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Abu Dhabi, 48 hours in the elegant Gulf emirate

2022-01-13T06:16:22.112Z


CITY GUIDE - Set with canals and mangroves, the haughty Emirati capital carves, from island to island, the geography of its young golden age.


Louvre des Sables, Ferrari Park, Croisette des Bains de Mer, Dome of the Sorbonne, white fort: the gazelle

(dhabi)

is so beautiful, haughty without arrogance, set with maritime canals and mangroves, in search of the horizon more than 'altitude.

With its back to the stinging desert, eyes out to sea, Abu Dhabi offers itself in the well-ordered freedom of its princely airs exactly for what it is, the archipelago city of the richest Terrans in the world, thought of as one of the most ambitious adventures of the town planning of the coming century.

Enjoy the "freshness" of the days until March, between 20 ° and 25 °, the sea at 22 °, a little fog, a few showers and a lot of sun.

Ideal for sightseeing,

al fresco

dinners with good chefs and stylish evenings.

To discover

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The arrival

Free tourist visa obtained on arrival at Abu Dhabi airport.

With a health vaccination pass, a negative PCR of less than 48 hours, welcome.

You have to download the Al Hosn app and agree to be flashed by the electromagnetic wave detection scanner to enter public places, and take a test again on the 6th day.

The districts to discover extend over about fifty km.

The use of the 5000 metered taxis, ubiquitous, is recommended.

You will find them everywhere, and you can also book them via the dedicated app.

Pick-up including approx. 3.5 km.

€ 3 + 40 cents per additional km day and night, airport surcharge € 4.

For a quick tour, option of the double-decker BigBus for a tour with commentary in French.

Note: high attendance and reservations recommended for dinner and weekend outings from Friday evening to Sunday evening.

Ambulances 80050

French consular office absolute emergencies +971 50 644 68 60

Right now

TO HAVE

The Corniche

These 8 km, pedestrianized and cyclable, connect the port of Mina to the pier of Al Kasir.

DCT Abu Dhabi

The “Corniche”, in French in the text, is the most beautiful find of the founding fathers of the capital. These 8 km pedestrianized and cyclable, which connect the port of Mina to the jetty of Al Kasir, alternate manicured parks and well-groomed beaches, at the edge of a maritime basin sheltered from the sea by the Lulu island and the peninsula of Marina Mall. In these good times for a breath of fresh air, take a 2-hour pedibus from Official Park to the St. Regis for about 5 km, a café on the way, some striking photos of this landscaped seafront, a veritable crossroads of architectural developments from the city. A journey through the Dhabian half-century to begin, a traveler's secret here (and still one of the best value for money in the city), with a glance at the Al Ain Palace, its mosaic gazelle,its gallantry saloon for insiders, its yellowed snapshots of the pioneer years, vintage oil business from the 70s, when you park your Land Rover on the sand in front of the entrance.

THE RIGHT TABLE

Paradiso

The mare nostrum is now kissing at the Paradiso-des-Barrière, the brother of that of the Majestic where the Gagnaire-Rubi duo hums the Mediterranean legends with little stuffing, mashed in virgin oil and frosted lemon. Will you take back Chateau d'Esclan on Nicole's linguine? Last sensational opening under these ambitious skies, the business would be just another export concept without this promise of simplicity, true taste, and respected Braudelian heritage. Niçoise, Italian, Levantine, the menu is a memory of flavors associated with the almost universal memory of the good life, its red Riviera elixir Alfa, its children at heart, Bardot, Sagan, Mangano and the man of Figaro, François Chalais. Paradise accessible from 10 a.m. for a coffee croissant, in the afternoon with a Sicilian cannolo,then on time-Spritz from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. around a fritto misto. Before dinner - a spell of ubiquitous tables, the Dhabian winter being milder than Cannes - we find here the "botanical" creations of star bartender Emanuele Balestra based on plants grown on the roof of the Majestic: a Gin and Noilly Prat with a bergamot-basil-anise flavor or this Bloody sartorié lemon from Chin-Thai basil.

From 80 €.

Paradiso, Yas Bay Pier 71. Tel.

