Botanical Gardens and Bahraini Hospitality at Raffles Al Areen Palace

Once upon a time, some four thousand years ago, there was a land nestled between two seas, rich with earthly treasures, dotted with palm trees and embraced on all sides by the Arabian Sea. The land was born of freshwater springs, and connected the people of the East to the people of the West. It was known and beloved for its fruit of the earth and sea – syrupy dates from its majestic palms, and pearls plucked from where the sweet water met the saltwater. 

This land had many names: the Land of Immortality, the Great Paradise, the Pearl of the Persian Gulf, and the Land of Two Seas. 

In this land, there was a boy. His name was Arif and he grew up with a deep love for every flora and every fauna. He longed to one day nurture and nourish plants and trees in a magical garden of his own. He spent his days dreaming of his Garden of Eden, travelling the world and collecting exotic seeds to bring back to his homeland. He cultivated the land around his house until it was the most enchanting garden in the whole Kingdom, and each day he collected fresh water and cardamom from his garden to brew precious coffee. The rich scent of the cardamom coffee drew visitors from all over to Arif’s little paradise, and in return for a cup of coffee, they left special gifts for him. 

The most distinguished visitors came one by one: an artisan, a calligrapher, a pearl diver, a musician and a weaver. Arif thanked them for their gifts of artisanal wooden crafts, beautiful Arabic writing, glowing natural pearls, joyful oud music, baskets woven from native palm leaves, and their work became part of the spirit of his garden. The mythical oasis became a haven for travellers, for trade and for merriment, and today, what was the Land of Immortality is now named the Kingdom of Bahrain, and what was once a little boy’s dream is now known as Raffles Al Areen Palace. 

Established in 1887, Raffles Hospitality has been creating worlds of wonder, beauty and inspiration all over the globe. Each of their locations is a little universe, created around an ancient story from the Middle and Far East. Their latest addition, officially opened in December of 2023, is the Raffles Al Areen Palace, nestled in the village of Zallaq, which is tucked away on the West Coast of Bahrain. 

The only all-villa property in the Kingdom, Al Areen Palace is made up of a collection of mysterious secret hideaways, prioritising privacy, Bahraini authenticity and just a general sense of adventure, which can be found in Al Areen Wildlife Park, just at the bottom of the garden. 

The Raffles Al Areen Palace is designed to feel like a fairytale world, architecturally organised around the harmony of light and space, underpinned by a marriage of modern structures and ancient regional shapes. Ceremonious artisan-made wooden doors separate the spaces and guard the entrance to thoughtfully-landscaped private gardens, dotted with palms, exotic flowers, fountains, fruit trees and vegetable patches.

These secret gardens are cultivated with care by the resident botanist, and the home-grown herbs and produce are used by the chefs for relaxed all-day dining, inspired by Bahrain’s maritime heritage. The curated cuisine conjures the warm, spicy aromas of the Middle East and the sophisticated flavours of Ancient Arabia. It is oriented around ancient culinary rituals that centralise coffee, salt, dates and olive oil. What’s more, Patissier and Chef Yazid Ichemrahen crafts authentic Parisian pastries each day, so a fresh French breakfast, served in woven baskets and hand-crafted clay crockery, is only ever a button-press away. 

Additionally, Raffles Hospitality prides itself on its legendary, personalised service, which includes an attentive butler in every room, ready to help with any request, great or small – the pinnacle of warm Arab hospitality. 

Yet, aside from marvellous service, Raffles is known and beloved for their award-winning wellness rituals, powered by a marriage of science and ancient cultural wisdom. Personalised treatments can be experienced in the spa or in your private villa, designed to awaken the senses and quiet the mind. 

Finally, the writer’s lounge is the hotel’s most unique feature, designed for mental and spiritual rejuvenation after the body has been sensually treated. The lounge is a dedicated space to take pause, reflect, spill thoughts onto a page, or read one of the locally-sourced books available to borrow. Bookshelves frame precious artworks in atriums and lobbies. The walls are adorned with pieces by Bahraini artists referencing core Bahraini culture, creating a native connection between the spaces. As light dances over the arabesque framework, there is a charming new story on every wall, and in every corner.