Hotel Review: Amwaj Rotana JBR great for food, beach and conferences
Posted on 21 April 2011 with no comments from readers
It is always nice to report on a new discovery from the point of value-for-money good food and accomodation in Dubai, especially when both can be found in a hotel with a massive swimming pool terrace that has direct access to the Jumeirah Beach.
The Jumeirah Beach Residence’s Amwaj Rotana has all three. We recently enjoyed the Japanese delights of the Benihana (click here) and went back to savour the Italian cuisine of Rosso.
Trendy terrace
Al fresco on the hotel’s own large terrace above The Walk below was a great setting on a warm evening. But the food still stole the show. Amuse bouches of sweet parma ham. Carpaccio of the juiciest beef. A tray overflowing with anti-pasta featuring cured meats of various types from Italy. Focaccia bread with olive dip and aged-cheese.
And that was just to get started. We opted for the signature Rosso fillet steak topped with fresh fois gras and truffles, one up on Frankies down the street that misses out on the last and ultimate ingredient, and charges twice as much. It tasted as good as it sounds, particularly with some genuinely wild Italian mushrooms and tiny roast potatoes.
Naturally a couple of glasses of pinot noir were required, and for the dessert the manager came up with a sweet muscadet wine. That went brilliantly with a panacotta in fruit puree and a delicious cassata ice-cream cake.
Local favorite
It is hardly surprising that many of the residents who live in the surrounding 40-plus high-rise towers of the Jumeirah Beach Residence make this hotel their local restaurant for dining out, and there is also a nice thatched bar on the terrace as well.
But hotel guests will not be disappointed by facilities that include a gym and spa section for their use only. Choose one of the 63 Club Rotana rooms and you also have a private lounge and terrace, both with fabulous higher-level views. And Club guests get a complementary limo from the airport.
This 301-room hotel is popular with corporate guests for its extensive meeting room facilities from a 450-person ballrooom down to more intimate accomodation for 30. There is special rate from $99 for hotel rooms when also booking meeting space.
