Hilton Bahrain’s iconic Ramadan tent – The Dome – is back for a second year. Only this time, it is better. I was thrilled to visit the breathtaking seaside venue, near Al Najma Club in Manama, and found it to be accessible, with ample parking space.

It was night time when I arrived but I can only imagine what The Dome would look like framed by the tranquil waters and Bahrain’s mesmerising sunset skies casting a golden glow behind it – truly enchanting! The nice people at Hilton Bahrain warmly welcomed my companions and me through the magical, illuminated archway leading onto the tent. On entering, the dim-lit interior was a vibe in itself but adding to it were the soulful, stringsy Arabian tunes played live by a musician.

As we sipped on warm, aromatic gahwa, I admired the décor – minimalist yet classy. Ramadanesque embellishments like lanterns, crescent moons and stars adorned the high ‘roof’.

Seating was intimate, nodding to the community spirit of Ramadan while still offering privacy. The Dome is a great venue for medium-to-large private gatherings or even corporate events. There is a small outdoor section for those who want to enjoy the cool sea breeze.

Now, there cannot be a Ramadan gathering without a sumptuous feast. The Dome has an exquisite, diverse spread cooked using the finest ingredients. A lot of it is sourced from Dar Aqua – Bahrain’s first aquaponic farm.

I toured the buffet, which featured an eclectic mix of traditional favourites, like prawn machboos and lamb ouzi, and modern spins on rustic creations, like a whole-fried hammour with crispy potato wedges and roast carrots. There were international dishes as well, including Indian biryani, Chinese Kung Pao chicken and Italian pasta, catering to a wide audience.

I was happy to catch up on all of my favourite Arabic foods. In the appetisers, I devoured a couple of meat kibbehs. Biting into the crunchy shell and tasting the juicy minced lamb was heavenly. The meat samboosa was equally delicious.

Balancing the fried foods were a variety of salads and cold mezze. I dolloped the usual suspects like hummus and baba ghanoush onto my plate, as well as a chicken-and-pineapple creation, with sweet and savoury flavours.

Grilled meats included shish tawouk and lamb kofta, which were being freshly barbecued outside. I recommend getting some right off the grill. They were beautifully cooked, buttery and oh so succulent!

Speaking of live counters, there are shawarma and pasta stations too. However, I had to ration my appetite for the mains and then desserts so I decided I would revisit for more.

Around this time, an Egyptian tanoura performance commenced and guests were wowed by the skill on display.

Admiring the class act, I headed to the lamb ouzi, which I have no words to describe. Call me dramatic but how many times have you attended events where the ouzi – typically the star of the table at most Arab gatherings – has fallen short? Not at The Dome! The expert chefs at Hilton Bahrain flourished their spatulas to conjure one of the lushest ouzis I have ever eaten.

The rice was cooked just right and slicked with all the flavours from the fatty protein rendered to perfection. The aromatics were on point, not overpowering the meatiness but playing the supporting act to the hero – the lamb – which was falling off the bone. Even the server had to balance it on the spoon lest it slid off – and it did – more than once.

The ouzi was the finale to my experience but there was so much more ground to cover so I trudged on. I could not miss the hammour, flaky and embodying the goodness of the sea. Other traditional dishes I tried were the harees, a cracked wheat and meat porridge, and kousa mahshi, baby marrow stuffed with minced meat. Both were delicious.

Even though there is a lot of food on offer, Hilton’s Green Ramadan initiative, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme West Asia, Winnow and Goumbook, ensures there is minimal food waste.

The hotel also supports needy families along with Bahrain Food Bank. Hilton Bahrain, take a bow!

The dessert counter at The Dome is equally extensive but I stuck to the humble luqaimat – golden fried dough balls steeped in sugar syrup.

My companions ate a decadent chocolate pudding, which I was told is a Hilton Bahrain signature creation. Well, I suppose I will have to wait for my next experience at The Dome to tuck into that gooey goodness.

For iftar and ghabga bookings and more information on group rates, call 33692013 or 77010100.