Hotel review: Chedi Muscat

I travelled in January and stayed in the Chedi Club Suite. Rooms start from £450 per night.

The Chedi Muscat overview

As you walk into reception, the design of which is based on a Bedouin tent, the lack of distracting music and abundance of comfortable seating create a calming start to the Chedi Muscat experience.

The scent of Oman is infused in the air with the complimentary Omani coffee laced with cardamon. The hotel comes with a private pool, popular with guests as is the spa with sultry views over the adjacent ocean.

Foodies will be filled with joy with delicacies ranging from local Arabic, to European, not forgetting the in-house chocolatier who creates scrumptious sweet treats with intriguing, flavoured centres.

Décor and vibe

Water plays a big role in this chic Chedi, from water features emulating traditional irrigation systems seen in the local mountains, to the iconic long pool, said to be the longest in the Middle East, seen in countless Instagram posts, to the pièce de resistance – the ocean.

The beachfront restaurant I’m told is often booked up when it comes to the tables with direct oceanic vistas. The inside décor is clean cut with white walls and the warmth of wicker chairs and wooden shutters, Arabic objets d’art and antiques dotted strategically around.

The immaculate landscaped gardens boast butterflies and birdsong and beckon guests outside where they’ll find seating from sunbeds to dining tables and chairs.

Services and facilities

• Room service
• Pool
• Laundry
• Parking
• Fitness centre
• Sauna
• Steam room
• Tennis court

Rooms (and suites)

If you go for Club Suites, Deluxe Club Terrace Room or Deluxe Club Room you will be able to help yourself to complimentary drinks and afternoon tea touting both savoury and sweet sizable snacks in the Club Lounge.

The rooms are chic, a beautiful blend of clean lined Asian influence, neutral browns, creams and whites, with Omani touches such as clay pots and pictures. The use of natural wood from the mirror surround to the window shutters add a warmth to the accommodation, as do the wicker balcony furniture.

The white walls infuse a calm ambience much welcomed after a day exploring the city, providing the ideal retreat. I particularly liked my well-proportioned stone bath, before enjoying a sound sleep.

Food and drink

There are six outlets to dine in to choose from, including tapas at the ‘Chedi Pool Cabana’, snacks and drinks in the ‘Lobby Lounge’ and seafood opposite the 383 metre private beach at the ‘Beach Restaurant’.

I arrived on a Friday which meant the buffet was on at ‘The Restaurant’, offering an eclectic mix from sushi to grilled meats to Mediterranean meze to local classics such as hammour fish (Grouper) in tahini sauce and ouzi, essentially slow-cooked lamb served on a bed of fragrant rice – a must try when in Oman.

Breakfast was a delicious spread covering local, Arabic as well as international flavours, I indulged in fresh watermelon juice and local ful medames bean stew topped with tahini, fresh parsley and chopped tomatoes, opting to sit outside in the sun, ending with a punchy Omani coffee.

More information

For more information and bookings, visit the hotel website at ghmhotels.com/en/muscat/.