifting ideas and bespoke hampers curated by our Master Chefs.
Delectable meets couture with this exquisite hamper of traditional sweets with a fashionable twist, curated by Manish Malhotra and our artisan chefs.
We are known for our uncompromising quality coupled with exquisite taste.
For enquiries, purchases, and personalized orders, please call Vishwesh Ramesh on +91.636.487.8820 or visit our Diwali Gifting Retail Boutique at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore.
