Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche

The hotel is definitely geared towards business executives, rather than families on vacation. Set inside a slick high-rise with 44 floors, the property blends in with the surrounding office buildings. Inside, the large lobby has an urban and professional feel, with white marble floors, bold black ceilings, and somewhat edgy, hanging sculptures that resemble white feathers. The space is always bustling with smartly dressed, hurried business guests, rather than relaxed holiday-makers, and the interior decor throughout the hotel reflects this air of corporate sophistication. Club Millesime, for example, is only available to guests staying in Suites and Luxury Club Rooms. The club is decked out with glistening white marble floors, modern black chairs with bright yellow cushions, and a glassy dining space with a modern-minimalist vibe and teal stone paneling. The outdoor pool area is an oasis of calm, with its simple white lounge chairs and airy cabanas, but otherwise, there is not much space for leisure travelers to relax. The elegant restaurants also seem to be aimed at the business market, and couldn’t be described as particularly family-friendly. 

The hotel is opposite a busy main road, and situated in an area densely populated by office buildings and hotels. Next door is the Sheikh Khalifa Energy Complex, which draws many of the hotel's business guests. Tourists who want to see the sights will need a car to get around, and it’s certainly not the best-placed hotel for getting to the main attractions. The local museums -- the Guggenheim and Le Louvre Abu Dhabi -- are a 15-minute drive, while Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is just under a 20-minute drive. Popular sights such as Yas Island, the Formula One racetrack, and Ferrari World Park are about 20 to 30 minutes by car. 

Guest rooms are all large and combine French Art Deco styling with modern Arabic accents. Luxury Rooms are decorated in black and white, and have sleek, circular tables, wavy-patterned carpeting, and ornately patterned lamps and bathroom doors. The floor-to-ceiling windows let in lots of natural light, and many rooms have sweeping sea views. There’s access to 24-hour room service, and all rooms have interactive flat-screen TVs with international channels, free mineral water, safes, air-conditioning, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. The large, marble bathrooms have rainfall showerheads plus separate bathtubs, as well as designer toiletries. Those staying in the suites have the extra facilities of butler service, spacious living rooms, free breakfast in the Club Lounge, and a dual aspect with views of the Arabian Gulf and the city.

Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche has a great range of facilities for corporate travelers, including a 24-hour business center and 10 meeting rooms with high-end technology -- including the Crystal Ballroom, an impressive space with a sparkly, lit ceiling. The Corniche restaurant serves French and Arabic cuisine and has an open kitchen, while Grill’s @ Chill’O provides drinks and Mediterranean fare poolside. Le Cafe Lobby Lounge has tea, coffee, and pastries throughout the day, and a French Bakery is on-site. There's also a fantastically authentic Thai restaurant where dishes such as pad Thai and green curries are served at traditional sunken tables, but it is not managed by the hotel. For drinks, there's a poolside bar and and a vibrant piano bar with a great cocktail, cognac, and cigar menu and an eclectic mix of jazz, Latin, and Arabic music. Hotel guests have free access to the beautiful spa, which has a Turkish bath, sauna, and spa bath. Massages can also be booked, and there are a hair salon and spacious fitness center, too. The swimming pool is not huge, but is clean, and surrounded by palm trees -- and there’s no shortage of comfortable sun loungers. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout and free car parking.