We started our exploration of Oman from Muscat where we stayed one night at the Grand Hyatt Muscat. As a category 4, it would have cost us 15,000 Hyatt points but we redeemed one of our category 1-4 award night. This Oman hotel is a great choice for families or business travelers with its diverse dining options, large pool, beach, fitness center, and proximity to some of the main attractions in Muscat. We enjoyed our time at the Grand Hyatt Muscat, which is a 5 star luxury hotel in Muscat that offers not only excellent value but also a beautiful setting. As Hyatt Globalists, we enjoyed complimentary breakfast, happy hour in the Grand Club Lounge, and a suite upgrade. The Grand Hyatt is one of the most family-friendly hotels in Muscat Oman, and we plan to return later this year with our kids. Read our Grand Hyatt Muscat review to help you decide among the Muscat hotels.

Grand Hyatt Muscat Review

Grand Hyatt Oman Location

The Muscat beach hotel is located in Shatti Al Qurum, the city’s diplomatic district. It is a popular hotel for business travelers, being located among the embassies. However, it is a great option for luxury and leisure travelers as well, being a short drive from popular tourist attractions and being on the beach. It is a short drive to the Muscat airport and must-see sights such as the Mutrah Souq and Corniche. The hotel offers free parking and a shuttle service to the airport.

Grand Hyatt Reception and Lobby

We arrived much later than anticipated due to the delays at the border crossing from UAE and getting lost on our drive from Dubai, but were greeted with smiles and friendly service from the doormen and front desk staff. The lobby makes a lasting first impression upon entering the hotel. It is opulent and grand and exudes royal Arabian luxury. The lobby has the feel of a outdoor plaza with live palm trees and a marble fountain in the center with a rotating statue. Balconies from the upper floors overlook the grand room.

There is an enormous stained glass window overlooking the pool, an exotic grand piano for live music, and cozy seating areas under luxurious Bedouin tents for afternoon tea. We noticed a table with Arabic coffee and dates for guests to enjoy upon arrival, an important aspect of Omani culture and hospitality that we loved. Arabian lanterns provide ambient lighting in the evenings. We felt like we had entered a royal palace with all the marble, gold, and silk tents. We learned that the hotel was designed by a Yemeni prince, which explains the royal Arabian architecture and decor. It was far different from any Grand Hyatt we’ve ever visited, and was just what we were hoping for in the Middle East.

We noted the dress code for the hotel’s main areas on a sign at the entrance, that clothing should respect local culture. I made sure to bring light sweaters or pashminas to cover my upper arms and shoulders while in the hotel and out in public. In Oman, women are expected to basically be covered from their shoulders to their knees and to avoid clothing that is too tight, transparent, or shows cleavage. 

Grand Club Lounge at Grand Hyatt Muscat Hotel

Once we checked in, we headed straight to the Grand Club Lounge for the last few minutes of happy hour. We enjoyed complimentary wine and light fare on a large balcony overlooking the Hajar Mountains with plush couches and tables. We especially appreciate complimentary drinks and food in the grand club lounges after long travels. After nearly 8 hours on the road, we were ravenous and exhausted. We relaxed with a glass of wine and a filling array of hot and cold appetizers, such as cheese, veggies, fruit, salads, and spring rolls. The evening food and drinks from 6-8pm could easily substitute for dinner.

We received club access as Hyatt Globalists, but it’s also possible to book rooms or suites with club access. If you don’t already have access, we highly recommend it since it also includes breakfast, afternoon tea, and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day. Just having the option to stop in for drinks and snacks when you are traveling with children is especially helpful.

Grand Suite King at Grand Hyatt Muscat

As Hyatt Globalists, we received a complimentary room upgrade to a Grand Suite King. Our suite had a large balcony overlooking the pool and beach area with loungers. There was an entrance area with a half bathroom, a living room with a dining table, a king bedroom with a door to the balcony, a work area with complimentary high-speed internet, and a full marble bathroom with a bathtub and walk-in shower. The décor in the room was more conservative than the ornate décor in the main areas of the hotel. I personally would’ve liked to see the luxurious Arabian decor continue in the suite.

Additional amenities in the suite included robes, minibar, stereo system, 3 phones, safe, morning newspaper, bottled water, tea and coffee making facilities, iPod docking station, rollaways and crib upon request, 24-hour room service and concierge.

Royal Suite

We had the opportunity to see the Royal Suite and snap some photos. We heard that Michael Jackson stayed there, and since we are huge fans of his music, we were very excited to see a suite he slept in. The Royal Suite is spacious at 336 square meters. It includes a living room with a piano, dining room, office, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and full bathrooms, a half bathroom, and several balconies. It will set you back nearly $3,000 per night, but it is gorgeous and includes butler service and access to the Grand Club Lounge.

