For most of us ladies, Valentine’s Day is a declaration of love, which we eagerly await, for many reasons; the endless romance, waking up to roses at your bedside, arriving at your office, naturally dressed in your finest red dress, to be greeted with another splendid arrangement of ornate flowers, heart-shaped chocolates at noon and hidden jewelry in our drinks over dinner… presents, presents and more presents. Let’s be completely honest, us lovely ladies wait for this day with much patience, as we enjoy being spoilt with gifts from our loved ones on a day that doesn’t happen to be our birthday. For this fashion-obsessed meets hopelessly-romantic editor, my Valentine’s experience is every girl’s dream come true: a whimsical experience of glorious fashion, styled in a romantic setting, saying ‘ti amo’ at the fabulous Hotel Missoni.

It is absolutely true when they say that the Italians know a thing or two about charming a lady, as, upon my arrival at the vibrant lobby of the grand Hotel Missoni, my surprise present that was written so simply on my Valentine’s card was suddenly a grandiose gesture of elegant charm. From the signature scent that greets you at the reception, to the welcoming smile of the stylish receptionist; I didn’t even have a chance to admire the signature pattern on her jacket before I was whisked away to the unforgettable Missoni Maggiore suite. Knowing that I was staying in one of the most glamorous hotels in the world was already presented as the perfect Valentine’s present, yet witnessing the bespoke design of the Maggiore suite, and the stunning view of the Arabian Gulf, shook me to my very core. The deep azure waters of the Gulf danced with the myriad of colors that adorned the room, with brilliant shades of chic mauve, cyan blue, bright orange that symbolize the magnificent brand. For me, simply being in the presence of such design counts as the romantic move of a lifetime, yet my heart melted further when I saw the rose petals carefully placed throughout the suite and special cake waiting for me.

At that moment, I was sure my spouse was enjoying the astonished look on my face, yet as I turned to thank him profusely, he was completely engrossed in admiring the state of the art Espresso machine, then ventured to play with the Bang & Olufsen TV System. After I finally managed to pull him away from his innate habit of endlessly admiring technology in purely typical male fashion, we leisurely strolled throughout the beautiful hotel grounds before settling for a special evening arranged at the fabulous Cucina Restaurant. Before we arrived at Cucina, however, we enjoyed some refreshments at the hotel’s latest addiction and place du jour in Kuwait, the Luna lounge & Grill. Located on the 18th floor with yet another spectacular view of the gulf, a complete mocktail bar, coffee bar and private terrace, Luna is the place to meet, see, and be seen. We’re promptly served with the Giardino aromatizzato, an aromatic peachy concoction and also my absolute favorite drink, and the rose-petal garnished Profumo di rosa; we were completely mesmerized by the outstanding views from the terrace, and were even quite hesitant to leave for the romantic meal awaiting at Cucina. Noticing plenty of diners arriving for their evening of romance, we realized that the Valentine’s Day festivities are carried out at various venues at the hotel.

Located on the first floor of the hotel, Cucina is the stylish restaurant that offers a contemporary yet elegant feel, an echo of the great Italian family kitchen that can seat up to 106 people. As Cucina also means ‘the kitchen’, and traditionally the kitchen is the heart of the Italian home, I’ve always admired this special restaurant for its timeless charm and resplendent display of stylish couture. My heart skipped a beat as I glanced at the tables dressed for dinner in immaculate white tablecloths, with romantically placed floral and candlelit centerpieces. The lights were dimmed to give way for a quick surrender to the intimate setting. With the live music that perfectly complimented the romantic ambience, I was soaring with pleasure, completely enamored by the beauty of how my Valentine’s Day has unveiled into an even more exquisite evening. Towards the end of the night, the hotel also arranged for a special Missoni surprise gift that was so spectacular.

As if we hadn’t had enough of the pleasing Cucina, we went back downstairs for breakfast the next morning for yet another superb meal. After all, this restaurant is a place I personally couldn’t get enough of, as it is the inspired culinary vision of Madame Rosita Missoni, Mama Missoni herself, and is realized by renowned Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli, the hotel’s consulting chef and owner of London’s Locanda Locatelli restaurant. As our breakfast came to an end, I bid adieu to the gloriously romantic setting, for I will forever remember Hotel Missoni for its charming Italian elegance, and its splendid celebration of Valentine’s Day.

Hotel Missoni is Celebrating the week of Romance between the 9th and 18th of February. Book your unforgettable weekend getaway at the Missoni Maggiore for KD 165 per night, or your romantic evening at either Cucina, or Luna Lounge for KD 20 per person. For more information, please call 2577 0000.

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