Abu Dhabi family-friendly staycay

A sense of place

The magic is in the detail at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, where tiny tots are the stars of the show

Words: Yvonne Kerr

Golden and cerulean shades of desert and ocean surround the Rosewood Abu Dhabi, also colouring the hotel’s interior, rich in luxuriously veiled drapes, warm, low lighting and tasteful art. Even the elevator doors inside this luxury hotel on Al Maryah Island are camouflaged by the same brassy hues, so I walked right past the lift in my search for it. Our suite offered an outstanding view over the Arabian Gulf and the attention to detail for my two children really was touching: an old-fashioned glass bottle labelled fresh milk and two tiny mugs with cute animal motifs; notebooks and pencils for drawing; a blanket for my newborn and a wooden cot; a trundle bed for my toddler with a small fluffy white dressing gown and matching mini slippers; two teddy bears and a selection of fruit, candy and cookies. A suite is recommended for families; space for them to play and you to relax.

The garden brunch The garden brunch at Aqua Restaurant is served on Fridays from 1-5pm. We sat outside to enjoy a view of the coastline where some shade afforded a refreshing breeze. The service was immaculate. This is not your typical ostentatious brunch, populated by stacks of meat, sauces, sides and desserts. The offering was a select number of live cooking stations serving shellfish (oysters, lobster) and fresh fillets (sea bass, gurnard)

Left to right: Views over the Arabian Gulf from Rosewood Abu Dhabi; Rosewood Explorers Kids Club

that can be barbeued to your taste, a Mexican section with soft and hard tacos served with chicken or beef scooped out of a bubbling cauldron of hot, spicy sauce, a sushi counter, a Chinese stir fry station with crispy Peking duck, freshly carved, and a burger stand serving juicy Angus beef and all the trimmings. Don’t let your kids see the ice cream station with cones and a medley of sugary toppings and sauces until the end. Just inside was an extensive fresh salad bar for self-serving and – something we discovered almost too late, which was just as well for my waistline – was a dessert room inside, tastefully presented with mouthwatering bites, from cheesecake to brownies, crème brulee to pear tarts. As the sun dropped over the horizon, lights illuminated the petrol-blue pool area and a live DJ played chilled music. The process was seamless.

Rosewood Explorers While you brunch, sign your child into supervised care at the upgraded Rosewood Explorers Kids Club, adjacent to the dining area. The new outdoor terrace offers a shaded (and fenced) grassy zone where your little one can roam free or play table tennis or mini football. Cinema nights are also hosted here. Indoor activities range from the media room with a TV and games to the Lego area, to a quiet corner where children can read. My son was in view of our table the whole time. We relaxed. For hotel guests, there is a daily itinerary for kids from three to 12 years, 9am-9pm, offering gardening, art and cooking sessions.

Shopping Rosewood Abu Dhabi is directly connected to The Galleria Mall. The hotel lounge leads directly to the promenade where you can stroll by the water and dine al fresco at a tasteful waterfront restaurant, or stay indoors and make a beeline for the designer and high street outlets inside The Galleria. We did a little shopping before visiting an outdoor family park on the fourth floor where my three-year-old burned off some energy on slides, a trampoline and a green area. The following morning after breakfast, we sampled the 25-metre outdoor pool that's heated (or cooled) to a balmy 25 degrees in the shadow of date trees, white cabanas and loungers where you can kick back, beverage in hand. It was all so lovely and sophisticated that one night truly felt like a mini break.

For parents Guests staying or dining at the hotel can leave their child with the Rosewood Explorers team for up to two hours for free, although kids below four years must be accompanied by a guardian. Four hours of babysitting later in the evenings, including a kid's meal, will cost AED150. For more information, visit www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/abu-dhabi

Things to do

Relax: In the fitness centre and 25-metre pool or treat yourself at Sense, A Rosewood Spa where a range of ‘Sense Journeys’ include the 270-minute 'Jewel of Arabia' body treatment.

Shop: The Galleria Mall is directly connected to Rosewood with a range of designer and high street brands alongside restaurants, cafes and a pretty waterfront promenade.

Culture: Visit the Louvre: an art and culture museum with 12 galleries and regular exhibitions via a unique collaboration with the Louvre in France.

Leisure: A short 15-minute drive from Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island is home to two leisure clubs offering spa treatments and the region’s first ocean golf course.

