Summer Staycation Bonanza At The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC

Business or pleasure? I hereby coin a new phrase in honour of our stay at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC: ‘Bleasure.’ What’s that I hear you ask? Well, thanks to the superbly convenient location, the level of personal service and world-class facilities of The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre, business can be efficiently dealt with leaving a lot more time for the ‘pleasure’ part of your stay!

Located in the heart of Dubai International Financial Centre, The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC offers a dynamic setting and opulent retreat for any affluent traveler. Standing 14 stories high, the hotel epitomizes understated luxury and elegance, behind its stylish limestone façade. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s outstanding leisure facilities, whilst benefiting from a direct walkway to DIFC Gate Village, famed for its international restaurants and art galleries. The globally renowned Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa are just five minutes away, along with the diverse nightlife of Downtown Dubai, making The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC the perfect location from which to explore the limitless sights and attractions of the Middle East’s most exciting city

And now there’s even more reason to choose The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC with its unparalleled generous Summer Staycation package available to UAE residents and their families.

The new Residents Package offers guests a special Summer rate on rooms and suites, with Deluxe Rooms starting from AED 700++ per night, as well as a host of benefits, with the option of a connecting room and suite for those traveling with young children. Ritz Kids can discover a sense of adventure, by sleeping in a fun teepee tent complete with Ritz-Carlton linen, designed to capture the imagination of any young explorer.

Families who reserve the package will also receive complimentary tickets to Modhesh World, the indoor theme park hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre, as well as a VIP tour and meet and greet experience with Modhesh himself. He will also make two exclusive appearances at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC throughout the summer; the only hotel in the region to offer its youngest guests the unique opportunity to meet the loveable character, providing a memory they will treasure well beyond their stay.

In addition, guests will also receive an array of added value benefits, including a complimentary shuttle to Modhesh World and Dubai Mall, shopping vouchers and a personal shopping experience at Galeries Lafayette, Dubai Mall, complimentary accommodation and dining for children under 12 years old, as well as savings for the whole family in the hotel’s restaurants and The Ritz-Carlton Spa.

As well as visiting the plethora of nearby attractions, The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC offers plenty of entertainment inside the hotel, with a wide choice of restaurants, outdoor lounges and terraces, and indoor and rooftop swimming pools.

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Arriving exhausted late on a Thursday evening after a busy week, we were immediately at ease when as part of the warm welcome we received upon arrival, we were informed that our private check-in could take place in the comfort of the Club Lounge whilst we enjoy a light meal and refreshments for dinner. I hardly noticed check-in as it seemed that the friendly and hospitable Club Lounge team had our comfort at the forefront of their minds. We were immediately invited to help ourselves to light dinner snacks from the buffet whilst drinks would be served to our table. Our nearly 4-year-old daughter was presented with a Ritz Kids welcome pack complete with wristband, t-shirt and colouring pack, which afforded us a little quiet time to take stock and relax as our weekend began to unfold.

Once suitably refreshed, we were shown to our room – The Ambassador Suite. Need I say more? The spacious accommodation stretched over 1,442 sq ft (the Ambassador Suites range between 1,303-1,442 sq ft) with a private dining room, lounge/study area, 1.5 bathrooms, a king bedroom and a vast private balcony providing us with our own ambient vantage point of the lively buzz of the DIFC all around. And there’s more… the pièce de résistance was a teepee tent awaiting our daughter fully furnished with the comfort of the Ritz-Carlton bedding, a torch and reading books. Her excitement was palpable and she immediately set about making a camp for her teddies and having a picnic with pieces of fruit from the beautiful selection that she discovered in the dining room! The luxury of the large marble wet room with its deep bath, rain and power shower were beckoning and I just knew that this was going to be one good night’s sleep!

Dining

Start the day with a lavish breakfast buffet served in the elegant steakhouse, Center Cut. The buffet offers continental and international favourites and cooked eggs, pancakes and waffles are served to order at your table. A whole range of freshly made-to-order juices and smoothies are also available, so whatever your breakfast favourite, you will be well catered for. During the day and night, Center Cut transforms into a stylish steakhouse offering casual elegance and a fine dining experience.

During the cooler months (from October), No.5 Lounge & Bar provides a relaxing al fresco venue with a stunning terrace and DJ to set the perfect vibe for ‘sundowners.’

Lobby Lounge offers an afternoon tea and evening cocktails and The Sunken Garden serves as an exquisite shisha terrace.

Dining Highlights: 

Café Belge

Café Belge is Dubai’s first Grand Café, serving classic Belgian cuisine. At night, the space comes alive with Dubai’s social scene set against the stylish backdrop of a mix of art deco and art nouveau interiors evoking an air of understated elegance with lofty ceilings crowning intricately designed pillars and cornicing all designed in celebration of the vibrant spirit of 1920s Brussels. A semi-al fresco terrace provides diners with a more airy setting whilst intimate booth seating and cosy tables await inside. A vast marble bar serves the finest of Belgian hops the menu for which has been carefully selected by Master Sommelier, Sofie Vanrafelghem.

The food and service are equally inspiring with a fresh seafood bar offering an open-kitchen dining experience whilst the finest of seafood is freshly prepared to order. The main menu offers gourmet Belgian dishes all beautifully presented as mouthwatering masterpieces that will have you pining for more! The highly professional and knowledgeable staff provide the perfect level of service affording diners the privacy of an intimate meal whilst being on hand whenever needed for guidance and to provide a swift and seamless service.

