Visitors Look to Luxury Hotel's Exciting Dining Scene for a Taste of Baku, Azerbaijan

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN--(Marketwired - May 28, 2015) - When it comes to cuisine, the design of the restaurant is nearly as important as the flavors on the plate. From the composition of each dish, to the lighting fixtures and wall finishes, dining gratifies more senses than just taste. And for those eager to bite into the best restaurants in Baku, only one place offers a buzzing scene matched with exceptional cuisine: the JW Marriott Absheron Baku.

As the preeminent destination among 5-star hotels in Baku, the JW Marriott features five restaurants and bars that offer a tempting range of menus (think steakhouse to tea lounge). And every dining venue has been renovated during the past year.

Considering the hotel just opened in 2012, the updates speak to the property's commitment to the guest experience. And, true to its reputation as one of the top luxury hotels in Baku, the property retained London designer Henry Chebaane from Blue Sky Hospitality to revamp each restaurant.

The results are as dramatic as the hotel itself. ZEST Lifestyle Café reopened on May 1, 2014, two years to the day after the hotel opened. Because its healthy, organic salads and sandwiches take their cue from the Mediterranean, the restaurant's décor was built around the striking, citrus-inspired lighting installation that features 101 globes and 2,500 rods of translucent yellow, orange and lime.

OroNero Bar & Ristorante, the final restaurant that was completed on May 1, 2015 (exactly one year after ZEST Lifestyle Café), takes a turn for the opulent. Inspired by Azerbaijan's mineral wealth and the glamour of Italy's luxury industries, black and gold unfold throughout the dining space, walk-in wine cellar, prosecco bar, grappa library and even the "open" kitchen, which is enclosed by translucent gold screens. The showpiece of this fine-dining Italian restaurant, however, is the "Golden Beluga": a sturgeon sculpture crafted from carbon fiber, 24-carat gold-plated steel and titanium F1 car parts.

Fireworks Urban Kitchen is equally thematic, serving its steaks and fine wines in an atmosphere "born of fire." (Think glowing metal rods and translucent bricks interlaid to create a setting of light and shadow.) The women-owned and -operated Razzmatazz Cocktail Bar & Lounge carries the country's ancient love affair with weaving into a new dimension with digital pomegranate images projected onto the walls. And the Tea Lounge transforms the ancient ritual of tea into modern theater with a tea altar hemmed in by four floor-to-ceiling glass "cellars" of tea, clouds of steam from tea-making and a selection of pastries, chocolates and other drinks.

With five renovated restaurants dishing out as much flair as they do flavor, the hotel is poised to become a culinary capital in Baku, Azerbaijan.

About the JW Marriott Absheron Baku
Modern luxury meets Old World opulence at the JW Marriott Absheron Baku. Located on the site of the original Absheron Hotel in the heart of Baku, the property welcomes business and leisure travelers with unparalleled service. A full-service spa, state-of-the-art fitness center and elegant indoor pool encourage relaxation. Plus five recently updated dining venues infuse every dish -- whether it's a handcrafted cocktail or a sumptuous steak dinner -- with a richness of both flavor and style. The 243 guest rooms feature luxury bedding, Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions, iPod/iPad docking systems and stunning views of either the Caspian Sea or Baku's city center. And the hotel's 14 daylight-infused event spaces, including the stunning, pillar-less Sharg Zali ballroom, translate to sophisticated social events and impressive business meetings. The hotel's location in the heart of Baku's city center, meanwhile, puts guests near historic attractions like Baku Boulevard as well as the city's modern business centers for a stay that is as inspiring as it is romantic.

About JW Marriott 
JW Marriott is part of Marriott International's luxury portfolio and consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to today's sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 53 JW Marriott hotels in 22 countries; by 2015 the portfolio will encompass 80 properties in 29 countries.