Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi Review: Sheer Perfection on The Arabian Gulf
I’ve long held the belief that hotels are as much about the people as they are about the facilities, rooms and views. After all, I’ve stayed in no shortage of ultra-swanky locations staffed by the disinterested and unengaged, and I’ve spent many happy days in relatively humble homestays and hostelries I’d gladly return to on account of the teams running the show.
A genuine landmark of the Abu Dhabi skyline, Rixos Marina
Rixos Marina – a landmark hotel on the breathlessly impressive Abu Dhabi Corniche – achieves the gold standard, matching incredibly spacious rooms, architectural bombast and a plethora of top-notch amenities with unbelievably brilliant human resources. In fact, I’d already come to the decision by the end of my first evening at the property that the introduction of this article would focus on the people we met. There was Zoe, the cheerful German-Spanish receptionist who took plenty of time to chat through the hotel’s offerings. Salma, our Egyptian butler, managed to deliver what is so often promised but rarely achieved – actually making our stay easier, even more enjoyable and seamlessly efficient, as well as being approachable and a delight to be around. Adina, the multilingual hostess at Rixos Marina’s peerless rooftop Hashi restaurant, balanced exceptional hospitality with a genuine sense of passion, pride and fun.
Five-star service is often associated with a sense of aloofness and distance. These three women, each seasoned professionals in their field, proved that this absolutely needn’t be the case, and our already-impressive visit was made all the more joyful as a result of their approach to their work.
OK – promises to oneself kept, let’s get down to business.
An Abu Dhabi Landmark Hotel
A phenomenal team of dedicated professionals
Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi isn’t just a hotel – it’s a bonafide city landmark, instantly recognisable as a result of its immense and grandiose arched shape even from the lurching ascent of a flight back to Heathrow. Set over 38 floors of pristine Emirati glamour and show-stopping interior design, it ticks a hell of a lot of the boxes we’ve come to expect from a contemporary UAE luxury hotel: there are sweeping marble staircases, faintly ridiculous (but oh-so gleeful) chandeliers crafted from blown blue glass and sparkling crystals, and extensive grounds featuring a collection of pools, a private beach and uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf.
Salma, the aforementioned butler par excellence, escorted my partner and I to the elevator, which rocketed its way to the 18th floor on which our room could be found. A childlike moment of wonder and excitement unfurled; the glass elevator ascended a clear tube, allowing its passengers to see the view of the hotel gardens and bay area – complete with shimmering skyscrapers, twinkling in the night – reveal itself. It’s never not exciting, and I challenge even the surliest of holidaymakers not to feel a flutter of Wonka-esque excitement during that vertical journey.
Opulent Nights, Indulgent Mornings at Rixos Marina
Premium room with a sea view
This Rixos hotel (and there are two in Abu Dhabi, each equally as impressive) boasts 499 guest rooms and suites, ranging from the fabulous to the jaw-droppingly opulent. Ours sat towards the latter end of that scale – a Premium Balcony Room with a sea view – and offered more than ample space, a large bathroom (featuring the delightful addition of a free-standing bath and Hermes-branded toiletries), complimentary selections of fruit and pastries, and a balcony overlooking the bay. The inky blackness of night-time across the Arabian sea was peppered with the golden lights of the city Corniche, and as morning broke, a gentle mist delicately cloaked the horizon, giving the impression of a futuristic landscape gradually buffering with the ascendance of the sun.
Well-rested and refreshed from a night spent in a very comfortable king-sized bed, it was time to explore what this hotel is particularly renowned for: its breakfast offering. Breaking one’s fast at Rixos Marina is a deliciously unhurried affair based upon sensory pleasure, Arabian generosity and a maximalist approach to gastronomy. Set across two restaurants and spilling out into the spacious patio area and gardens, visitors can opt for a vast array of sweet and savoury delights – truly, it’s hard to think of a cuisine not accounted for, a palate not indulged. Parisian-style patisserie is undertaken with aplomb. Indian flavours abound. Omelettes are cooked to order, Eden-esque assortments of fresh fruits are piled high on platters. There’s even an impressive ‘build your own’ Benedict counter, where various combinations of poached eggs, muffins and hollandaise sauce can be heightened with one’s choice of cured meats, spinach, avocado, grilled halloumi and smoked salmon. The coffee is great, the vibes are on point. I won’t go into my personal selection as I’ll admit to slightly overindulging myself, but rest assured I was deeply impressed and more than satisfied by what was on my plate. OK, my plates.