The Grand Hyatt Muscat Royal Suite – Spherical Image – The Grand Hyatt Muscat Royal Suite

Pool and Gardens

The Grand Hyatt in Oman has a large pool with a swim-up bar, lazy river, jacuzzi, kids splash pool, and garden area as well as beach access on the Arabian Sea. We were so busy exploring Oman that we didn’t even swim in the pool or visit the beach. We hope to return and bring the kids next time, which will mean hours in the pool and on the beach. The pool area has several lounge chairs and umbrellas for shade.

Fitness Center

The hotel has a Club Olympus Fitness Center with a nice selection of cardio and strength-training equipment. There are also gender separate saunas, steam rooms, and jacuzzis which I enjoyed to relax after our long drive from Dubai. Guests can also use the tennis courts to burn off some of those extra vacation calories.

Grand Hyatt Muscat Restaurants

The Grand Hyatt Muscat has several restaurants and bars, ranging from a casual poolside bar to an award-winning Italian restaurant. Guests can eat at The Pool Bar, which serves drinks and meals poolside with a nice breeze from the Gulf. Marjan is another outdoor restaurant overlooking the Arabian Sea and features an Indonesian menu. Mokha Cafe serves international fare and Arabic cuisine with both buffet and a la carte items, and guests can dine indoors or out on the terrace. The Grill House serves dinner al fresco during cooler months with a buffet and steaks, game and fresh seafood.

The Sirj Tea Lounge serves specialty teas, traditional afternoon high tea, Arabian coffee, and light dishes in the opulent lobby under the silk Bedouin tents. The resident pianist Zara performs in the evenings three times a week to delight guests. We were disppointed to miss her performance and high tea, which draws visitors from around Muscat.

John Barry Bar serves tapas and cocktails created by the talented mixologist in a cozy lounge with an illuminated alabaster bar table. We tried one of the creative concoctions and enjoyed the chill vibe. The Grand Hyatt bar comes alive at night with special events like Ladies Night and live music. If you’re searching for Muscat nightlife, this is a glamorous place to check out. We wished we knew how to play piano, since there’s a gorgeous grand piano in the bar.

In the Safari Entertainment Complex, a building next to the hotel, are two additional restaurants. Club Safari is a pub with a DJ and happy hours in the evening. Habana Sports Bar has pool tables and screens sporting events with special events like Karaoke and Quiz Night.

During our short stay, we enjoyed breakfast at Mokha Cafe and dinner at Tuscany, and had drinks at The Pool Bar and John Barry. We didn’t get the opportunity to try the other restaurants, but our meals were very good.

Breakfast at Mokha Cafe

We enjoyed a bountiful breakfast at Mokha Café, which was complimentary thanks to our Hyatt Globalist status. On Fridays Mokha Cafe hosts one of the best brunches in Muscat, but we weren’t there on a Friday. The regular breakfast buffet was quite impressive, though. The breakfast buffet offered a selection of fresh juices, mango smoothies, fruit, nuts, sliced meat, cheese, salad, pastries, cereals, yogurt, eggs Benedict, poached eggs, waffles, pancakes, omelette station, and more. We were happy with the offerings and enjoyed a tasty breakfast. We dined outside with views of the gardens and pool. Since we visited in February, the temperatures were perfect for sitting outside.

Dinner at Tuscany Restaurant

We happened to be visiting during a special dining event at Tuscany, which is known as the best Italian restaurant in Muscat. The hotel had a guest chef with 2 Michelin stars from Italy preparing dinner for a few nights. Of course we jumped on the opportunity to have a 2 Michelin-star Italian dinner, compliments of the hotel. We even met chef Marco, who was incredibly kind and joyful. We enjoyed a romantic dinner on the terrace lit by candlelight, as our waiter brought us several courses of delicious and beautifully presented food.

Conclusion of Grand Hyatt Muscat Review

Our stay at Grand Hyatt Muscat was very enjoyable and too short. As a Category 4 Hyatt and the only Hyatt in Oman, it cost us 15,000 World of Hyatt points for one night. As Hyatt Globalists, we stretched the value further with the complimentary breakfast, upgrade to a $500/night suite, and access to the Grand Club Lounge with its generous evening cocktails and appetizers. The service was warm and friendly, especially from the bellman Faisal who gave us a tour of the Royal Suite and the managers who introduced themselves to us and showed us around the property.

We wished we had more time to stay and enjoy the property, but plan to come back again with our kids and take them on a Muscat city tour. The hotel is family-friendly with its beautiful pool, lazy river, beach, grand club, and multiple restaurant options. We suggested that they add a kids club for parents who would like to have a few hours to themselves, so hopefully this will be an option in the future.

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