Tour: Ten minutes’ drive from Rosewood, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with 82 domes, is one of the world’s largest mosques.

Dine: As well as Aqua restaurant, Rosewood offers Lebanese at Sambusek, Cantonese at Dai Pai Dong or private dining at La Cava, as well as two lounges; Dragon’s Tooth and the Hidden Bar.

The Secret World of Sleep: Journeys Through the Nocturnal Mind

by Dr Guy Leschziner

Insomnia, narcolepsy, apnoea and sleepwalking are just a sample of the conditions afflicting Guy Leschziner’s patients. Then there are the extreme cases. A woman in a state of deep sleep who gets dressed, unlocks her car and drives for miles before returning to bed. The man who has spent decades cleaning out kitchens while ‘sleepeating’. Leschziner illustrates the biological and psychological factors behind our sleeping minds.

From: Magrudy’s and Magrudy.com Price: AED63.00

The Sheikh CEO – Lessons in Leadership from Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

by Dr Yasar Jarrar (Author)

This book is about the leadership style of the Sheikh who built Dubai into a global hub. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, has created an extraordinary legacy through his bold vision. This book distils the lessons to be learned from observing Sheikh Mohammed firsthand, featuring interviews with ministers and members of his Executive Office team from the past two decades. It gives an insider’s view of the Sheikh CEO and his personal leadership model.

Available from: Amazon Price: AED79.00

Books

Asha & the Spirit Bird

by Jasbinder Bilan WINNER OF THE COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2019

Asha lives in the foothills of the Himalayas. Money is tight and she misses her papa who works in the city. When he suddenly stops sending his wages, a ruthless moneylender ransacks their home. Asha makes a pact with her best friend to find her father and make things right. But the journey is dangerous: they must cross the world’s highest mountains. And yet, Asha has the sense that the spirit bird of her grandmother - her nanijee - will be watching over her.

From: Magrudy’s and Magrudy.com Price: AED44.10

The Rosie Result

by Graeme Simsion Series: The Rosie Project Series

The final instalment of the bestselling series that began with The Rosie Project. Meet Don Tillman, the genetics professor with a scientific approach to everything. He is in professional hot water after a lecture goes viral; his wife Rosie is about to lose the research job she loves; and their son, Hudson, is struggling at school. He’s a smart kid, but socially awkward. Fortunately, Don’s had a lifetime’s experience of not fitting in. He’ll need the help of old and new friends and faces some big questions.

From: Magrudy’s and Magrudy.com Price: AED46.20

Misbehaviour

The most-watched television show in the world at the time, with more than 100 million viewers, the 1970 Miss World pageant saw the newly formed Women’s Liberation Movement achieve overnight fame by invading the stage and disrupting the live broadcast, hosted by Bob Hope, claiming that such beauty competitions demeaned women. When the show resumed, the result caused further uproar when Miss Grenada became the first black woman to be crowned Miss World, beating the favourite.

Release Date: 12 March Starring: Keira Knightley, Jessie Buckley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Onward

Two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, go on a journey to discover if there is still a little magic left out there in order to spend one last day with their father, who died when they were too young to remember him. They receive a wizard’s staff that comes with a spell that will bring their father back for only 24 hours. Prompted by Barley, Ian uses the spell, only to end up with just his father’s legs. This causes the brothers to go on a quest for a way to bring back the rest of their father before their time is up.

Release Date: 5 March Starring: Chris Pratt, Tom Holland

Miss Americana

Miss Americana is a raw and emotionally revealing look at Taylor Swift, one of the most iconic artists of our time, during a transformational period in her life. The film tells the story of Swift navigating the difference between who the world wants her to be and who she wants to be. Director Lana Wilson offers a luminous and multifaceted window into a global superstar learning to embrace her role not only as a songwriter and performer, but as a woman harnessing the full power of her voice.

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker

Academy Award-winner Octavia Spencer stars as Madam CJ Walker, the trailblazing African American haircare entrepreneur who was America’s first female self-made millionaire. Inspired by the book On Her Own Ground written by Walker’s great-great-granddaughter A’Lelia Bundles, this four-part original series tells the uplifting story of how, against all odds, Walker overcame biases, betrayals and business rivalries to build a revolutionary brand, as she simultaneously fights for social change.

Movies

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