Review: Andaz Capital Gate Hotel, Abu Dhabi

Introduction

Abu Dhabi boasts no shortage of soaring luxury hotels from the world’s leading marques, but few soar higher or are as eye-catching as the Andaz Capital Gate Hotel.

Perched atop the Capital Gate skyscraper, it quite literally leans into the cityscape – the steeply-angled 160-metre building is a marvel of modern engineering and a defining landmark in the Abu Dhabi skyline.

The wonders of modern engineering.

And as befits the capital of the UAE, the 16 floors of the Andaz Capital Gate are a symbol of Emirati design excellence, with an artistic interior reflective of Abu Dhabi's rich history and traditions.

It’s also not the first hotel in Abu Dhabi you may think of staying at: the resorts lining the city's western coastline clamour for the attention of visitors.

But its location in the city's downtown precinct puts the Andaz Capital Gate halfway between the airport and the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre in Abu Dhabi’s main tourist precinct, with both just a 15-minute drive away, while the National Exhibition Centre is just across the road.

In short, the Andaz Capital Gate is a fresh, vibrant and appealing alternative for your next visit to Abu Dhabi.

Location & Impressions

The best way to reach the Andaz Capital Gate Hotel from Abu Dhabi International Airport is to hop into a taxi, which will drop you at the hotel’s main entrance in a short 15-minute drive.

The hotel reception is situated on the 18th floor, so on arrival, have a wander around '165 Below', a ground-floor art gallery which features several exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing the talent of established and emerging Emirati artists.

Up on 18, the elevator doors open to a warm-toned lobby with multiple sitting areas. If there's a queue to check-in and you're a member of the World of Hyatt loyalty program, check in on the app, grab your digital key and you can skip the line altogether.

Andaz's captivating interior accentuates its elegance.

Once you've got your keys, the hotel's rooms are situated around the circumference of the building, with the main doors opening to a hollow atrium shaped like the leaning tower.

Room

Andaz Capital Gate offers 188 spacious rooms ranging from 40 sqm for a King room to the expansive 240 sqm Diplomat Suite. While sizes may vary, all rooms enjoy panoramic views over the Persian Gulf or the city´s skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Our key opened the doors to a Deluxe King Bed room, of which initial impressions can be summed up as airy and bright with a sleek contemporary design.

Andaz Capital Gate offers 188 rooms including 21 suites.

A king-size bed rests against a padded headboard on the right side of the room, tucked between two bedside tables containing the master light switch and power outlets. 

Two red chairs along the window are an inviting and comfortable reading area.

Rooms include two comfortable armchairs.

A surprisingly small 40-inch television at the opposite side of the bed features HDMI cables to connect your computer, however it appears insignificant and completely enveloped by the wood panelling that surrounds it.

It feels like an opportunity has been missed with the in-room television.

By the entrance, there is a sideboard where you can find the minibar, which was empty during our visit. A generous wardrobe located by the bathroom door houses an iron and ironing board, two pairs of slippers, a set of scales and a useful number of hangers.

A spacious, marble-clad bathroom features a wide vanity with plenty of space for toiletries and a small makeup mirror on the left side of the sink. Eyes are immediately drawn however to a large soaking tub and rain shower, from which you can overlook the city below.

Work

The room is well set up for business travel, with an executive desk set up wth an ergonomic chair conveniently facing the window.

The desk comes with an ergonomic chair.

Corporate guests and those needing to get clients or colleagues together can benefit from the hotel’s meeting rooms, or for a more laid-back environment, the Andaz Lounge is a comfortable lobby-style networking space.

While it does have 'lounge' in the name, this isn't a typical hideout exclusively for the use of guests paying for the privilege and is open to all. Visitors can enjoy a selection of premium tea, coffee and refreshments including pastries and snacks which rotate throughout the day.

Yes, the Andaz Lounge is a lounge but it's not exclusive to guests in higher room categories.

To the side is an intimate library area designed for quiet reflection or to get some work done.

Although there's no exclusive club space for guests in higher room categories, the lobby is another area you may find suitable to set up for a few hours of work.

With a variety of spaces available from sofas, couches and tables, we saw several travellers catching up on some emails here during off-peak hours.

Eat

Cyan Brasserie is Andaz Abu Dhabi's all-day diner. It's a classy and chic restaurant situated on the 18th floor serving Franco-Arab specialty dishes. We dined here on both nights of our stay and discovered a broad selection of wines supporting an enjoyable, well-presented food service. The setting and quality of the service also exceeded our expectations.

Dining at Cyan Brasserie includes a great view over Abu Dhabi.

Our seats by the window provided impressive views of the illuminated city skyline stretching out towards the Corniche, Abu Dhabi’s famous seaside promenade. The restaurant has an open kitchen and enticers patrons in early with daily 'Happy Hour' every weekday from 5-8pm, with special prices for mixed drinks and house beverages.

The Cyan Brasserie looks brilliant in the morning light.

At dinner, we glanced over the menu and opted to start with the Heirloom Tomato & Feta Tart, followed by the Chilean seabass. 

The tomato and feta tart made for a great start.

The tart was presented with a flaky pastry containing a blend of salty feta cheese and fresh tomatoes, whilst the fish was paired pleasantly with an accompanying ratatouille. We concluded with the two-layered vanilla cream Mille-Feuille peppered with salted caramel.

The Mille-Feuille was true indulgence.

Cyan was also home to breakfast each morning, available from 7-10:30am. Some of the options at hand to start our day included za´atar croissants, quinoa mushrooms and roasted potatoes.

Relax

On the 19th floor, the outdoor pool deck opens daily from 7am-7pm.

The pool is small, intimate space to catch some rays and relax.

Inversely, if you'd prefer to get your heart pumping and work up a sweat without simply going outside, there's a fully-equipped fitness centre conveniently placed next to the pool and spa area.

Break a sweat indoors at the well-equipped gym overlooking the city.

While the pool itself isn't a size you might expect from an Emirati desert hotel, it's a casual space perfect for a revitalising afternoon dip while overlooking the Arabian Peninsula and a swathe of Emirati palaces.

The Verdict

As the national capital, Abu Dhabi is a growing metropolis that recognises the power of showcasing Emirati heritage without trying to be all things to all people. The Andaz Capital Gate fits nicely into this narrative by meeting the needs of travellers from all over the world with authentic local hospitality.

Business travellers will find the hotel perfectly suited and ideally located to the city's corporate ecosystem. Many major offices are nearby, with well-developed transport infrastructure more than capable of delivering you to any point in the city quickly and efficiently.

These same corporate visitors may prefer a more exclusive private lounge in which to meet and work in a communal environment quieter than the lobby, making the free reign of the Andaz's Lounge a bit of a turn-off.

Likewise, the hotel's location 15 minutes away from the main tourist precinct means holidaymakers may be annoyed at the daily commute required to explore local attractions.

On the flip side, dining is in line with the exemplary standard travellers expect from Hyatt's Andaz lifestyle label. Portions are generous, well-prepared and delicious to boot.

Executive Traveller stayed as a guest of Andaz Capital Gate and Hyatt Hotels.