: +971 50 437 2869

THE HOTEL IN SIGHT

St. Regis Saadiyat

Find rest 10 minutes from Jean Nouvel's Alyscamps, this Louvre where "time sparkles and dream is knowledge", who would not want? Without even summoning Paul Valéry, as the architect does in this breathtaking SoundWalk Collective alongside Charlotte Gainsbourg, put your Keepall at the patron saint of lacemakers, this Saint Régis audois whose memory Astor celebrated in 1904 on 5th avenue. All historical codes respected (mural behind the bar, butler service, Caroline's perfume), manicured exteriors, amber shades and marine touches, a beautiful vessel at the beach dock, well located for a ride in town or in Yas, backing onto the Par 72 by Gary Player. The house cocktail invented in Manhattan by the Parisian Fernand Petiot is available in Bloody Mary with zaatar. Nights as we like at Buddha Bar Beach.Count 500 € for a room of 55 m² on the swimming pool.

St. Regis Saadiyat.

Al Sa'Diyat - Abu Dhabi.

Phone.

: +971 2498 8888.

Read alsoA trip to discover Louvre Abu Dhabi

DAY 1

Morning

The 18th century Qsar al Hosn now houses a museum.

DCT Abu Dhabi

Light morning freshness with a "little slap" effect at the end of a restorative night, your flight having landed the night before. It's time to embrace the city with a taxi ride, through its wide avenues and parks with perpetual flowers. A meeting at the sources, where it all began and where the Emirati identity is shaped. Long before its Federation allies and regional neighbors, Abu Dhabi developed a curiosity about its roots and promoted its history through a public heritage policy led by the aptly named

Department of Culture & Tourism

. The Louvre is not here by chance.

A coffee swallowed at the Cultural Foundation, at Wild & The Moon, the successful chain of the French Emmanuelle Sawko, and here is the beautiful white fort. The only evidence built from the 18C, when the Bedouins from Liwa came here to hunt gazelle, the Qasr Al Hosn (10 am-7pm, Fri 2 am-7pm) was the official residence of Sheikh Zayed until 1972. Magnificently restored, the Russian doll-style museum complex consists of a fortified wall built in 1939, housing the original fort and its sandstone and coral tower. First Westerner at the palace in 1948, the British surveyor Wilfred Thesiger presented himself to the guard as he recounts in

The Desert of Deserts

.

Soon noon, the opening time of the Observation Deck at 300 (12-8 p.m., except Sun), so hop in a taxi to reach the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers in 15 minutes.

From the 74th floor, a striking view of the golden age of today's beloved, accelerated times of modernity when V8s replaced camels.

Lunch break

The West Bay Lounge terrace, on the beach at the Radisson Blu.

West Bay Lounge / Photo press

When you come down from the perch, you will have to choose between a few pleasant terraces which await you a 15-minute walk away.

Opting for Cascades, at the edge of one of the Emirates Palace swimming pools, allows you to enter this famous hotel palace with your head held high, without looking like a tourist snooping around.

In the great calm of the "castle", Thai specialties and pasta at 25 €, price of an exceptional lunch-visit.

Less protocol and always in the great outdoors, the new terrace of West Bay Lounge on the beach at the Radisson Blu, or the neighbor of the Cabana Beach Grill on that of the St. Regis.

Afternoon

From the Corniche, a taxi will drop you off in 25 minutes at the Cheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (9 am-10pm, sells 3 pm-10pm). Ultimate legacy of the founding father, who rests there, the building can be visited freely and mixed by reserving on the Net. Without doubt the word "grandeur" is the most suited to the experience of these 22,000 m² designed by Moroccans, built by British, decorated by Italians, Turks, Syrians and Iranians. See these thousand columns adorned with mother-of-pearl and agate, this courtyard set with thirty million pieces of marble, this Persian Meched of two and a half million knots, the minarets launched at 107 m and the chandelier of nine tons. At night, computer-controlled chromatic breathing animates some 20,000 projectors in tune with the phases of the moon.

