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Hotel Review: Al Raha Beach Hotel Abu Dhabi

Last weekend, we were back in Abu Dhabi for yet another staycation, this time at Al Raha Beach Hotel. If you’re in the UAE, then you know that last weekend, the weather was anything but ideal to be outdoors, unless you like the taste of sand. By the way, if you’re short on time, then you should know that Abu Dhabi makes for a great day trip from Dubai.

Nonetheless, we packed up our optimism and headed to Al Raha Beach Hotel, deciding to make the most of it. Thanks to their fantastic spa and cool indoor pool (just what we needed with the weather acting up) we came away more than happy with the experience. The fact that Al Raha Beach Hotel is a quick hour-long drive from Dubai was another plus because it was one of those lazy Fridays when neither of us was in the mood to spend several hours on the road.

Location

A short drive from the center of Abu Dhabi and an hour’s drive from Dubai, Al Raha Beach Hotel is ideal if you’re visiting Abu Dhabi, visiting Dubai and staying longer or want to visit from either of the two for a weekend getaway. Al Raha Mall is right next door so if you want to go and stretch your legs for a bit walking around the mall, shop or watch a movie, you’re just minutes away.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

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Lobby and Décor

The décor in the lobby and other areas is plush and has all the elements of Middle Eastern grandeur with the use of a warm color palette of rich browns, maroons, red, oranges and gold. This is balanced with the use of vibrant colorful carpets and modern elegant touches such as iridescent lamp and water installations in the corridors.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Al Raha Beach Hotel Lobby

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Deluxe Gulf View Room

My Double Deluxe Gulf View Room was very spacious with a writing desk and a nice view of Al Raha Beach from the little balcony outside.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Deluxe Gulf View Room- Al Raha Beach Hotel

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Deluxe Gulf View Room at Al Raha Beach Hotel

Hotel review Al Raha Beach Hotel Abu Dhabi

A great view to wake up to.

The bathroom was huge with pretty black marble features and a luxurious bathtub that you could enjoy with natural lighting if you liked.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Bathroom

A welcome platter of Arabic tea and dates was a nice touch that you don’t often find in hotels and one we enjoyed, along with these delicious macaroons.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Welcome platter

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

They sure know how to make you feel welcome!

Body & Soul Spa & Recreation Club

The spa menu at Body & Soul is extensive with a wide choice of face and body treatments. Ankit and I chose the Couples’ Aromatherapy massage and were transported to a state of complete relaxation within the first few minutes of our hour-long massage. This was literally one of the best massages I’ve had in the UAE, just as good as one I’d had on a beachside spa on a Thai island (and that one is something of a standard). A huge shout-out goes to my masseuse Dewa. If you book a massage during your stay, I recommend requesting a treatment by the lovely lady. Afterwards, we took a few dips in the indoor pool and wound up in the relaxation lounge with herbal tea.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Indoor pool

With the high temperatures the next afternoon, we decided to spend more time in the indoor Aquamedic pool instead of the outdoor swimming pools, and we couldn’t have made a better choice. Consisting of a Jacuzzi and other features such as a waterfall, showers and fountains, this pool was quiet and relaxing, and we had it pretty much all to ourselves.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Aquamedic Pool

Dining

Friday Brunch at Sevilla

Friday brunch at Sevilla was a multi-cuisine buffet affair with European, Italian, Asian and Middle Eastern dishes, live counters (including a Taco Station) and an elaborate dessert section that had us spoilt for choice. We loved the platter of assorted sushi and it was very difficult to save space for dessert, which I’m glad we did. Taking the recommendations of Dessert Chef Yasser Bebers, we tried the Crème Brulee and Panna Cotta and loved both.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Sevilla

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Sushi platter at Sevilla

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Dessert counter at Sevilla

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

More desserts!

Sevilla is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their Friday brunch is family friendly (we saw plenty of large families and kids running around having a jolly ol’ time) and features live music.

Mediterranean Cuisine at Azur

If you’ve been following along on Facebook or Instagram, you might know of my love for Spanish food sparked by the memorable introductions I had with the cuisine on my trip to Spain a few months ago. It isn’t surprising then that our dinner at Azur was one of the big highlights of our stay- they had a lovely platter of Spanish tapas (fried Calamari, Spanish omelet, alioli, croquettes and olives) and that just made me inexplicably happy, bringing back fond memories of my food experiences in Costa Brava.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Tapas Platter at Azur

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Baked eggplant appetizer at Azur

Our mains- the Chicken Milanese and thin crust Big Greek Pizza were prepared to perfection and were simply delicious, as was the light and fluffy Tiramisu that we shared for dessert.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Chicken Milanese- prepared to perfection

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Big Greek Pizza

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Tiramisu

Other than Sevilla and Azur, Al Raha Beach Hotel is home to other venues such as Black Pearl Bar, Café Mozart, Wanasah Shisha Lounge & Bar, La Piscine Pool Bar & Restaurant, Al Manzil Clubhouse and McGettigan’s Irish Pub.

Service

The service throughout the hotel and restaurant venues was super friendly, attentive and prompt, with staff proactively making recommendations from the restaurant and spa menus.

Bottomline

Al Raha Beach Hotel is great for couples and families who’d like to go on a weekend break not too far away from Dubai or Abu Dhabi and for those visiting Abu Dhabi and wanting to stay at a luxurious boutique beach resort with a great spa, multiple indoor and outdoor pools, restaurant and entertainment venues and beach access with water sport activities. That’s an ideal way to spend the weekend in the cooler months that are almost upon us.

HOTEL REVIEW AL RAHA BEACH HOTEL ABU DHABI

Al Raha Beach Hotel CreateTrips TravelBook

If you’re wondering what else you can do in and around Al Raha Beach Hotel, download their free TravelBook on the CreateTrips app (also free, so if you don’t have it yet, you need to check it out) for some cool ideas.

Abu Dhabi
Al Raha Beach Hotel

TravelBook by:
Danat Hotel & Resorts

Open TravelBook Preview

Connect with Al Raha Beach Hotel via their website, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

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Disclosure: We stayed as guests of Al Raha Beach Hotel. All opinions, as always, are honest and independent

Bilna

Monday 28th of September 2015

The hotel and the surroundings look so lovely Natasha... Hope to visit someday...

Katie

Monday 21st of September 2015

Wow! Everything about this looks luxurious! That welcome platter looks so delicious - macaroons to welcome you, yum! The view from the balcony is gorgeous, as is the design in rose petals on the bed. Sounds like it was the perfect staycation!

Ale

Sunday 20th of September 2015

It seems you really had a great time there!!! Good post and beautiful shots!!

Hannah

Saturday 19th of September 2015

this looks lovely - especially those pools!

Emily

Saturday 19th of September 2015

Um, I would stay there just for that AMAZING looking sushi.

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