Hotel: Mandarin Oriental Muscat / Stay Period: April 2025 (3 nights) / Program: Mandarin Oriental Fan Club
I am a fan of Mandarin Oriental. They’ve got a great mix of new properties in superb locations and iconic properties with old-world charm. You can expect top-notch service with a bit of Asian flair, given their heritage and background.
With that in mind, I was super excited to experience one of their newest openings, in the beautiful sea-side capital city, Muscat. The Mandarin Oriental Muscat is a stylish new addition to the city’s luxury hotel scene. It’s not a full-on beach resort, but it offers a peaceful, upscale stay with a resort vibe—right in the heart of the city.It’s a mid-sized property with about 150 keys, of which just under 50 are suites.
If you want to stay in the city itself, your two main options are the long-standing Chedi Muscat and the recently opened Mandarin Oriental Muscat. We picked the Mandarin for its central location, and it turned out to be a great decision. We could explore the city in the mornings, relax by the pool in the afternoons, and head out again in the evenings—all without the long commutes required from the more remote resorts.
Mandarin oriental Fan Club
Before we review the property, a quick note that the hotel can be booked under our exclusive Mandarin Oriental Fan Club programme. Booking under the rate, you can receive the following benefits:
- Upgrade at check-in, subject to availability
- Daily Complimentary breakfast for two
- $100 equivalent food & beverage credit
- Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
- Welcome note and welcome amenity
Quite often, we can offer additional perks such as free night offers, higher credit, guaranteed upgrades, and more. For Mandarin Oriental, you can view our latest offers here or reach out to find out more.
Location
When deciding where to stay in Muscat, location is one of the most important factors—followed closely by whether or not you want direct beach access. Muscat stretches across a narrow strip between the Al Hajjar Mountains to its south and the Gulf of Oman to its north. Most luxury hotels are either out west near the airport, like the St. Regis, or far east in the Muscat Bay area, where you’ll find Jumeirah Muscat Bay, Al Bustan Ritz-Carlton, and Shangri-La.
Arrival & Check-In
The hotel is about 30 minutes from the airport, and we had a smooth pre-arranged transfer. We arrived in the late afternoon and drove up to the hotel entrance and the bellboys swiftly greeted us and took our luggage. The hotel entrance has heavy wooden oak doors which resemble the doors of local Omani homes.
At the check-in desk, we were welcomed with a refreshing iced green tea—so good we asked if we could buy it! (Sadly, no.). Check-in was fast and friendly.
The lobby is a showstopper, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea and pool. At its center is a colorful chandelier made of handmade crystal lanterns—a truly stunning feature. The Mandarin Cake Shop is located in the lobby too and seemed popular with locals. We noticed many stopping in to enjoy afternoon tea, adding a lively local feel to the space. It can get very busy throughout the day and on weekends.
We did try some of the Cake Shop treats to take with us for our road trip to Jabal Akhdar and the pastries were delicious!
As we completed check-in formalities, the front desk staff personally escorted us to our room and provided a brief overview of the hotel facilities on the way.
Room – Junior Sea View Suite
We originally booked a Deluxe Sea View Room but were upgraded to a Junior Sea View Suite, which was 110 sqm and full of natural light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The suite had a large balcony with comfy seating and gorgeous sea views—we spent a lot of time out there in the mornings and at sunset.
The design was both modern and thoughtful, with strong local Omani elements. The headboard featured the colors and patterns of a traditional Omani hat, and the bedside lamps echoed the hues of a Khanjar (Oman’s traditional dagger). These touches really gave the room a sense of place.
The walk-in wardrobe area was enormous, with a central makeup table that was super convenient.
The bathroom was spacious, with double vanities and even separate “his and hers” shower rooms—all finished in calming sandstone tones. The toiletries were of a Spanish brand called Natura Bisse. Whilst the products were good, there was nothing memorable about it and I can’t understand why a Spanish brand was placed in an Asian hotel in Oman. I still rank the likes of Byredo, Diptyque, Le Labo and Aesop in the top category.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served in the pool-side Rawya restaurant and was a mix of continental buffet and à la carte egg dishes, with a section dedicated to local flavors. After a couple of days, the breakfast options felt a little repetitive, but the setting made up for it.
Service was polite and efficient, and while not overly warm, it was pleasant overall. We had some genuinely nice and memorable interactions with the breakfast team.
Definitely the best part of breakfast was the outside seating areas overlooking the pool. It was a very serene atmosphere in the morning and made for a lovely and calm start to the day.
Pool & Beach
The hotel has one large pool—family-friendly but not overrun with children—and plenty of loungers and cabanas. It was a nice place to unwind, though it’s important to know that while the hotel has beach access, it’s not a beach resort in the traditional sense.
Poolside service was friendly and helpful, although not always proactive—we sometimes had to flag someone down. The drinks and food menu was good but on the pricier side. We appreciated small extras like iced coffee and popsicles handed out during the day.
Club Lounge
Whilst we didn’t visit the club lounge during our stay, it did look really lovely and had a variety of options for breakfast and evening cocktails/canapes. It also has a terrace from which you have vast views of the sea and the main pool area.
Gym & Spa
The hotel has a well-equipped gym with Technogym equipment and a number of outdoor spaces. It included a few treadmills and a range of weights. It’s not very large but adequate for the hotel’s size. There’s also a squash court and scenic outdoor workout spaces in the terrace.
Whilst we didn’t visit the spa facilities, they did look lovely. There’s a number of treatment rooms, a traditional Hammam, and signature therapies inspired by Omani traditions.
The hotel also offers daily wellness activities including yoga and other classes each day of the week. Depending on the weather the activities are outdoors or indoors. The latest list of activities is found in the spa area or we can always book these for you when you decide to stay here!
Service
Service throughout our stay was solid. We had no complaints—staff did everything we needed, and we never experienced any issues. That said, the service lacked warmth. Apart from a few nice interactions with the breakfast team and check-in staff, there weren’t any moments that felt particularly personal or memorable. It was friendly and professional, but not standout.
Who is this Hotel for?
This isn’t the place for a traditional beach holiday. But if you’re visiting Muscat for a few days to explore the city and want a luxurious, peaceful hotel with a great location and a resort-like feel, the Mandarin Oriental Muscat is a great pick. It’s ideal for couples or young families, especially if Muscat is one stop on a longer journey.
The rooms are superb and we would highly recommend junior suites and above. The suites are superb spacious and also come with Club Lounge access. The hotel has a modern touch whilst retaining several Omani elements.
I would definitely return and would recommend this for a 3-4 nights stop.
Looking to book Mandarin Oriental Muscat?
We are Mandarin Oriental Fan Club advisors and can get additional perks by booking this hotel with us! Please fill out your details, and we will get back to you!