Let's follow up with a refreshment break on the “continent”, by taking a 10-minute drive to the elegant complex of shops and bistros The Souk at Qaryat Al Beri (10 am-10pm, sells 12 noon-midnight), via the historic Pont de Maqta, built by Austrians in 1967. This micro-mall set in the Shangri-La on the edge of the maritime canal offers the temptation to remember, like these photos at Gallery One and the great Omani perfumes Amouage, with the added bonus of the minty lemonade of Levantins by Abd El Wahab or the Bedouin café by Camel Cookies. For early hunger pangs, two meat inns, the Entrecote Café-de-Paris and its Geneva butter from Boubier as well as the South African grillers of Meat Co, kings of globalized braai.

Depending on where you live, you might finally want to take a look at Qasr Al Watan, the “new” semi-public palace of the emirs (around 4pm at the latest).

Built near the Emirates Palace by the Spaniards of Acciona, the colossus also comes to life in sound and light (paying, last arrival 6.15pm).

Evening

To appreciate the scintillating finery of the great lady of the Gulf, you will hesitate between several night spots, each in its al fresco geography. On the island of Al Maryah, we love the Tomatini, the artichoke from Provence and the small stuffed products of LPM, this simple but couture spirit of the Riviera joyfully exported all over the world by the followers of Dame Nicole. On the other side, stopover at the Fintz faré, on the beach of the good old Beach Rotana for salty dishes at the water's edge. At the other end of the city, the Al Bateen marina is embellished with a Marriott Edition bordered by new palm trees and the Alba Terrace piloted by Tom Aikens, ex 2-macarons converted into the “Anglobale” bistro.

5 minutes away, go to the historic lookout of the beautiful neighborhoods, this Intercontinental from the concrete years with the 80's and therefore re-chic interiors, proudly standing in front of the prettiest marina in the city, and stroll along the Antiboise to the Fishmarket, the uber-kitsch fish stall at the corner of the beach. If you live near Maqta, Marco Pierre White, ex of Gavroche, signs his fish & chips in a sumptuous setting at the Fairmont d'Accor, while opposite, on the bank of the Ritz, La Brasserie hoists the Vendée pavilion of Soulard duck confit, introduction to the Monegasque delight of Escoffier, the more than a century old crepe from Suzette.

A last drink with a change of scenery?

In the heart of the towers of the “old” city, try a Moscow Mule at the clubic rooftop Level Lounge of the Crowne Plaza, on Maryah, dare the Black Panda at the Shanghainese speakeasy Dragon's Tooth hidden in the Rosewood, in Maqta the “frenchie” Barfly and his Geisha Negroni, the Azura Lounge at the St. Regis Corniche and surrender to His Majesty the Emirates on an 11pm Sancerre at the Breeze Lounge, feet in the powdery sand.

Read also From Downtown to Jumeirah, our pick of the ten best hotels in Dubai

DAY 2

Morning

The Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Stanislas Fautré / Le Figaro Magazine

Louvre Abu Dhabi (10 am-6.30pm, closed Mon) -

what else

 ? - is on the morning menu, before heading to Ferrari.

We have already read everything about this Chiraquian project

"for a certain idea of ​​the world"

drawn by Jean Nouvel, its rain of light through the dome, the thousand reflections of the water and the sea breeze, but nothing up to the feeling of a visit.

Go back through the history of art and go celebrate the genius of men at Fouquet's from the Gagnaire stable, with a tartare and a vanilla millefeuille.

Lunch break

Along its 15 km Blue Flag labeled beach facing the open sea, the island of Saadiyat has some classy and sometimes exaggeratedly gigantic resorts.

Via Jacques Chirac Street, you will reach the St. Regis and the Park Hyatt in 10 minutes then the Saadiyat Beach Club and the Jumeirah.

Opportunity to draw between five superb terraces, at Mazi (grilled octopus), the beautiful Hellene imported from London by Adrien Carré, at the Beach House (linguine with clams), at Hawksbill (shoulder of lamb) facing Gary Player's Par72, at Safina (salmon poke bowl) in front of the 650 m² swimming pool of the chic bathing club equipped, for hipsters, with a great barber, and finally at Mare (Sardinian fregola), still on the Italian podium nearby.

Afternoon

The recent Jubail Mangrove Park allows you to discover the mangroves on pedestrian bridges. DCT Abu Dhabi

If you haven't let yourself be tempted by idleness, a very "political" choice presents itself.

