Tim Kroeger shares his experience at Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi, covering his sea view room, restaurants, pools, spa, gym, and nearby attractions.
One of the UAE’s most prestigious hotels lies in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s retail, entertainment, and residential hub.
Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi combines the very best of Arabic and Turkish culture in its architecture, gastronomic offer, and hospitality.
Sophisticated arabesque design, luxurious amenities, and outstanding entertainment and gastronomy guarantee a relaxing and exciting experience.
Guests can enjoy sparkling waters and a sandy shoreline around the resort, while the cosmopolitan city of Abu Dhabi is just a stone’s throw away.
I’ve recently enjoyed spending several nights at the hotel and would like to share my experience with you.
Location
You can never really decide between a beach holiday and a city trip? In this case, Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi is the perfect place for you.
The resort is located directly at the beach, surrounded by an archipelago with a rich natural and aquatic heritage.
It offers dreamy ocean views, while the hustle and bustle of the city is right around the corner.
This unique resort has a lot to explore, and I recommend you make the most of the white sandy beach and crystal clear water.
But if you need some entertainment after a relaxing day at the resort, make sure to experience some of Abu Dhabi’s highlights.
I definitely recommend a trip to the nearby Heritage Village, a family-friendly spot to experience the traditional way of life in the desert.
The village features an old-world souk (market), a mosque, and a traditional camp.
Marina Mall is also just a short walk away. Treat yourself to a little shopping spree while on vacation, or look for some souvenirs to take home.
Art lovers should not miss out on the Louvre Abu Dhabi, just 15 kilometers away.
Other attractions like Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, or Warner Bros. World can be reached by taxi in around half an hour.
And last but not least, Abu Dhabi International Airport is around 39 kilometers away.
My Room
One of the resort’s highlights is its unique architecture, which seamlessly fuses traditional construction with modern elements and luxurious facilities.
I stayed in a Deluxe room with a sea view. The room had a calming warmth. Soft, earthy tones, a super comfortable bed, and little touches of Arabian design reminded me exactly where I was.
I really liked the cozy reading chair next to the window and the huge bathtub!
Pool & Beach
The hotel has three pools, one of which is an adult pool.
You’ll find comfortable lounges, sunbeds, and umbrellas to relax and can choose between staying close to the pool bars or finding a more private space further away.
All three pools are freshwater pools and open year-round.
You can also enjoy a private beach that is part of the hotel.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try some of the water sports being offered at the beach.
It is also equipped with lounges, sunbeds, and umbrellas, so you can relax in style while enjoying the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf.
Wellness & Spa
Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi is the perfect place to relax and pamper yourself.
Make sure you visit Nature Life Spa. This Turkish-inspired award-winning sanctuary offers relaxation, reinvigoration, health, and well-being.
The spa facilities include a traditional Turkish Hamman, a steam room, a sauna, several treatment rooms, and a couples suite.
The treatment menu includes a wide range of massages as well as facials, body scrubs, waxing and nails spa.
Gym
Staying in shape despite the great food is also not a problem.
The resort offers several fitness and yoga classes with motivated trainers who will help you make the most out of your workout.
There’s a well-equipped gym with high-end cardio and weight-lifting machines and a dumbbell station.
For hotel standards, the gym is already quite spacious, and you’ll definitely find everything you need for a perfect workout.
There’s even more to come, though, since the current gym is only provisionally open, and a new one is supposed to open soon in another location.
Restaurants & Bars
The hotel has 10 food outlets that cater to all tastes and preferences.
From high-end restaurants to cafés, lounges, and even a cigar bar, you’ll definitely find the perfect place for a nice meal, a casual cup of tea, or a fancy drink.
Enjoy the world’s different flavors while surrounded by an unforgettable ambiance.
Please note that Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi is currently on a soft opening, though, so some of the restaurants may still be closed at the time of your arrival.
Turquoise Restaurant
Turquoise is the leading signature all-day dining restaurant.
It offers an open-buffet concept with a wide variety of international dishes and hot and cold beverages.
You can visit Turquoise for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Opening times
Breakfast: 06:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Lunch: 12:30 PM to 03:00 PM
Dinner: 06:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Breakfast
The breakfast at Turquoise was one of the highlights of my stay.
The restaurant offers a huge selection of bread, pastries, cereal, fruit, and so many more sweet and hearty food choices.
Of course, there is also a live cooking station where you can order egg dishes and sweet treats.
Lunch
Honestly, the turquoise lunch buffet was almost overwhelming for me.
It was tough to decide between grilled meatballs, chicken wings, sirloin, seabass, and all those other fish and meat dishes.
They all come with nicely prepared sides, such as roasted vegetables, carrot tartare, salads, olives, fava, pizza, and so much more.
I especially liked traditional Arabic foods and ate my way through lentil soup, hummus, and a wide selection of bread, including Arabic bread, tomato sourdough, and whole wheat sourdough.
Dinner
Dinner at Turquoise is the perfect way to end the day.
Enjoy freshly grilled fish and meat from the live cooking station as well as a nice variety of international dishes while watching the sun go down.
People’s Restaurant
The casual People’s Restaurant offers lunch and dinner, captivating a variety of flavors from around the world.
Lobby Lounge
The Lobby Lounge is open 24 hours a day, and you can treat yourself to a hot or cold drink or even a snack around the clock.
The Bakery Club
This charming café welcomes you with wholesome food culture and baked delights.
Enjoy the sea view at Bakery Club while indulging in a tasty treat.
Anti-Dote Bar
This cosmopolitan bar is open daily from 7:30 pm to 1 am.
Enjoy the chic atmosphere and world-class cocktails, mocktails, and tasty bites for a little snack.
Things to do nearby
There’s so much to explore, so ensure you’re not missing out on Abu Dhabi’s highlights.
Nearby attractions include:
- Louvre Abu Dhabi: 22 minutes by car;
- Corniche Abu Dhabi: 14 minutes by car;
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: 21 minutes by car;
- Yas Mall: 35 minutes by car;
- Observation Deck at 300: 38 minutes by foot or 8 minutes by car;
- Mangrove National Park: 23 minutes by car;
- Ferrari World Abu Dhabi: 36 minutes by car;
- Marina Mall Abu Dhabi: 3 minutes by foot or 1 minute by car;
What I loved
My stay was extremely good overall, but I’d still like to point out some highlights for you.
- I’ll start with the food, which was pretty amazing. I really enjoyed trying out different cuisines and especially loved the BBQ and live cooking at dinner.
- The evenings were often accompanied by live music, and listening to the talented musicians while enjoying a nice drink always made my day.
- The facilities were great in general and I especially loved the pool area and, of course, the amazing view from my room and several other areas of the hotel.
- I also have to point out the varied sports programs and the motivated trainers. It was pretty easy to stay in shape while also having a lot of fun at the classes.
- Last but not least, I want to point out the friendly staff and the great service. Every hotel is only as good as its employees, and in this case, they really are outstanding.
At the time of my stay, the resort was still on a soft opening though. Some restaurants were not yet open, and a new gym, as well as a new water park, were still under construction.
I still had a great time, though, and can fully recommend Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi to you. This place is perfect for a truly unique and luxurious experience in Abu Dhabi.
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Disclaimer: I was a guest at Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi. My opinions, as always, are solely my own.
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