Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi

The breathtaking Yas Viceroy is heaven for Formula One racing fans, built right over a track, with views of races and practices from dozens of vantage points, including restaurants, bars, terraces, and many guest room balconies. The hotel’s architecture and design embrace the speed vibe with a futuristic look, covered by an enormous LED spiderweb canopy that shouldn't look out of place in 50 years. Straddling both land and water, the hotel is designed in sweeping curves with lots of bright white that creates the feeling of motion, echoed by the cars circling the track. The canopy is reflected in the design scheme, too, with lots of cool lighting effects and latticework screens throughout the restaurants and lobby. The feel is of space, with a bit of space age-iness thrown in. The cavernous common areas might lack intimacy, but they have one-of-a-kind cool. Granted, the canopy can get in the way of the views and optimal suntanning, and the sound of motors revving and jets flying overhead from nearby Abu Dhabi Airport can be deafening, but racing fans will be transported by the privileged, and unforgettable, vantage point.

The Yas Viceroy is located on the Yas Island waterfront, with one tower on a marina, the other in the middle of the Yas Island Marina Circult, a Formula One racetrack, very close to the Abu Dhabi Airport. Ferrari World, Yas Kartzone, and Yas Waterworld are within two miles. Guests can also hit the beach for paddleboarding and kayaking, take eco-tours, and shop. Abu Dhabi’s city center is a 15-minute drive from the Viceroy, which can be tough during the heavy rush hour.

Rooms at the Yas Viceroy are spacious, with floor-to-ceiling picture windows. Some have balconies, and many have views of the racetrack or the marina. Rooms higher than the seventh floor have views obstructed to various degress by the hotel’s canopy. The decor is serene and minimalist, with molded white formica furniture, in beiges and browns with pops of bright accent colors. Frosted glass walls set off bathrooms, which have separate soaking tubs and showers. Noise from the racetrack, passing jets, and the rooftop nightclub can be problematic; housekeeping can be spotty. In-wall flat-screen TVs, minibars, and safes are provided

The Yas Viceroy features a full-service spa, offering massage and body treatments, although the vibe is cold, not Zen. There are two gorgeous rooftop infinity pools just under the canopy rooftop. One is for families; the other is an adults-only quiet pool. The lobby features a delectable sweet shop and patisserie. The Viceroy offers seven different restaurants, including a super-mod buffet with beautifully displayed food, a noodle shop, Arabic Mediterranean, Italian, and Indian cuisines. The Burlesque lounge is red and retro, serving tapas and cocktails. Skylight is a sophisticated rooftop nightclub, under the stars, furnished with round beds.