Need somewhere to take your out of town visitors? Have an anniversary coming up? What about a special birthday? Perhaps you just want to go somewhere new that is extra unique. How about a place that has delicious food and amazing 360 degree views of the city? Stratos – Revolving Lounge Bar and Grill is that place. Recently several real housewives and partners enjoyed a divine meal whilst looking out onto Abu Dhabi’s ever growing skyline.
Located on the top floor of Le Royal Meridien Hotel, Stratos opened in September. Perhaps some of you remember it as Al Fanar? Famous for its champagne brunches with panoramic views of Abu Dhabi. Al Fanar is long gone. Stratos is here and, I have got to tell you, the space is hardly recognisable. Whilst I did visit it before, the new decor makes the old seem so plain and boring. It is refreshingly different! Luxuriously decorated, no two areas seem the same. There are dining areas, lounge areas and cosy corners perfect for a more intimate conversation. It’s worth the trip just to see the difference!
Before
Now
For those of you who have never been, this place needs to be on your Abu Dhabi bucket list. Did I mention it is a revolving restaurant? How often do you get to eat in one of these? The restaurant moves slowly enough that you will notice the movement only when you stare at a fixed object. Which everyone does when they first sit down. Are we moving? Yep, I can see it moving. After that initial reaction you can relax and enjoy yourself, with your view changing every time you look up. It does about one full revolution each hour.
When it comes to dining you can have either a full course meal or just some bar snacks for a quick treat. We were there for a full meal. To start, the selected appetisers are varied: caviar, scallops, foie gras, tuna, mac and cheese and gnocchi. A table favourite was the Lobster Mac and Cheese. Even the most simplest of dishes is swanky here. Everyone loved it! I don’t eat seafood, so I had the 1916 Parmesan Gnocchi which was superb.
For the mains we had options of various pieces of beef (sirloin, tenderloin or ribeye). I am hopeless when it comes to selecting pieces of steak. I never can remember which cut I like best. Lucky for me – it doesn’t matter since I eat anything that is put in front of me. Everyone on the table ordered some sort of tenderloin except me. There was John Stone Grass Fed Tenderloin and Master Kobe Full Blood Tenderloin. I ordered the John Stone Grass Fed Sirloin. I was completely content with the sirloin. It was tender, full of flavour and cooked to perfection. Everyone else really, really enjoyed the tenderloin. They were stopping to enjoy each bite which was followed by, “That is soooo delicious!” I had to refrain from replying, “You just said that, 2 seconds ago.” Sitting in the middle of it all, I couldn’t help feel I was missing out on something. So I snuck a bite from someone else’s plate and it was worth it. The tenderloin was perfect!
After our main course, we shared a selection of sweets. If you have room for dessert, I would recommend either the Magnum bar or the Lemon Curd Tart. These are perfect choice to finish up your meal. What is better than enjoying good food, good wine in great company? These are all the ingredients to a successful evening. I do have to mention how incredibly efficient the staff were. They were undetected as they cleared and reset our table. That is how good they were! We were even fortunate enough to meet the chef who, despite his busy schedule, came out afterwards to discuss the beef -which everyone had decided was the best they ever had. He told us about the different cuts, where it was from and the differences between the tenderloins. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience.
The great thing about Stratos is that you’re not limited to dinner. It has a wide selection of fine wines, champagnes and liquors. You’ll have a hard time choosing between the many classic cocktails and champagne cocktails. If you are a whiskey lover, then you’ll have to take a look at the selection displayed in the wall. Beautifully displayed are the different brands of expensive champagnes, whiskeys and wines. If only I could get the same set up in my house…..
So if you are looking for a unique night out, put Stratos on your radar. What a great place to meet for drinks! Head up for sundowners or post dinner socializing. With an in house DJ setting the perfect vibe, it a great place to just relax and unwind. If you would like a more family friendly option, no problem, Afternoon Tea is served from 3-6pm. Either way, you must schedule in a visit. Tell them we sent you and they will take extra good care of you!
Stratos is open every night of the week except on Sunday. To learn more or book your reservation, please visit the website at www.stratosabudhabi.com. To keep up to date with any special events or offers, make sure you like the Stratos Facebook page. Let us know what you think. We’d love to hear about your experience.
