Sheikh Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | (251) 219-4428
Set in bustling
downtown area a short drive to beach
Rooms
have chic decor, flat-screen TVs, and minibars
Marble bathrooms with showers and separate tubs
Nine restaurants
and bars, including a revolving top-floor eatery
Decent spa with
indoor pool, whirlpool tub, and sea-view gym
Free Wi-Fi
throughout
Breakfast not
included in some rates
Royal Tower rooms haven't been renovated
Outdoor pool area could use a refresh
Le Royal Meridien
Abu Dhabi is a 31-story, 276-room luxury hotel set in the bustling downtown Corniche
District. A 2014 renovation brought plenty of polish to the property, particularly in the numerous and excellent eateries, which include the city's only
revolving lounge. Refreshed rooms are bright and contemporary, some with
stunning views, though others are awaiting a revamp, as is the outdoor pool
area. Overall, it's a solid central hotel with few surprises and plenty of
perks. However, travelers may prefer the larger pool at the Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche, but the rates there are higher.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Sparkling luxury hotel with polished interiors and stunning top-floor panoramic views
Despite plenty of
local competition, the shimmering blue-glass facade of Le
Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi manages to stand out from the downtown
crowd. Inside, the wow factor is still strong, with a bright, chic lobby composed of soaring shelves filled with ceramic pieces, marble floors,
and stylish furnishings, all presided over by a pair of giant figures
fashioned from letters of the alphabet. Extensive renovations carried out in
2014 are still very much noticeable through most of the polished 31-floor property. While well insulated from the
busy roads of downtown Abu Dhabi, the outdoor pool area seems to have missed
out on the refresh, and looks a tad dated in comparison. Most of the numerous
eateries and lounges are elegantly decorated, with the jewel being the hotel's
top-floor bar and grill, Stratos, which revolves to take in 360-degree views of its surroundings. Being somewhere between a corporate
and resort-style hotel, clientele are primarily business travelers, but a fair share are leisure couples and families.
Location
Set in the Corniche District, in the heart of bustling downtown Abu Dhabi
Le Royal Meridien is located among the busy road networks of the Corniche District in downtown Abu Dhabi. While
there are plentiful trails and walkways that link up the area's various
shopping malls, restaurants, and cafes, main roads cover much of the urban space.
The sandy Corniche Beach and its promenade -- pleasant both day and night -- is
a five- to 10-minute drive away, while the Louvre Museum in the Cultural District is
around 15 minutes from the hotel by car. For business travelers, the Al Maryah Island business district is a 15-minute drive away. The Abu
Dhabi International Airport is around a 30-minute drive without traffic.
Rooms
Mostly chic rooms with flat-screen TVs and marble bathrooms; Royal Tower rooms could use a refresh
The hotel has 202
rooms and 74 suites, all of which benefited from the 2014 revamp except for the Royal Tower rooms. The newer rooms feature
bright contemporary styling, chic minimalist or dark-wood furnishings, and smatterings of modern art. The Royal Tower rooms, which have yellow accent walls and tan bed curtains, are fairly
modern and well-maintained, but don't have quite the same polish.
Amenities include 42-inch flat-screen TVs, coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars, and some
suites have kitchenettes. Sleek bathrooms are done in marble and have separate showers and
tubs, telephones, toiletries, and bathrobes. Higher-level rooms also boast great views over
the city or the Persian Gulf.
Features
Impressive eating and drinking options, plus heated indoor and outdoor pools
An excellent
breakfast buffet is served in the attractive Cafe Palmier, though it's not
included in most room rates and is on the expensive side. An impressive selection of
dining options (nine bars and eateries in all) includes the casual Market
Kitchen, the chic Italian Amalfi, and the top-floor Stratos, a revolving lounge with stunning views. The Piano Lounge opens in the evening, and has live music and occasional belly dancing. There's also a
decent health and fitness club located on the fourth floor, with an indoor heated
pool, a whirlpool tub, and a well-equipped gym with sea views. An outdoor area also has a
temperature-controlled swimming pool with a separate shaded pool for kids -- but there's little else for
children. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.
