Interviews

Exciting Times Ahead

by BTM

Wed, 05 September 2018

Exciting Times Ahead

The Gulf Hotel Bahrain’s new GM, Fares Yactine, shares details of exciting developments and upcoming events at the local favourite.

I understand you’re looking forward to a busy time at The Gulf Hotel. Can you tell us about any refurbishments that are about to be opened to the public? 
Following the announcement of the partnership with Michelin-starred chef Giancarlo Perbellini, who is an award-winning, legendary chef and well known in Italian cuisine worldwide, we will relaunch the La Pergola restaurant as ‘La Pergola by Perbellini’.  La Pergola has undergone a full renovation with new design, colours and concept and it will be open to the public on September 9. It will be open daily for lunch and dinner from noon to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm.



La Pergola by Perbellini joins the elite swell of über chic restaurants in Bahrain tagged to a Michelin-starred chef. Headlined by chef Giancarlo Perbellini’s passion for cooking and the legendary Gulf Hotel’s award-winning culinary team, the menu serves revisited classics with a critical focus on purity, quality and freshness. Trendy cocktails and a 125-label grape list will help enhance the dining experience from start to finish.
We will see a lot of chef Perbellini as he likes to be hands-on in everything, from the design to concept and choosing of all equipment. Aside from providing his expertise in setting up and creating the menu, food production and serving standards, chef Perbellini brings along his own talented team from Casa Perbellini Milan and Verona, headed by chef Matteo Mezzaro and assisted by chef Nikola Agostini.
Al Waha restaurant is also under renovation and part of its relaunch in September will be the Gulf Grand Brunch. Bahrain’s favourite buffet restaurant is getting bigger and better with extended seating. The new state-of-the-art buffet design boasts temperature-controlled buffet counters, an interactive live kitchen, juice bar, saj bread station and much more.  
We will also be relaunching the Gulf Convention Centre in September. There are many venues to conduct meetings and functions but Gulf Hotel Convention Centre is very popular. It has undergone extensive changes, modernisation and refurbishment, which undoubtedly will make it Bahrain’s largest convention centre, catering to up to 1,000 people. 

There are also exciting events coming up in the shape of the much-loved Oktoberfest and an appearance from the Rolling Clones tribute band. What can visitors expect at Oktoberfest? Are there any changes this year?
Oktoberfest is one of The Gulf Hotel’s signature events that has been organised for so many years.  What makes it more special is that it will be the first event hosted at the newly renovated Gulf Convention Centre. Oktoberfest will happen on October 4 and will offer a great selection of Bavarian beverages and an authentic Bavarian buffet as well as the Lasterbacher Musikanten Band, who have performed every year since 2004 and play a mix of English and German tunes. The Rolling Clones tribute band will rock and roll at Sherlock Holmes on September 6 and 7.
We also have visits from Michelin-starred chefs Takagi, at Sato from October 24 to 27, and Wout Bru, at Fusions from November 20 to 24.

We will also be relaunching the Gulf Convention Centre in September.”