Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa By Anantara

While the Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa is not the most visually arresting hotel, the property still makes a grand impression with its large palm-tree-adorned water feature and imposing columned portico marking the entrance. The lofty lobby is particularly attractive, with soaring Arabian arches, mashrabiya-style paneling, patterned tiling, and a glistening chandelier. Although the hotel is part of a larger retail and apartment complex, its vibe is secluded and surprisingly serene, helped by wide, low-lit corridors and immaculately furnished public areas. The property's real advantage, however, is its position next to a broad swathe of picturesque mangrove, and on-site marina to access the waterways. This resort-style hotel tends to attract the usual mix of business guests during the week and well-heeled leisure travelers -- both couples and families with kids -- on weekends.

The hotel is located in the center of a large shopping and residential complex, just off the busy E10 highway that connects to the Abu Dhabi Airport in 20 minutes. The Mangrove National Park forms a particularly scenic backdrop to the hotel and can be explored by boat or kayak. There's little to explore on foot in the immediate area, except the promenade and neighboring shopping mall. The sandy Corniche Beach overlooking the Persian Gulf is under 20 minutes away by car, as is the Louvre Gallery. The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. The small Al Bateen Airport is an eight-minute drive away.

The hotel's 222 spacious rooms are decorated in a modern styling that includes sleek wood furnishings, traditional Arabian artwork, a palette of earth tones with gold and teal accents, and mangrove motifs in the carpeting and headboards. Amenities are suitably high-end, with free Wi-Fi, large flat-screen TVs, minibars, and Nespresso coffeemakers. Impressive bathrooms feature walk-in rainfall showers, separate tubs, thick bathrobes, and a range of toiletries. All rooms open to furnished terraces, around half of which have views over the mangrove lagoon. The other half of the rooms, however, face the main road and experience inevitable traffic noise.

Guests staying in the Kasara rooms and suites have access to the Kasara Executive Lounge, where food and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are served during certain times throughout the day.

An extensive buffet breakfast is served in the hotel's main restaurant -- Ingredients -- though it's not included in all room rates. This waterside eatery also offers all-day dining, with freshly baked bread, a sushi bar, and an alfresco terrace. A second, more elegant restaurant serves Thai dishes for dinner. Poolside service is also available. There are two bars: Impressions is the sleek rooftop lounge and Mangroves Lounge is a two-story venue that overlooks the pool and lagoon. 

The infinity swimming pool is pleasant, lined with lounge chairs and overlooking the lagoon. There's also a spacious hot tub adjacent to the pool. However, it's the hotel's seriously impressive Anantara Spa that really stands out; it has 15 treatment rooms, saunas and steam rooms, and a superb Turkish bath. Additionally, there are a few meeting and event spaces on-site.