5 Causes To Go to the New Raffles Doha
7 min read
There isn’t any query the brand new icon of Doha is the structure of Katara Towers. It homes each Raffles Doha and Fairmont Doha. The crescent-shaped construction, impressed by the 2 intersecting swords, towers over the Lusail skyline by aqua-blue water. It would do for Doha what the Burj Al-Arab did for Dubai when it comes to setting the brand new normal for luxurious and drawing luxury-seeking vacationers from throughout the globe. After all, being the house base of Qatar Airways (named the world’s most luxurious airline by Pursuitist) will solely assist the already well-known Raffles model stand out in Doha, a metropolis already recognized for its luxurious resorts.
Raffles Doha is a vacation spot. Not solely does it have celebrated eating, an all-suite format with butler service and a spa distinctive in its providing, but it surely is also a part of the Accor All Reside Limitless program with a worldwide following. Listed here are 5 causes to place the brand new Raffles Doha contained in the well-known Katara Towers in your journey bucket checklist.
The suites
Raffles by no means does something with out going all the way in which…after which some. That’s the sensation you get right here once you enter the suites, every barely totally different in dimension and format given the constructing’s structure. Foyers with hardwood flooring lead you in previous partitions of mirrors, cabinets of attention-grabbing books, lengthy eating tables and separate residing areas. The primary function of the room, apart from two immense, high-definition televisions and extra gold leaf and crystal at each flip, is the bed room.
Plush beds with a quartet of sentimental pillows assures a strong night time sleep. Along with bedside charging shops are wi-fi charging panels in addition to iPads that management the entire rooms options (lights, blackout blinds, curtains, air-con and even the perfume diffuser that may be programmed to launch distinct aromas at totally different occasions to suit your temper). Intricate cornices, ceiling designs and Arabic wall motifs dominate the room giving one a real sense of place.
Bogs, awash in marble, have twin vanities, gigantic soaking tubs, a pair of TVs, water closets with Japanese bathrooms and expertise showers that provide rain drenching stress from the ceilings in addition to an array of wall spigots.
A spread of specialty suites is obtainable including extra residing house, glamorous accoutrements within the residing rooms and second bedrooms. For instance, the greater than 4,300 sq. foot Parisian Suite takes its inspiration from the Haussmann-style residences of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. The suite, which takes up your entire 30th flooring, has its personal cinema, examine, health club and butler’s pantry.
The duplex Royal Suite spans almost 10,000 sq. toes with residing areas dripping with chandeliers, a majlis for internet hosting visitors, a sport room, cinema, present kitchen, spa with hammam, indoor pool and yoga room (on high of two separate bedrooms). All of that is accessible by way of non-public elevator.
The eating at Raffles Doha
You gained’t go hungry right here given the variety of choices. L’Artisan serves all-day eating from an exhibition kitchen together with a formidable a la carte breakfast, specific enterprise lunch menu and worldwide menu. Alba is an Italian restaurant by three Michelin-starred Enrico Crippa who opened his first restaurant outdoors Italy within the lodge. The beautiful design is made much more particular by the variety of eating choices from a chef’s desk expertise to a Romeo and Juliet desk on a balcony behind purple velvet curtains.
Raffles Doha entered into the world’s largest e book shopping for venture to supply books of all kinds, together with many authentic variations of well-known classics like Moby Dick and Robinson Crusoe. These are on show all through the lodge, however there isn’t a higher place to take pleasure in them than in Blue Cigar the place partitions of books tower round you. A cigar sommelier affords background on the humidor’s assortment whereas craft cocktails creatively themed round totally different books fill the menu. Should you’re fortunate to sneak into the key room, you’ll be handled to a non-public setting for an much more particular expertise. It’s additionally attainable to peruse a few of these well-known tomes, however you’ll must don white gloves to the touch them.
Silk Street-inspired tapas are on the menu of the top-floor Acoustic Music Penthouse whereas Malaki on the foyer stage affords afternoon tea (massively well-liked with locals) in addition to mild meals and drinks. The lodge takes nice care to supply a variety of drinks from essentially the most high-end spirts to zero-proof cocktails and beer (even glowing wine). Native farms provide the menus to help as many regional companies as attainable.
