Friday afternoons should never go to waste, join FACT’s Sara Waddah as she takes a trip around the world in only three hours!

Hear it from me, nobody actually enjoys getting out of bed early in the morning on their days off, but when the subject of the afternoon is Sofitel Bahrain’s Grand Friday Brunch, I had no other choice but to be up and ready to go!

Promptly arriving at the south of the island where the Sofitel is located, perched on the pristine beaches of Zallaq, the fivestar luxury hotel was bustling with guests and staff as they prepared to kick off their weekly brunch – which, by the way, took one of our dining awards for being the current best on the island! Heading outside for the al fresco experience, the hotel had transformed Saraya, Fiamma and Rivaaj Restaurants into a relaxing golden environment for international gastronomy which sees numerous stalls set up for the afternoon. With trendy tunes playing in the background and the hotel’s own Cuban band setting the tone for the brunch affair, all safety precautions were taken into consideration during the planning process to make sure that guests are comfortable and well protected in Accor’s ‘ALL Safe’ settings.

As we were seated, my eyes started to wander as my appetite was excited from seeing the range of international live cooking stations that were placed around the terrace. From an impressive array of culinary creations, we started with our appetisers and asked the team to put in an order from each of the stations for us. Starting guests with Japanese cuisine, Chef Myo Zaw Khine and his team moved around the tables, serving diners off a large board of different variants of sushi.

Gracefully manoeuvring and explaining the different options available, not only was this compliant with making sure everyone remained safe, but it was also such a great tactic that left guests eager to try what was on the boards, and excited for the next rounds. As time went on, tables were approached by speciality chefs from different cuisines, whether Italian, Arabic, Indian and even seafood, there was not a single variant left that wasn’t part of the brunch!

With spirits high, laughter in the air, good music and free-flowing beverages running through the afternoon, as we got closer and closer to the end, the hotel made sure to keep the surprises coming – ensuring it all ended on an even higher note. After indulging in what felt like never-ending plates of food, out came one of the main stars of the show, Boulbol. Dressed head to toe in African traditional wear whilst tapping away with his finger cymbals, Boulbol walked around greeting, cheering and interacting with guests as we all enjoyed the rich sounds of the Cuban band while taking in the sunset views. What an experience.

Running every Friday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa invites guests to head down for the Grand Friday Brunch that is one of a kind. Award-winning as well as perfect for all ages, there isn’t any other way we’d want to spend our weekends! ✤

GO: CALL 1763 6363 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A BOOKING.

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