About this hotel
General information
Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain is made up almost entirely of villas: 78 of them, with one, two or three bedrooms, each with a pool of its own. The setting is desert, yet the grounds enclose a green secret garden of palms, flowering plants and fountains, and that garden, together with an old local tale of a boy and the garden he tended, shaped the idea behind the whole resort. The architecture pairs Middle Eastern motifs with contemporary detail: hand-carved wooden doors, Arabesque fretwork and a light-filled conservatory.
Every villa is looked after by a Raffles butler. Work by Bahraini artists hangs in the lobbies, restaurants and lounges, and the quiet Writers Lounge is set aside for reading. A resident botanist leads guests through the garden, whose produce goes to the kitchens of the Mediterranean restaurant Palma. The hotel names November to April as the best time to visit.
Location
The resort lies in Zallaq on the west coast of Bahrain Island, about 45 minutes by car from Manama. Nearby are the Bahrain International Circuit, the Lost Paradise of Dilmun water park (around 5 km) and the Exhibition World Bahrain centre. Transfers from Bahrain International Airport are arranged by the hotel for an additional charge.
Spa
The Spa & Wellness Villa is a stand-alone spa building with three treatment rooms for singles or couples, a temperature-controlled pool, a Jacuzzi, a rainforest shower, an ice igloo and a majlis-style relaxation lounge. Each treatment starts with a therapist consultation, and the products are from Swiss brand Dr. Burgener Switzerland: facials with pearls, gold and collagen, salt scrubs, wraps and massages with signature oils. The Royal Arabian Indulgence combines a bakhoor ritual, a pearl scrub and an oud-oil massage, and there are bath rituals with milk and rose or with milk chocolate. Some treatments can be taken in the villa. The spa is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Sports & leisure
The gym is open around the clock, and there are tennis and squash courts, indoor and outdoor pools, and yoga, Pilates and personal training sessions at the spa. Experiences arranged by the hotel include a private tour of the art collection with a butler-curator, botanist-led workshops in the garden, a walk through the old market lanes around Bab Al Bahrain, a tour focused on Bahraini culture and butler-led outings around the island.
For children
Children's clubs run for two age groups, 4–6 and 6–12 years, and babysitting is available on request.
Restaurants & bars
Dining spans Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking, and dinner can just as easily be served in the villa:
- NINIVE — reimagined Middle Eastern and North African dishes, including long-forgotten recipes, in a contemporary majlis decorated with Mesopotamian myths and cuneiform-inspired patterns
- Palma — Mediterranean restaurant with open kitchens for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a terrace above the pool and an olive-oil tasting with Arabic breads
- Ycone Paris — Parisian patisserie and bakery with a menu that changes monthly, afternoon tea and pastry workshops
- Raffles Pool — light bites and drinks by the pool in the shade of palms
- In-Villa Dining — tailored menus in the villa, from dinner for two and private gatherings with live cooking to breakfast served in the villa's own pool
Swimming
Every villa has its own temperature-controlled open-air pool and Jacuzzi, while Junior Suite guests share a communal pool. The main Raffles Pool is framed by palms, and there are further indoor and outdoor pools at the spa.
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Rooms
78 villas with one, two or three bedrooms, each with a marble courtyard, a private pool and a Jacuzzi, plus a Junior Suite with access to a shared pool. Every villa has butler service, and the villas include a private majlis seating up to six guests.
Each villa has air conditioning, high-speed Wi-Fi, a smart TV, a minibar, coffee and tea facilities, complimentary mineral water, a safe, bathrobes, a work desk, blackout blinds and a pillow menu.
Junior Suite with Pool View
One-bedroom suite with a king-size bed, its own Jacuzzi and pool views, plus use of a shared majlis, dining space and pool. Sleeps up to three.
Deluxe One Bedroom Villa
One-bedroom villa with a double bed, oasis views and easy access to the Secret Garden, with its own open-air pool and Jacuzzi. Sleeps up to four.
Royal One Bedroom Villa with Private Pool
Spacious one-bedroom villa with a double bed in a desert setting, with its own open-air pool, Jacuzzi and space for dining by the water. Sleeps up to four.
Royal Two Bedroom Villa with Private Pool
Two bedrooms with double beds, generous living areas facing the desert, a private pool and a Jacuzzi. Sleeps up to six.
Royal Three Bedroom Villa
Three bedrooms — two with king-size beds and one with twin beds — with a temperature-controlled pool and a Jacuzzi; selected villas have their own private entrance and parking right by the door. Sleeps up to eight.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.