The Gulf Hotel is to open Thai and Iranian restaurants later this year.

Construction of the Royal Thai will finish by September, and it will open by early October, said hotel general manager Aqeel Raees.

"The 120-seat restaurant will be located opposite China Garden, and will serve lunch and dinner," he added.

The free-standing facility is "authentic in concept and in both exterior and interior design," said Raees.

Mohammed Jalal Contracting is in charge of the project, and a Thai company is handling the interior fittings and decor.

An Iranian restaurant is also in the pipeline, and it should be opened in late December.

"The 120-seat restaurant will be located in the old Palm Grove Lounge just off the South Wing Lobby," said Raees.

The theme for the Iranian fine dining restaurant has not been chosen.

"We'll be submitting our proposals to the board of directors within a few weeks, and should begin our interior fittings and re-configurations by the end of the summer," he added.

Meanwhile, the hotel is now managing the re-opened Al Sawani Restaurant, near the Bahrain National Museum.