The design of Raffles Doha
It’s a who’s who of designers once you stroll by means of Raffles Doha. Marcel Wanders was chargeable for lots of the public areas in addition to the suites, which flaunt an upscale model that’s beautiful with out being overdone. Crystal chandeliers curve like rounded sculptures reasonably than your conventional dangling mannequin.
Curved arches fill the rooms; visitor loos sit inside floor-to-ceiling mirrored cubes like a dramatic piece of recent artwork (a treasure field of types); partitions of leather-based chests, drawers and cupboards are a part of the walk-in closets behind sliding mirrored panels that appear like a stack of Louis Vuitton trunks. Even the doorway to the visitor room sits behind a wrought iron gate construction giving the impression of coming into a non-public residence.
The checklist goes on and on. However, there may be nothing extra placing than the world’s tallest kaleidoscope that dominates the primary foyer. Rising a number of flooring into what looks like infinity with a projection of clouds throughout the day and stars at night time that mirror within the smattering of angled mirrors that line the partitions. The result’s a mesmerizing piece of artwork that nearly instructions you to snap a photograph at totally different occasions of day.
Should you’re unsure who precisely is a employees member and who’s a visitor, nobody would fault you. The overall supervisor and staff didn’t need the standard employees uniform. As a substitute, the lodge tapped an eclectic designer to give you distinctive style items for each outlet within the lodge. Entrance desk employees, the bell staff, every restaurant, butlers and spa personnel every have their very own designer outfits that appear like one thing you’ll purchase in a style boutique.
The property can also be the house of the nation’s high occasions, together with internet hosting the emir and different authorities officers with regularity. The ballroom right here is likely one of the largest within the nation (if not the biggest with its dramatic chandeliers and hovering ceilings). The emir enters by means of a non-public entrance with a retractable porte cochere reserved only for royalty.
The spa
It is just becoming that an all-suite lodge has an all-suite spa. Fairly than a hallway of therapy rooms, each is a non-public suite. They’ve a person health club, whirlpool, sauna, steam room, bathe and altering space. This provides the final word in privateness when looking for out a bit of pampering. The menu affords medical spa remedies utilizing Dr. Burgener skincare merchandise giving it an edge over different lodge spas.
The service is second to none with a doting employees. Even with no therapy visitors have entry to a separate health middle. They’ll additionally use a sauna and steam room. Altering rooms have leisure areas which can be complimentary for visitors to make use of.
Spas within the Center East must respect cultural norms, and this spa affords a spread of personal therapy suites to maximise privateness whereas not taking away the vary of services accessible to all visitors.
Simply outdoors is a fantastic infinity edge pool overlooking the Persian Gulf. Cushioned lounge chairs line the pool, however shaded cabanas are particularly well-liked to flee the near-constant solar.
The small print
What makes a real luxurious lodge is consideration to element. The truth that no stone goes unturned to make the journey expertise one that’s unforgettable and memorable in each method. From the Bentley autos that rush visitors to the airport or across the metropolis to the title recognition from employees, visitors right here will really feel pampered all through their keep.
The small print are distinctive. By the pool, attendants lay out towels and convey chilled towels and water. Within the elevators, cushioned benches present an old school stage of consolation as you ascend the tower. Throughout check-in, butlers attend to the main points ensuite. Company can take pleasure in a rose cordial welcome cocktail within the course of. Later, they can assist unpack and repack luggage as wanted.
Even the shoeshine staff has been skilled educated by bootmaker John Lobb and staff. On the marble vanities, crystal above-counter sinks sit beside an array of bespoke Frederic Malle perfume toiletries. A partnership with Truefitt & Hill turns the shaving kits into upscale facilities with tubes of aftershave and shaving gel. Within the high tier of specialty suites, present containers with a shaving stand and brush, massive bottle of aftershave and high-end razors.
On the espresso tables, a dozen glass cloche-covered plates have welcome snacks. These embrace Arabic sweets, contemporary berries and almond-filled dates. Even the minibars aren’t simply minibars, however dubbed “in-room boutiques.” That’s as a result of they’re in their very own room behind mirrored doorways. They’ve a bean-to-cup espresso maker, moist bar and customizable snacks and sundries. Throughout turndown service, the employees delivers plush eyeshades and linen spray for sound sleep.
Searching for any plastic bottles? There aren’t any single-use plastics within the lodge, simply certainly one of its many eco-friendly features. A keep right here is as distinctive for visitors as it’s for the atmosphere.