10 minutes away, here is the new Jubail Mangrove Park and its pedestrian bridges over 1 or 2 km (kayaking option) to discover the mangroves and almond-green waters, favoring high tides.

20 minutes away, the birdsong are over, make way for the roar of the Maranello cars for a few hours in red immersion at Ferrari World.

While the children make vrooms in carts, admire the real masterpieces of the Scuderia from the museum side, treat yourself to a drive-thru (200 €), or a shot of pure adrenaline on Formula Rossa, the mountains Russians crossed at 240 km / h and 4.8 G. Then, to recover, a little window-shopping trek to the neighboring Yas Mall and two Ladurée buttons, SVP.

Evening

The Cipriani restaurant, with a view of the W. Cipriani Hotel Photo press

For this second Dhabian dinner, let's stay in the Yas Island area.

This true leisure hub of the capital in 4B mode (shops, cars, bling-bling) is well known for its Formula 1 circuit designed by Frenchman Philippe Gurdjian, a track on which enthusiasts can afford 20 minutes in Aston Martin GT4 (Thu-Sat 6 pm-10pm) for € 430.

To visualize the geography of the area, and select your restaurants and accommodation, remember the four essential 'poles': Ferrari-YasMall-Waterworld-WarnerBrosWorld, Yas Marina Circuit around the W hotel, Yas Links Golf and its Radisson Blu and finally the brand new Yas Bay complex.

In the kitchen, a few addresses hold up well. For an elegant pasta, aim for the Italian Amici and take the opportunity to explore the W, an architectural creation swaddled with 5,000 diodes, a kind of glass-metal jellyfish in a quartz white that the Asymptote firm wanted to place in the Derridian vein of memory ambivalence. The best spot to admire the cosmic ludion is on the other side of the marina, on the quay of the marina where line up, like HQ of the expat atmosphere, several party bistros like Casa de Cuba by the Cypriot master of the lounging Dinos Constantinides or Stars N Bars, joyful burger-style dinette with motorsport decor, a clone of the Monegasque estanco on Quai Antoine 1er that Prince Albert himself inaugurated. What if we went into wow mode? Go for Cipriani,with its swooning deck in front of the luminous mantilla of the W where the “serene” creations parade, Harry's Bellini and tagliarelle (registered model!) with veal stew.

10 minutes by taxi, a good, fresh, zen stopover on the green velvet of Kyle Phillips' Yas Links Par 72, at the Filini Garden trattoria and its musical evenings at the foot of the Radisson Blu, a beautiful one-to-one establishment with nature.

The night will be beautiful again on Yas Bay, a commercial complex developed along the canal where two sleepless icons flash: striding along the 'waterfront' in moccasins with tassels, give in to the Latin sirens of Café del Mar, the new Ibizan clone ( too watched over by his ugly Hilton), or at the Orientales of the Siddharta Lounge, the French-party terrace on the jetty shared with the Paradiso?

Those who have a luxury bivouac in Saadiyat will benefit, again in the Buddha tribe, from the beach concept already deployed in Mauritius and Mykonos, the Buddha-Bar Beach.

Address Book

The Buddha-Bar Beach in Abu Dhabi.

Press photo / Buddha Bar Beach

Where to eat?

Wild & The Moon, center.

Phone.

: +971 56188 4073.

Finish, center.

Phone.

: +971 26979000

Level Lounge, center.

Phone.

: +971 2616 6800

Dragon's Tooth, Maryah.

Phone.

: +971 2813 5588

Observation Deck at 300, Corniche.

Phone.

: +971 2811 5555

Waterfalls, Corniche.

Phone.

: +971 2 690 7999

West Bay Lounge, Corniche.

Phone.

: +971 2681 1900

Cabana Beach Grill, Corniche.

Phone.

: +971 2 694 4553

Azura Lounge, Corniche.

Phone.

: +971 2 694 4553

Breeze Lounge, Corniche.

Phone.

: +971 2 690 7999

Abd El Wahab, The Souk Qaryat Al Beri.

Phone.

: +971 2558 1616

Entrecôte Café-de-Paris, The Souk Qaryat Al Beri.

Phone.

: +971 2557 6508

Meat Co., The Souk Qaryat Al Beri.

Phone.

