The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain

If you’re a cynic you could worry a bit about the quite possibly over-the-top results of a global luxury-hotel brand taking on a project in a Persian Gulf boom town. But the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, in the capital city of Manama, while not exactly shattering all the stereotypes, goes just enough against the grain to make it very much worth taking note of.

For one thing it’s a renovation of an already-existing resort, and it’s more of a sprawling villa complex than the colonnaded palace you might be thinking of. The interiors have had a thorough renovation by Pierre-Yves Rochon, whose style is characteristically opulent while remaining very much within the bounds of good taste.

And the accommodations are up to the Ritz-Carlton’s usual high standard — everything, from the city-view standard rooms to the top-end sea-view suites and the haute-luxury villas, comes equipped with the state of the art in creature comforts and technological wizardry. There are no fewer than six restaurants, seven if you count the afternoon tea service in the lobby — what may be surprising is that they, along with the Burlington Club whiskey-and-cigar bar, are among Manama’s most in-demand destinations.