Located at the eastern tip of Abu Dhabi’s Corniche Road, the Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche hotel is within walking distance of the seafront and close to the business and financial centre of the capital. Part of the Capital Plaza Complex, the hotel provides easy access to the Manarat Al Saadiyat, where the Louvre and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be located.
Set over 44 floors, the hotel has 282 rooms with sea or city views, which include: 48 suites, 57 club rooms, four imperial suites and one royal suite, as well as three restaurants and three bars.
Built in a contemporary architectural style, the hotel lobby sits perfectly within its urban landscape. The décor has been fashioned to showcase the finest in design and is inspired by the work of French contemporary artist Pierre Soulages. The concept is brought to life with one of his existing authorised paintings. Soulages was known as ‘the painter of the black’ because of his fascination with the colour, and so a monochrome theme is sustained throughout the rooms and suites in the hotel. The lobby is scented with L’Artisan Parfumeur’s evocative Jatamansi fragrance – an invitation to serenity.
All of the hotel’s rooms and suites elegantly blend modern design with authentic French art de recevoir and Arabic hospitality. Each room fulfils a level of comfort designed to induce relaxation: fitted with Sofitel’s exclusive ‘MyBed’ concept and fully equipped with the latest technology. The extensive integrated bathrooms enhance a sense of salle de bien: flooded with natural daylight, with spacious rain showers and in-bathroom mirror TVs in selected suites.
Gallic specialities
The hotel celebrates French gastronomy blended with international cuisine that is synonymous with Sofitel’s art de la table. All-day dining is available through three live cooking stations, offering: the best in French cuisine bourgeoise and rotisserie cooking; Pan-Arabic cuisine with Gulf, North African and Levant influences; and a boulangerie counter with exquisite breads, pastries, Viennoiseries and sweets.
All the flavours of Bangkok can be discovered at the Silk and Spice restaurant, with its modern and mouth-watering menu, enjoyed in a traditional Thai setting around sunken tables, with views over the Corniche. The Mai Thai bar offers typical Thai appetisers and pre-dinner cocktails set among a display of beautifully carved fresh fruits and vegetables.
Embark on an exceptional dining experience at Sofitel’s signature seafood restaurant La Mer, with stunning views across the Arabian Gulf. The restaurant offers a selection of Gulf fish and seafood, on display and expertly prepared à la minute by Chef Paul Wieser in an authentic French style. A seafood bar is also available offering sushi, ceviche, seafood tartare and oysters. A private dining area can be screened off for events, functions and family gatherings.
Bars and boardrooms
There is also a diverse range of bars, each with individual specialities and characteristics. The Jazz’n Fizz bar is the ideal venue for an after-work glass of bubbly with live French chill-out jazz, infused with Bossa Nova, Latin and Arabic tunes. A refined selection of champagne and wines can be selected from the cellar, and a wide choice of cigars – perfect to complement an aged cognac – are on offer in the dedicated cigar lounge.
Le Café Lobby Lounge is the place to experience afternoon tea in a simple, chic setting. A selection of Dammann Frères tea and Selamlique Turkish coffee complements a dizzying, mouth-watering parade of pastries, tarts, Middle Eastern and French desserts, all within view of sculptures inspired by Brancusi.
The Chill’O pool bar and terrace offers delightful daytime cocktails, thirst-quenching fruit juices and gourmet sorbets. The pool bar presents a menu of vitamin-packed drinks to enjoy alongside tasty snacks. Get together for evenings with friends to smoke shisha while sipping mint tea. Indulge in mezzes or tapas to share, while listening to soft chill-out music in relaxed lounge seating.
The hotel features ten conference and meeting rooms, amassing nearly 2,600sq m of facilities. From the ballroom to the boardrooms and business centre, a variety of configurations allows for meetings and events of up to 1,000 people. Each area is equipped with the latest technology. Sofitel’s ‘inspired meetings planner’ is an exceptional way to manage clients’ conferencing needs; tailor-made events and weddings can also be created onsite for memorable experiences.
The Crystal Ballroom is located on the first floor with private access via escalator and two fully equipped boardrooms. The ballroom ceilings coffers are lined and draped with thousands of strings of sparkling crystals, while the end walls feature more paintings inspired by Pierre Soulages.
On the second floor, furniture in the pre-function hall is inspired by world-renowned French conceptual artist Daniel Buren’s columns at the Palais Royal in Paris. The multi-function meeting room has views over the Corniche and has one further boardroom and five meeting rooms.
Escape from the city
For something a bit different, the So Spa provides an exhilarating, uplifting and rejuvenating experience where therapies and treatments from around the world meet the refinement and skill of the latest in French cosmetology. It offers four single treatment rooms and one double private spa suite. Each area features its own separate hammams, scrub room and jacuzzi. A range of signature treatments are available, from rejuvenating skincare techniques to euphoric body massage.
The spa has chosen Carita, Cinq Mondes and Shiffa as their natural product partners. With over 60 years of skincare expertise, Carita is considered among the pioneers of anti-aging skin products. Cinq Mondes has a strong international presence and is known for its passion for spa treatments. Finally, Shiffa has a local line of natural
products formulated on the principles of proven dermatology. A swimming pool and whirlpool on the terrace of the hotel completes the day spa offering, making the So Spa an exceptional escape from the city.
Alternatively, Sofitel’s So Fit concept offers guests the most advanced fitness and workout equipment available, with Technogym fitness machines, steam room and dry sauna. Guests can enjoy a full workout under the guidance of a highly qualified personal trainer, or just re-charge their batteries in the most luxurious of surroundings.
Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents, with 120 addresses in almost 40 countries – more than 30,000 rooms. The company offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a rural landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers an incomparable and genuine experience of the French art de vivre.
Further information
email: h7507@sofitel.com
www.sofitel.com/AbuDhabi
