St Regis Abu Dhabi blends city and seaside vibes in the UAE capital – Hotel Insider

Towering above the Corniche, classic five-star retreat has panoramic vistas of Arabian Gulf and city skyline

St Regis Abu Dhabi blends city and seaside vibes in the UAE capital. Photo: St Regis Abu Dhabi

One thing that the UAE excels at is luxury hotel stays and across the emirates there are no shortage of options. For those exploring the capital, the St Regis Abu Dhabi on the Corniche offers a blend of city stay and seaside escape.

Minutes from downtown, the five-star hotel caters to all types of visitors – from business travellers looking to unwind after a busy day of meetings to couples, families and groups of holidaymakers. The National checked in to see what's on offer at this skyscraper hotel.

The welcome

My husband and I enter the lobby to an impressively regal imperial spiral staircase adorned in red and gold and positioned under a slew of chandeliers. We are ushered to the left, where, in a small nook off the main room, check-in is quick and efficient, and accompanied by a hot towel and a cool, citrusy welcome drink. Before long, we're heading to the elevators – room card in hand.

The neighbourhood

Part of the capital's Nation Towers, the hotel is in a prime spot. Visitors are close to the tourist landmarks of Emirates Palace and Qasr Al Watan, as well as being right opposite the city's beachfront. It's also just 10 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and the World Trade Centre.

Of course, all of this is only an option if guests manage to drag themselves away from the allure of the hotel which includes Nation Riviera Beach Club. Reachable via an air-conditioned tunnel that winds under a multi-lane motorway, the exclusive beachfront retreat has fabulous view of the Corniche.

The room

The bathroom in the Grand Deluxe Suite overlooks the ocean. Photo: St Regis Abu Dhabi

Despite all the charms of the hotel, it is the room that steals the show. We are staying in a Grand Deluxe Suite and the decor is contemporary with a strong Arabian influence. At 65 square metres, the room has its own sitting area complete with chaise longue, armchair and dresser. Views from here are of Abu Dhabi's cityscape, which comes alive at night.

Both the bed and bathtub look out over the ocean with uninterrupted views through floor-to-ceiling windows. A switch by the king-size bed means that you can open the curtains to enjoy the morning sunrise without moving too far from your comfortable resting place.

A large stand-alone bathtub with spray jets is the centrepiece in a marble clad bathroom. His and her vanities are located either side of the door with adjustable light settings. Remede toiletries are provided in large refillable sizes, with a menu available showing the price list just in case you’re tempted to pop them in your suitcase.

The scene

The pool at Nation Riviera Beach Club. Photo: St Regis Abu Dhabi

With 283 guest rooms, the St Regis Abu Dhabi fosters a surprisingly intimate atmosphere. Its dedicated butler service ensures a personal touch for guests and during our stay we want for nothing, perhaps a result of the brands' 100 years of hospitality experience.

There are three swimming pools, including one at the aforementioned beach club on the opposite side of the Corniche motorway which has a buzzy vibe and features a whirlpool and swim-up bar. Lounging here is ridiculously easy. There’s no need to get up to order a drink or extra towel as each lounger has its own buzzer that promptly calls serving staff. The Azzuro pool is calm and shady, perfect for a lazy afternoon. Families will enjoy the Treasure Island Children’s Club, which has its own smaller pool and is perfect for children. Staff here also provide a jam-packed itinerary of activities to keep children entertained.

The Spa at The St Regis Abu Dhabi is the place to go for a hand – or four – in kneading out knots. Radiating calm, it's a labyrinthe of cream-coloured walls with sauna and hot tub facilities. I enjoy a generous 60-minute massage where the masseuse works her magic and I spring from the table, albeit reluctantly, filled with energy and gladly accept an additional warm paraffin wrap for my feet.

The food

The hotel has five restaurants, ranging from all-day dining and beachfront casual to elegant date-night offerings. As a nation of staycations, the UAE knows well how to do a breakfast buffet and the morning feast at the hotel's Terrace on the Corniche restaurant gets a big thumbs up from us.

While not the largest selection of food we've seen, each option is high-quality, catering to all tastes and requirements – on our visit, chefs quickly accommodate my vegan husband’s requests for hash browns. There are also nine types of honey on offer, including saffron and gold-infused, and five kinds of home-made granola with ingredients like amaranth, chia and quinoa.

Salmon carpaccio at Catch at St Regis. Photo: St Regis Abu Dhabi

Lunch at Villa Toscana makes us nostalgic for a trip to Venice where we dined al fresco by the canal. Due to the heat, we’re indoors here, but the restaurant’s interior does a good job of replicating a veranda complete with wooden-shuttered windows.

We saved the best for last with dinner at Catch. The crab logo suggests a general seafood menu, but the restaurant also has a distinctly Japanese flavour. The menu features luxury picks like caviar, oysters, fish carpaccio and ceviche.

As a saxophonist-singer duo provide a romantic soundtrack to the evening, head chef Kessav Kutwaroo and our attentive server Ankit take turns to make a fuss of diners. We begin with a jumbo crab salad (Dh95) served in a crab-shaped dish in which the meat and green apple offer a refreshing bite.

Blow-torched dynamite rolls (Dh110) are a fun play on sushi, featuring salmon, tuna, creamy crab and orange tobiko, deep-fried. The 48-hour miso-marinated black cod (Dh225) is a highlight as is dessert, where we order the catchamisu (Dh95). This seafood-inspired take on tiramisu is served in a Parisian Kaviari tin on a bed of ice, with coffee pearls resembling caviar and a gold-leaf topper. Introverts beware – the impressive dry ice display that comes with the dessert is sure to attract attention from surrounding tables.

The service

Everyone we encounter during our stay is quick to offer a smile and an answer to any queries. Elvis, our butler, is knowledgeable and keen to help.

Highs and lows

The outstanding views from the hotel room, across the islands surrounding the corniche, tempted us to stay in and stare instead of venturing out to explore, which goes to show how mesmerising it is.

The low was missing a welcome tour from our butler, which meant some of the hotel’s more intimate spaces remained off our radar.

The insider tip

If you're driving to the hotel, take note – the signposted entrance on the beach side of the Corniche Road only leads to the hotel beach club. To reach the hotel continue on and take a U-turn to reach the main entrance which is on the other side of the road.

The verdict

The best of both worlds, this five-star hotel gives residents and holidaymakers a chance to relax by the beach with abundant ocean views while staying in the very heart of the UAE capital.

The bottom line

Rates start at Dh750; and the Grande Deluxe Suite starts from Dh1,300, excluding taxes. Check-in from 3pm and checkout by noon; www.marriott.com

This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects hotel standards during this time. Services may change in the future