: +971 2558 1713

LPM, The Galleria.

Phone.

: + 971 2692 9600

Alba Terrace, Al Bateen.

Phone.

: +971 2208 0000

Fishmarket, Al Bateen.

Phone.

: +971 56990 8317

Marco Pierre White, Maqta.

Phone.

: +971 2 654 3238

The Brewery, Maqta.

Phone.

: +971 2404 1931

Barfly, Maqta.

Phone.

: +971 56177 7557

Fouquet's, Saadiyat.

Phone.

: +971 2205 4200

Mazi, Saadiyat.

Phone.

: +971 2498 8888

Beach House, Saadiyat.

Phone.

: +971 2407 1138

Hawksbill, Saadiyat.

Phone.

: +971 56660 8780

Safina, Saadiyat.

Phone.

: +971 2 656 3536

Mare Mare, Saadiyat.

Phone.

: +971 2811 4444

Buddha-Bar Beach, Saadiyat.

Phone.

: +971 2498 8888

Ladurée, Yas Mall.

Phone.

: +971 2 621 0304

Amici, Yas W. Tel.

: +971 2 656 0000

Wet Deck, Yas W. Tel.

: +971 2 656 0000

Cipriani, Yas Marina.

Phone.

: +971 2 657 5400

Casa de Cuba, Yas Marina.

Phone.

: +971 56 742 7435

Stars N Bars, Yas Marina.

Phone.

: +971 2 565 0101

Filini Garden, Yas Golf.

Phone.

: +971 2656 2000

Paradiso, Yas Bay.

Phone.

: +971 50 437 2869

Café del Mar, Yas Bay.

Phone.

: +971 50 402 2283

Siddharta Lounge, Yas Bay.

Phone.

: +971 50 601 1194

OR SLEEP

Shangri-La

The Malaysian brand's ksar displays a Wong Kar-wai atmosphere.

Press photo / Shangri-La

He has been standing guard in front of the Al Maqta arm of the sea for 15 years, the last post on the mainland facing the island of Abu Dhabi, full frame on the Grand Mosque. And if it has a few wrinkles in the corner of its eyes, in an urban and aquatic environment that is sometimes a little noisy, the ksar of the Malaysian brand with interiors signed Trisha Wilson (like the Venetian of Vegas or the Palace of Lost City) remains eminently recommendable to experience the city and its atmosphere. Close to a pretty Qaryat Al Beri shopping arcade and a host of terraced restaurants on the water, next to some good night bars, Orientalo-Zen rooms with balconies, a divine swimming pool, a waterfront pedestrian. Everything except a tasteless glass and steel cage, the historic charm of a Wong Kar-wai decor. From 250 €.

Shangri-La, Qaryat Al Beri, +971 2509 8888

Emirates Palace

Le BBQ Al Qasr de l'Emirates Palace. Photo presse

Maître ouvrage du Britannique John Elliott, qui fut le premier urbaniste de la ville, le divin palais est entré dans l'âge mûr mais rien ne l'atteint que l'ivresse de se savoir incomparable. Aujourd'hui sous pavillon Mandarin Oriental, il fut livré pour 3 milliards de dollars, à l'époque l'hôtel le plus cher du monde, soit 100 ha et autant d'ascenseurs, 114 dômes, 1000 lustres Swarovski et un ruban de plage de 1300 m sur la pointe Al Akhdar. Le pouvoir incarné dans la pierre, une manière de centre du monde d'Abu Dhabi, une forteresse de secrets d'État, de cristal, de marbre et d'or, le sable le mieux peigné qui soit. Intimidant ? Vous qui aimez vous habiller le soir, qui savez jouer des codes de l'ultra-luxe, dompter leurs arrogances en liberté, offrez-vous la clef multi-Bling, un Smoky Negroni sur la terrasse du Hakkasan (annexe de l'étoilé londonien), une dorade au feu de bois au BBQ Al Qasr, un tour à vélo dans le parc.

Too much

, too much.

From 1000 €.

Emirates Palace.

Phone.

: + 971 2690 8888

SHOPPING

Designer jewelry, Scarab, Marina Mall.

Lithographs Emirates Icons, Gallery One, The Souk Qaryat Al Beri.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-01-13

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