With its gleaming, towering skylines (including the new Bahrain World Trade Center), cash-rich designer-label ambiance and yachts jostling for space in the marina, it’s the perfect backdrop for the usual Formula 1 fun and frolics. Here’s a (very) quick guide. OK, it’s not exactly the party capital of the world, but if you like dolphins…
The circuit
The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is in Sakhir, some 30km south of the capital Manama. It opened in 2004 (Michael Schumacher winning the inaugural race), though only just – the organisers were so worried that the track wouldn’t be ready on time they actually tried to have the race cancelled, but Bernie said no.
This year Formula 1 cars will tackle the full ‘Endurance Circuit’; 6.299 km of tight corners and long straights. The sand surrounding the BIC is regularly sprayed with a special adhesive to stop it blowing over on to the track. Podium finishers don’t celebrate with the usual champagne, but instead spray themselves with rosewater. Not too many takers in the pit crew to get first dibs on those particular bottles, then.
What happened last year
Toyota drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock (who?) were the two fastest in qualifying, but it was eventual World Champion Jenson Button who claimed his third win of the season in the Brawn, with Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull second. Trulli, on pole for the first time since 2005, finished in third place.
Where to stay
The whole ‘boutique chic’ thing never quite took on here, with top-end high-rise multinational swank still ruling the roost; try the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel and Spa (ritzcarlton.com) down on the waterfront, or there’s the InterContinental Regency (intercontinental.com) for a more centrally located stay. Elsewhere, the Novotel Al Dana Resort (novotel.com) comes with its own private beach on the Manama-Muharraq lagoon (hotels offer pretty much the only beach culture here), while the Al Bander Hotel & Resort (albander.com) is a modish getaway made up of comfy chalets and cabanas.
Where to eat
Most of the larger hotels have excellent dining rooms, but if you want the real authentic Bahraini deal, head off to ‘Restaurant Row’ in Adliyah, where you can leisurely pig out on a range of cuisine, including deck-fresh local specialities at The Fish Market (tel: +973 17 713000) overlooking dhows bobbing away out at sea (and yes, you can have chips too); modern European at Mezzluna (+973 17 742 999), under a glass dome in a traditional Bahraini house; sushi at Mirai (+973 17 713 113), which is also home to an excellent bar; or south-east Asian at Monsoon (+973 17 749 222), with its candle-lit terrace.
Where to drink
In a hotel, is the quick answer. Bahrain’s nights tend to be pretty short (everywhere closes by 2am) and you can only drink in hotel bars (although there’s now a booze-ban in all one- and two-star establishments) – or, get yourself invited along to a bash in a private residence (plenty of these on most weekends and it’s easy enough to tap into the ex-pat grapevine with a drink in your hand).
The Cocoon Lounge at the Best Western Juffair and the Z-Club at the Pars International are the best spots to get your groove on, or there’s the Typhoon cocktail bar at the Gulf, BJ’s at the Al-Bustan Hotel or the loungey Club Seven at the Mishal.
If you fancy a pint and are desperate to know how Preston North End got on, there’s the Fiddler’s Green at the Diplomat Radisson SAS, the Sherlock Holmes at the Gulf Hotel or Warblers, at the Baisan International.