About 10% of the breakfast offering at Terra Mare
After some time spent relaxing pool-side and enjoying a trio of freshly-squeezed juices, we decided a walk was in order. I’d been told, many times, that Abu Dhabi wasn’t great for pedestrians. While it’s true that so much of the city is spread over a vast area which calls for (impressibly affordable) taxi services, Rixos Marina is located in a prime location for meandering and strolling – there’s a safe, calm and picturesque five-mile stretch of coastline on its doorstep, meaning it’s more than possible to walk off your brunch and enjoy the city on foot.
A Stunning Array of Dining Options at Rixos Marina
The dining scene in Abu Dhabi is genuinely impressive – the city state has worked hard to attract some serious talent to its burgeoning kitchens and beautiful restaurants, and Rixos Marina does this trend for excellence justice with a stunning range of places to eat.
All-day Parisian patisserie at The Bakery Club
There’s a clear commitment to upholding the utmost standards at the hotel, while still ensuring a ‘something for everyone’ ethos that appeals to the international, cosmopolitan and discerning clientele. There’s (deep breath) contemporary Turkish dining on show at Terra Mare, a high-end international buffet offering at Turquoise, and sophisticated Parisian pastries and savouries available all day at the laid-back The Bakery Club (where I’d highly recommend finding time for a pot of tea and a tarte aux fraises or croissant). Those seeking vibrant Italian flavours will be delighted by Vero Italiano, a cornucopia of seafood can be enjoyed at Isla, which also features a late-night beach bar at which to sip negronis while enjoying the live music on show at sunset. Want something a little more casual? Head to the poolside People’s Turkish restaurant and bar, a perma-popular choice based on relaxed dining and thoughtfully-crafted food and cocktails.
While each of these dining options have plenty to commend themselves, it’s also fair to say that all of them pale in comparison to Hashi – Rixos Marina’s new flagship Japanese restaurant, perched dizzyingly high on the 38th floor and meticulously designed to immerse guests in the zenith of Far Eastern cuisine and hospitality.
Into the Extraordinary: Hashi Rixos Marina Review
Hashi is a thoroughly elegant affair. Split across two levels – the lower floor being a chic and sleek cocktail bar, complete with dark wood fittings, flickering fires and low, golden lighting, the upper being the restaurant space with an open sushi kitchen – it’s arguably among the most impressively appointed restaurants in the entire Emirate. Those familiar with my oeuvre will know that I’m often a little cautious when it comes to restaurants with a view… but just like I found at Europe’s most elevated eatery, there are plenty of wondrous examples which match bedazzlement with finesse, as well as a commitment to serving sensational food. Hashi most certainly belongs in this camp.
Matching the theatrical with the finessed
After being shown the various viewpoints and luxurious features of a stunningly sumptuous dining room, our hostess Adina (who flits between fluent English, Turkish and Russian from table to table in a way I can’t help but be eternally envious of) sets the wheels of a truly memorable meal in motion. We start with a sharing bowl of edamame pods, given a few minutes in the company of hot coals so their skins pop and blister in a most satisfying way, before we’re introduced to the resident mixologist. A signature cocktail – the Japanese Mist – is blended and smoked tableside, hinting at further theatrics to come. A pair of cold starters, sea bream mango ceviche with fiery red chillies and an unctuous heap of fatty tuna belly tartare, showcase the confidence of the kitchen (led by a chef brought over from Japan’s renowned Kobe region) in both their knife skills and ability to elevate the simple to the spectacular.
Next up, sushi. Adina brings a platter to our table, stacked artfully with plates, dishes and lacquered boxes of various shapes and sizes, each boasting a selection of nigiri, maki and thick-cut sashimi of astounding freshness and quality. Generous slivers of tuna belly are draped over pickled rice, bass jostles for room beside eel, salmon and roe. It’s a celebration of ingredients and craftsmanship, and paired with the freshly-grated wasabi root (a first for me, despite my being a dedicated sushi hound), every mouthful hits the spot perfectly.
Elegance on the 37th floor
Somehow, the dishes keep coming without missing a mark. A slab of salmon, lightly glazed with a yakitori-esque marinade and cooked medium-rare, is served alongside a dish of Japanese fried rice and the lightest, juiciest prawn tempura I’ve ever eaten. It doesn’t last long, being one of those dishes you can’t stop diving back into. After a much-needed break and breather on the balcony, glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand, we return for dessert; a pairing of coconut tapioca and matcha mochi, somehow both indulgent and light.
As we said our goodbyes and entered the elevator for our descent back to Earth, my partner and I were abundantly aware of one thing: we’d just encountered something really rather special. Hashi – and Rixos Marina, by extension – goes above and beyond its five-star status, leading guests into the realm of the truly extraordinary.
Book your stay at Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi here.
