The waterfront
Cafes and restaurants around the harbour.
Gabby Canonizado from Dubai, United Arab Emirates — CC BY 2.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0
Bahrain Bay is a modern district on reclaimed land in northern Manama, with offices, homes and hotels around a calm inner harbour. Its signature is the Four Seasons hotel tower on its central island, and people come to its waterfronts to stroll and sit in the evening. It is the new face of Manama, close to its old souq. The American firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill drew the master plan, inspired by ripples spreading through water around a central point. Reclamation finished in 2011, creating 1.35 sq km across three islands, north, south and central, joined to the mainland by two causeways and encircled by the North Manama Causeway. The district has 3.3 km of quay wall, giving broad views of Manama's towers across the water. Visitors wander between waterfront restaurants and cafes, and from some angles the Financial Harbour and World Trade Center towers line up together. The best time is sunset and after, when the towers light up and reflect on the harbour. Walkable areas may change as building continues on some plots. The district is 1.6 km from Bab Al Bahrain and Manama Souq and 1.3 km from the Financial Harbour in a straight line, but the highways make walking unpleasant, so take a taxi. The airport is about 7 km away, which makes it an easy evening outing after arrival.
Cafes and restaurants around the harbour.
The central island's landmark.
Tower lights on the water.
Northern Manama, near Al Fateh Highway
The distance is short, but the highways make it unpleasant. A taxi is better, especially in summer or after dark.
Walk the waterfront, eat and photograph the towers. There are no ticketed sights, so one evening is enough.
