This was published 5 years ago
Kempinski Hotel Muscat review: Chasing luxury and leisure in Oman
New-build: Kempinski Hotel Muscat.
THE LOCATION
The Kempinski is set in Muscat's new Al Mouj development, a modern hub that's 10 minutes west of the city's new international airport, and a half-hour drive from tourist attractions such as the Mutrah Souq. Al Mouj has a cosmopolitan, Dubai-like feel to it, with a luxury-boat-stacked marina, a golf course, and plenty of Western-style retail outlets on its quiet streets. Everything here has that new-car smell, and while it lacks proximity to the older, more charming parts of the Omani capital, it does provide the perfect oasis for those who simply want to relax and enjoy a break.
A dip in one of the hotel's two pools is the perfect way to beat the Omani heat.
THE SPACE
This is something different for the Kempinski brand. Usually, the hotel chain prefers to buy classic old buildings and reinterpret them, to take established spaces and do something amazing. With the Kempinski Muscat, meanwhile, they've started from scratch. This is a new building in a new development, and it wows you from the minute you step into its cool lobby space, with its towering pillars inspired by the Omani royal palace (and it is, in fact, far more tasteful than that multi-hued regal residence). You see nods to the local environment throughout the hotel. The dappled sunlight that filters through the lobby gives it the feel of a date palm grove, though the pattern above is a classic Kempinski design. The water-features on the hotel's sprawling grounds are inspired by the Omani "falaj", the system of irrigation used since ancient times. The exterior of the huge ballroom is meant to look like an Arabic lantern. Everything here is shiny and modern, and yet feels classic.
THE ROOM
The Kempinski is friendly and fun, modern and comfortable.
"Welcome Mr Mr Ben Groundwater Ben" says my TV as I enter my suite, a sign of the hotel's obvious enthusiasm, and of the occasional teething problems in such a new property. There's plenty to love about the cool, modern space I'll be calling my own for the next few nights. First, the size. I'm in a Grand Deluxe Resort View room, which is nowhere near the top tier offered, and yet it's still huge. There's a couch, a working space, a king-sized bed, a large wardrobe, a bathroom with a shower and a free-standing bathtub, and a private balcony with views over one of the resort's pools. It might seem a trivial thing, too, but I'm also a huge fan of the light switches. In many hotels, going to bed involves a game of light-switch bingo as you walk around the room pressing as many buttons as you can until you're eventually plunged into darkness. At the Kempinski, meanwhile, there's a single, easy-to-find master switch. Click – lights off.
There's more to love, too. There's the power points right by the bed – hallelujah. There's the Nespresso machine with free refills, the giant flatscreen TV, the free, high-speed Wi-Fi, the bathroom that's bigger than my entire apartment back home, and the fact the whole place is cool, spacious and elegant. This is one of nine room categories that range from the basic though still spacious Superior Rooms, all the way up to the Royal Suite, a 186-square-metre monstrosity that has its own a private plunge pool and landscaped gardens.
THE FOOD
Modern luxury with views: A room at Kempinski Hotel Muscat.
There are 10 separate food and beverage outlets at the Kempinski, which offer everything from classic Middle Eastern and Western-style cuisine at The Kitchen, to modern takes on Indian food at Bukhara, vibrant Thai street food at Soi Soi, and deli treats at Cafe One. Breakfast is served at the Kitchen, and it's the sort of multi-cultural affair you'd expect from an international hotel chain, with everything from Swiss cheeses and deli meats to Anglo-style eggs to Levantine hummus and flatbread to Indian vegetable curries and rice. My advice would be to turn up hungry and see if you can sample it all, because it's uniformly delicious.
STEPPING OUT
You don't have to go far to find the action. The hotel itself offers plenty of off-site adventure and leisure experiences, including stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, wakeboarding and sailing in a catamaran, all of which take place just off the Kempinski's slice of idyllic beach frontage. Further afield, the hotel can organise dive or snorkelling trips to the Dimaniyat Islands, a group of beautiful tropical cays about 18 kilometres off the coast. Back on dry land, meanwhile, there are day trips on offer into Muscat's cultural hub, with everything from tours of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque to walks around the souq to visits to a local perfumery. If you're planning to fly solo, and to keep within the Al Mouj bounds, there's still plenty to do, including the chance to shop up a storm in the retail outlets along "The Walk", to play a round of golf at the beautifully manicured 18-hole Al Mouj course, or to wander around the marina and daydream about boats you will probably never own.
Kempinski Hotel Muscat provides the perfect oasis for those who simply want to relax and enjoy a break.
THE VERDICT
If it's luxury you're after, if you're chasing professional service, modern facilities, smart design and a whole host of leisure activities to keep you occupied – plus easy access to Muscat's airport – then this is absolutely the spot for you. The Kempinski is friendly and fun, modern and comfortable. If, however, you're here for an experience of Muscat itself, to immerse yourself in the city of old, then you may find the Kempinski a little too far removed, both geographically and culturally.
ESSENTIALS
The Kempinski Hotel Muscat, 335 Street 6, Muscat 138 +968 249 85000. See kempinski.com.
Superior rooms start from $296 per night; the Royal Suite is $3000 per night.
Wi-Fi is free and fast.
HIGHLIGHT
A swim in one of the two pools is the perfect way to beat the Omani heat.
LOWLIGHT
The shiny newness of Al Mouj will translate to a lack of character for some.
Ben Groundwater stayed as a guest of The Kempinski Muscat.
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