COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, ABU DHABI – Hotel Stay Review and Mega Giveaway

Competition is closed and winners have been announced.

—————————————————————————–

It was a notable opportunity and an honor to be invited at this admired property for review and I am really obliged to the hotel management who made this experience an unforgettable family-friendly Staycation for me & my family.

 

   

 

Ambiance & Décor:

Upon entering the hotel, you will enter the relatively small lobby area with three check-in desks. Its petit but well-lit and well-fragrant. We were immediately attended by a host, Check-in was quickly finished and we were handed room keys. During check-in the host explained us the location of the restaurant, Gym, Pool etc. He furthermore explained us how to access the complimentary in-room WiFi. There was a concierge to assist you with any inquiries about Abu Dhabi or about transport.

 

  

 

Rooms & Amenities:

All the facilities available in this hotel are highly superb. The rooms are good sized with enough storage. Bed of Marriott exclusive brand are known for its comfort; which gave me real overnight relaxation. The room was fresh and clean with a nice layout. There was spacious work station, high speed internet and all basic in-room amenities. We stayed in regular rooms one with double bed and other connected room with 2 Beds. They featured a glass topped desk, two armchairs, a side table, a LCD TV and a closet in each room. Rooms look very modern and contemporary with great choice of colors in the interior (furnishing and carpet). Our rooms were on extreme corner of the floor hence quiet with a view of Courtyard, Gardens and Patio which makes it very calm & quiet.

 

 

  

 

The bathroom was big, featuring a bath tub with a shower, a toilet, a bidet, a sink and plenty of storage space. The towels were ample & fluffy. Roof pool and Jacuzzi are well maintained with lifeguard on watch and can accommodate many guests.

 

  

 

Star Service:

Upon arrival the bellboy offered to take our suitcase as we proceed to lobby. We were offered fresh lemonade. Later met by welcoming tray of mixed fruits and assorted macrons in room. Their services were classy and premier. The staff was knowledgeable, courteous and experienced in hospitality field. The front desk staff were very effective and made us feel welcomed. The concierge was always there to help and greet with smile. Housekeeping was good as the rooms were cleaned and restocked properly each day. Most of the requests we made were promptly answered

 

     

 

F&B:

The 5th Street Café (reviewed HERE) is really a place for networking with friends while enjoying the varieties of food and beverages. (Full Review HERE). Bistro Restaurant, an all-day dining presents a very exclusive and delicious food with spacious environment and comfortable seating. We had Thursday dinner and Friday brunch at Bistro on first floor. Though not super large, the Bistro is able to accommodate sufficient guests with contemporary setting. Tables were placed with glass windows, looking out over the road in front of the hotel. The buffet area was spacious offering plenty of choice. There’s a juice station, a cold buffet with cereals and yogurt, an Arabic mezze, salad buffet and an egg station. On Friday they offer kids’ corner too. Upon arrival coffee or tea was offered, which was subsequently served at the table. The staff was pro-active and tables were cleared frequently. Background music was nice and not too disturbing. Restaurant serves some fantastic food and the most decadent desserts.

 

 

   

 

We also enjoyed their special Thursday Night Brunch themed “99 at Bistro” It is the most apt meal in a 4-star hotel on budget (starting at AED 99 inclusive of soft drinks) where you begin your weekend with an all-in food and beverage treat of international cuisine, including a live grill station, light and fresh salad dishes and delicious sweet treats. Mini steak, Shish taouk, Tiger Prawns with lemon butter sauce from Live grill station stole the show indeed.

 

  

 

From Carving Station, the Crusted salmon with herbs cornflakes and saffron butter sauce was succulent and noticeable. It was a long line-up of food you can ever imagine in this price. I can’t really decide if antipasti were better than Arabic cold mezze as both were equally good. Oh and you must try ‘Under the lamp’ items on the corner, opposite to pasta station. It featured Aloo Bonda with mint chutney & Pineapple pizza that kids simply loved. Wait! if all this is not enough then there is a seafood section as well with hefty choices. Didn’t we mention it is best on pocket dinner! All in just 99 Aed. This one surely did kick-start our weekend in style. (Read till end to win a table for 2 for #Thursdaynightbrunch)

 

  

 

Friday Bistro Brunch & Beyond was equally good though less casual with more Asian & Arabic Mains, Shawarma stations and Gourmet Salads. Up and Below is an ideal venue for people looking for a central location, a place to meet friends and enjoy decadent small dishes, with a sophisticated ambiance and stunning views of the city while enjoying the best in chilled out lounge music.

 

 

Location & Mall Stroll:

Being in central business district of Abu Dhabi, Hotel’s location is also very good, right next to the WTC Mall and two blocks to the Corniche. The WTC mall offers a moderate variety of stores, food and beverage options. There’s a supermarket in the basement of the mall, with a relatively large assortment. The souk, on the other side of the road is nice for getting some souvenirs, it is, however, not that large. The central location of the hotel to Corniche Road and most landmarks, as well as shops and restaurants makes its ideal spot for tourist and explorers.

 

 

 

So, to wrap up: this is an excellent hotel with good rooms hence definitely worth a stay. I would highly recommend and rate it 4 out of 5 stars. What makes this hotel an absolute gem?! Bunch of super-attentive, genuinely friendly people, succulent food and upgraded facilities.

CHEF’S Profile:

Executive Chef Saurabh Saxena, has brought a lot of diversity and Unique blend of taste in Food at Courtyard by Marriott, World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi Hotel. With a diversified team of Sous, pastry and many chefs from different ethnicity and background he is introducing few special cuisines inspired dishes yet keeping pace with international trends. He is from India and has moved to the Middle East in 2000, joined the hotel industry with Jumeirah International as Commis chef.

Progressing through various Culinary roles in UAE hotels, he has moved from JW Marriott Marquis Dubai to Courtyard Abu Dhabi in year 2014 as Executive Chef. He believes work-life balance is very important to create amazing dishes and practice new ideas. He is enjoying married life bliss with Wife and a 2 years old daughter, having career aspiration is to run his own restaurant and to be a trendsetter

Saurabh’s Food Philosophy: “Simple, Elevated, Approachable”; I prepare my dishes in a way that is approachable for all diners.

MASSIVE GIVEAWAY

 Wow! Wow! Wow!

There are 3 amazing giveaways

 One night weekend stay with breakfast for 2 people.

Thursday Night Brunch for 2 ppl at Bistro Restaurant 

Dine in Voucher worth AED 200 for 2 @ Fifth Street Café

Now here is how you can win them:

   1- Like & follow social media pages of Courtyard by Marriott

        Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram

    2– Share this blog post (using FB, Twitter buttons under this post) .

    3– You MUST tag Mahiblog & Courtyard by Marriott on respective social media while sharing (so we can notice your participation)

• You must follow each step and must be an email subscriber of Mahiblog to be qualified. All entries will be verified.
• Competition is open for UAE and GCC based residents only.
• In total 3 Winners will be announced on 5th of September, 2016.

Tip: The more you share, the better your chances to win

Disclaimer: All the views and pics are entirely our own and in some cases provided by the Hotel itself. We would like to extend our high regards and thanks to lovely Katrina, Hotel Management & Staff to made our trip memorable for life.