Café Belge hosts a variety of regular events, including a Friday sharing brunch (due to resume 4th September) and business lunch with new dishes daily.

Lunch: 12pm-2.30pm
Dinner: 6.30pm-11pm (last orders)
Bar: 6pm-2am
Reservations: 04 372 2323 / cafebelgedifc@ritzcarlton.com
Visit the website here: www.cafebelgedifc.com

Cake

The newest addition to the hotel is Cake, a contemporary patisserie and café that serves an elegant menu of cakes, pastries and cookies, along with a select range of fresh sandwiches and salads, to eat in or takeaway.

Executive Pastry Chef Dragan Rucnov is the creative force behind the elegant menu of cakes, pastries and cookies, handmade each day using only the freshest, highest quality ingredients. Teas, coffees, juices, milkshakes, smoothies and a select range of fresh sandwiches and salads are also available from 6am until midnight every day, with Cake serving breakfast, lunch and of course cakes, around the clock to eat in or takeaway.

Cake is the perfect place to grab a light meal or snack, indulge your sweet tooth with a spoiling array of artisan creations and confectionery or even purchase beautifully packaged gifts for friends and loved ones. Whatever your needs, the friendly team are happy to help and are particularly welcoming to children!

Special Mention: Personal Service

There is something refreshingly reassuring about the level of personal service and attention to detail synonymous with the Ritz-Carlton brand… you just know what to expect wherever you are in the world and rather than fearing disappointment, you are more likely to have your expectations surpassed! From the moment we pulled up to the front entrance on a busy Thursday night to the moment we were granted an extended and generous late checkout at 5pm on Saturday, the Ritz-Carlton team were phenomenal and made our stay more comfortable and enjoyable than we could have hoped for.

With a long mixed ‘to do’ list of business and pleasure to get through, we were feeling challenged at best at the thought of achieving it all in 48 hours, but the hotel team made our schedule run like clockwork. By way of example, a weekend in Dubai would not be complete without a full shopping experience in Dubai Mall for me and a visit to the Dubai Aquarium for our daughter and when our feet could barely take another step, we arrived back at the hotel laden with bags only to be greeted by the wonderfully cheery and helpful doormen, who lifted our spirits and whisked our heavy bags straight up to our room allowing us to saunter up at our leisure and immediately unwind as we looked forward to indulging in a late afternoon swim in the hotel’s tranquil indoor swimming pool at the Spa. On Saturday, our already generous checkout time of 4pm proved to be pushing our luck slightly with so much to see and do around town, but rather than feel rushed, the Guest Relations team assured us they would happily accommodate us for another hour to allow us time to pack at our leisure and rest before the journey home.

When it finally came to leave, we did so with mixed emotions – feeling elated and joyful at having seen and done so much in one weekend and yet very sad to be leaving the luxurious, warm and hospitable comforts of the Ritz-Carlton DIFC. We will be sure to return and I for one can’t wait!

Accommodation

Rooms & Suites

The hotel boasts 341 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, including two Royal Suites. Each suite has separate living and sleeping rooms, bathrooms with natural daylight, large marble bathtubs and stand-alone showers, and all suites overlook the picturesque hotel courtyard, or the vibrant center of DIFC. For those travelling with children or family, suites have the additional option of an adjoining guest-room, to create a two-bedroom suite. The Ambassador Suites are particularly popular with families, as they each offer a large balcony with a picturesque outside space. The two 200 square meters Royal Suites, situated on the 13^th and 14^th floors, contain a separate kitchenette, as well as a view of The Gate, the majestic structure that stands in the center of DIFC.

Executive Residences

The 124 Executive Residence apartments combine sophisticated style and luxurious home furnishings, with the added benefit of the legendary Ritz-Carlton service, and access to the hotel’s five-star facilities.  The apartments range from one to four bedrooms and are available short or long-term stays and provide a perfect base for a family weekend escape. Residents and guests are treated to a host of services including housekeeping, a 24-hour concierge service, laundry and dry-cleaning, complimentary Wi-Fi, access to the business center, and secure, private parking.

The Ritz-Carlton Club® Level

The Ritz-Carlton Club® Level, available to all Club Room and Suite guests, combines intimacy, comfort and exclusivity. Complimentary food offerings and Wi-Fi make it the perfect place to unwind, and its own concierge ensures seamless planning for every Club Lounge guest.

Leisure Facilities

The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC Spa email

The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC Indoor Pool wmail

Rooftop pool

The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC Spa, offers a sanctuary for pure indulgence for body, mind and spirit, with holistic and customised treatments, two suites with a private whirlpool bath, eleven single treatment rooms with natural daylight, and male and female steam rooms. Energise at the Fitness Centre, with state-of-the-art equipment and a personal trainer, or take a dip in the indoor or rooftop swimming pools.

Business Facilities and Ballroom

A variety of space and a 1,400 sq. meter ballroom accommodate for a diverse range of meetings and events, with facilities including ten private meeting rooms. The spectacular Samaya Ballroom is divisible by four, to cater to every size of event, and with space for up to 900 people for a banquet, a private entrance and pre-function area, it serves as the perfect venue for an elegant wedding. Every aspect of each wedding at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC is crafted by a dedicated team, providing a truly memorable, bespoke, and personalised experience for every bride.