Luxuriate in the lap of the gods

Words: Emma Juhasz

When the Kempinski group’s latest offering in Jordan – right on the Dead Sea (half an hour from Amman) – launched last year, it was bound to have a dramatic Babylonian theme, given that it was named after the goddess Ishtar. Despite the splendour of the ancient world
that it evokes, this is very much about modern opulence. With the longest private beach in Jordan (the white sand is actually transported in) and a whopping eight outdoor pools, water-based activity naturally plays a large part. The royal villa – a self-contained atrium-centred
house set on two floors – has had the likes of Tony Blair and various Middle Eastern royals stay here. Nonroyals still receive some VIP treatment, too, such as a complimentary mini-bar and free internet access.

The royal villa – a self-contained atrium-centred
house set on two floors – has had the likes of Tony
Blair and various Middle Eastern royals stay here. Nonroyals
still receive some VIP treatment, too, such as a
complimentary mini-bar and free internet access.

Since its launch, a new phase of the hotel has been
opened with extra accommodation, private boardrooms,
ballrooms and conference centres. Also newly opened
is Kish bar and you can recline on its outdoor terrace with
a cocktail or enjoy a hubbly-bubbly pipe after dinner.
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, Dead Sea Road, Amman,
+962 5 356 8888; www.kempinski-deadsea.com,
rates are from £165 for a Superior Room on a B&B basis

THE HOT SEAT

Wake up to a dramatic sunrise, then dive into warm, turquoise waters, before heading
out to discover the local wildlife at Antigua’s latest exotic retreat. The Verandah Resort
& Spa is hidden away on the untouched northeast coast of the island and lies next to a
national park. It is set in 30 acres of beach front overlooking a tranquil bay.
Verandah Resort & Spa, Antigua, + 44 (0)870 160 9645;www.eliteislandresorts.com

THE BIG STRIP > More than 3,000 suites,
nine bars and restaurants, seven pools, its own spa – and that’s before we even mention the casino… Yes, it can
only be Vegas. The good people from
the Venetian offer you the Palazzo

Las Vegas, which, when it opens as
an addition to the Venetian Casino
Resort and the Sands Expo, will be
the largest hotel complex in the world.
It opens on 20 December.
The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino,
3339 Las Vegas Blvd, South Las Vegas,
+1 877 444 5777;www.palazzolasvegas.com

TOP TABLES

Words: Robina Dam; Chris Peck


Blast from the past still going strong

For one night only, the jewel in the crown of London’s Indian
eateries is offering its exemplary cuisine at 1980s’ prices…

WHEN THE UPMARKET Bombay Brasserie restaurant opened its doors for business in south-west
London in 1982, little did it know that it would become an iconic Indian eatery that would usher in A-list celebrities and
Hollywood stars for the next 25 years. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were regulars when in London and it was the location
for Sir Anthony Hopkins’ 60th birthday, novelist V.S. Naipaul’s wedding reception and a surprise birthday party Mick
Jagger held for Jerry Hall.

Admittedly, the lavish turn-of-the-Raj interior (vintage photography recalls the time when India was the
“jewel in the crown”) set the standard for Indian restaurants to aim at the higher end of the culinary market. But the
Bombay Brasserie was also at the vanguard of introducing regional Indian cuisine: a chance to taste dishes from Gujarat to
Bengal, from south India to the uppermost north.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, for one night only on 10 December, the restaurant is bringing back the original dishes that it launched – at
1982’s prices – such as tandoori poussin at £5.50 or Goan sh curry and rice at £4.95. And if you can’t head there on this date, the menu still carries some original favourites, such as lamb chops with ginger and green herbs.

The Bombay Brasserie, Courteld Close, Courteld Road, London, SW7 4UH, +44 (0)20 7370 4040;
www.bombaybrasserielondon.com

Divo

Modern Ukrainian dining


This spectacular threestorey restaurant near London’s Pall Mall
showcases the rich heritage of Ukrainian cooking and the opulent interiors that
have characterised the country. Modelled on both the Mariinsky Palace in
St. Petersburg and the interior of a dacha (Russian country house), Divo intertwines the
language, culture and cuisine of this historic Eastern European
region. Check out the authentic dishes, served alongside one of
London’s largest collection of vodkas and caviars.

Divo, 12 Waterloo Place, Westminster, London, SW1Y 4AU,
+44 (0)20 7484 1355

RhodesD7

A master at work in Dublin


Celebrity chefs are everywhere, but if you’re hacked off with Gordon and tired of Jamie, you could stop in instead with one of
the true originals at Gary Rhodes’ Dublin venture. Offering a unique style of European cuisine, the glamorous interior has incorporated
specially commissioned art. Whether it’s for breakfast, dinner or anything else in between, RhodesD7 offers a delicious
experience from one of television’s most accomplished chefs. The Capel Building, Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7, +353 (0)1 804 4444