Positioned between the rugged Hajar Mountains and the serene Arabian Sea, Muscat, the capital of Oman, offers a captivating blend of traditional charm and modern elegance. This enchanting city, with its pristine white-washed buildings, vibrant souks, and stunning coastline, invites visitors to explore its rich history and warm hospitality. Whether strolling along the picturesque Mutrah Corniche, delving into the past at the National Museum, or experiencing the grandeur of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat promises an unforgettable journey through a land where ancient and contemporary cultures harmoniously coexist. Here are our favourite luxury hotels to stay at in the city.
The St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of The St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort, the brand’s debut in Oman. Developed by Alfardan Group, the resort blends local heritage with avant-garde design and St. Regis’s signature glamour. Located in Al Mouj, a luxurious beachfront neighbourhood, the resort offers access to cultural landmarks such as the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Al Hajar Mountains, Wadi Shab, and Daymaniyat Islands. The resort features a superyacht-style architecture inspired by the surroundings, with oceanic tones, local stone, and elegant décor. An art collection includes works from Omani and international artists. With 250 guest rooms and suites, including duplexes, the resort offers ocean, golf course, or city views, private balconies, walk-in wardrobes, and luxurious amenities. The St. Regis Butler Service ensures personalised attention for each guest. Dining options include nine venues with Michelin-starred concepts such as Hakkasan, Em Sherif, Roberto’s, COYA, Novikov Café, Karibu, Zorba, The Lounge, Sukkar, and The Stage, which also features a mural by Omani artist Hassan Meer and the St. Regis sabering ritual. The resort boasts Oman’s first Guerlain Spa, offering bespoke wellness treatments, fitness facilities, multiple swimming pools, a private beach, a padel court, and access to Al Mouj Golf course. The Family Traditions programme includes the Adventure Hub Children’s Club for younger guests.
Mandarin Oriental, Muscat
Mandarin Oriental, Muscat marks the Group’s debut in Oman, featuring a distinctive architectural design by Xavier Cartron that highlights views of the Arabian Sea and the Hajar Mountains. Located in Shatti Al-Qurum, the urban resort and branded residences integrate Omani cultural influences, evident from the grand Omani wooden doors in the lobby to the locally sourced materials in the 103 guestrooms and 47 suites. The hotel offers a collection of 156 private homes, five international dining options led by top chefs, and a holistic spa blending Asian and local treatments. The property also includes extensive event spaces, an outdoor pool, and a dedicated kids’ area, promising exceptional hospitality and a luxurious waterfront lifestyle.
Kempinski Hotel Muscat Oman
Located in Al Mouj, this stunning resort, part of the wider Kempinksi group, has everything you need for a luxury contemporary beach vacation. The design is slick and plush with traditional Arabic touches throughout. Developed by the Omani Hospitality Company, it has 310 rooms, eleven places to eat and drink, two swimming pools, a tennis court, watersports, a concierge, a business centre, a luxury transfer service, a spa and a health club. With a kids’ club, kids’ pool, family rooms and full-sized residences, Kempinski Hotel caters well for parents and children. The World Travel Awards Middle East named it Oman’s Leading Beach Resort and when you visit it’s easy to see why.
Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Known to be one of the finest five-star hotels in the world, you’ll feel like royalty during a stay here – it was originally built as the home for Oman’s Sultan Qaboos. Expect palatial surroundings with oodles of gold, marble and crystal, contrasted with a relaxed pace of life. Renovations in 2018 were overseen by WATG and Wimberly Interiors, adding contemporary elements, to the existing extravagant opulence. It boasts the tallest atrium in the country, an entire amusement/water park for children and a six senses spa offering 24-carat gold facials. Dine alfresco between the beach and the pool, tuck into seafood at the Beach Pavilion, take The Ritz’s famed tea in the lobby or opt for authentic Chinese cuisine. Around thirty minutes from the airport, it’s sandwiched between the mountains and the Gulf of Oman.
The Chedi Muscat – a GHM hotel
Twenty-one acres of lush gardens accommodate 158 rooms and villas, in this desert oasis. It’s also home to the longest pool in the Middle East (the pool is reserved for adults, giving it a serene vibe, but there are two more on-site). A peaceful place to holiday, The Chedi Muscat is low rise with calming Japanese water features, Islamic archways, palms, hammams and a private beach. But it’s also family-friendly with spacious villas ideal for larger groups or extended stays. There’s a sense of the local heritage here – doormen are adorned in traditional dress, the eight restaurants offer a wide range of Eastern dishes as well as European ones and you can enjoy shisha in a dedicated lounge – and don’t miss the buffet in the charming Arabic Courtyard.
Grand Hyatt Muscat
The Grand Hyatt’s Muscat residence is well-placed for sightseeing the region’s souqs, mosques and the Mutrah Corniche, but with all the benefits of a beachside location. With an upscale business centre and top-of-the-range meeting rooms, it’s a popular choice for high-profile conferences and conventions. It has 280 rooms, eight varied restaurants (including Peruvian, Italian, Indian and a rooftop grill), cafes and bars. This hotel even has a nightclub – you may be in Muscat, but here you can party the night away at the Copacabana Club. The interior design is classically elegant, balancing old and modern style – its pièce de résistance being a huge stained glass window beside the pool. Rooms are spacious and sophisticated, some with four poster beds and sitting rooms.
W Muscat
The lively Shatti Al Qurum beachfront is an ideal setting for this funky hotel, just twenty minutes from the airport. Almost all of W’s 279 rooms provide sea views and the hotel group takes a fresh approach to its accommodation. Instead of standardised categories, suites are named: Wonderful, Spectacular, Fabulous, Marvellous, Fantastic, Wow and Extreme Wow. The interiors have more of a focus on hip and trendy than most of Muscat’s other hotels, making this a popular choice for younger visitors in search of a party. Buddha-bar brings Siddharta Lounge to W – a rooftop, poolside lounge venue, open all day and long after dark. Their WET venue, enables guests to swim with a live DJ providing beats and WET Deck’s floor-to-ceiling mirrored bar creates the illusion of being immersed in the sea – while sipping on cocktails. There’s also a number of renowned restaurants, a super spa and a fitness suite.
Hormuz Grand Muscat, A Radisson Collection Hotel
Radisson’s global properties include this 231-room hotel, flanked by the Muscat hills. It attracts many business guests due to its eight well-equipped conference rooms, including an impressive 390-square-meter ballroom and golfers keen to visit the Al Mouj course. The decor has an international feel with Eastern design accents, while light linens and dark polished floors evoke a soothing sophistication. There are several restaurants, a spa, a fitness centre and bars. Whether you want to relax or energise, there’s a venue to suit. The pool and gorgeous waterside courtyard is a definite highlight – a marvellous spot to enjoy a sundowner.