Melissa Hotel

The rooftop view was lovely when we arrived with family at 8:30pm for dinner, but the food and service were probably the worst I've ever had. We waited until 10:30 for water and had to keep reminding the server about our drinks. Most of our food never arrived, and what did come was very cold. The pizza was good, but the tuna tartar looked like someone had vomited on the plate. When I asked to have it removed, the server kept saying they couldn't give me a refund. After an agonizing three-hour wait, we cancelled the rest of the order and asked for the check. We paid $200 for the meal and left. I'll never go back.

We came as a family to break the fast during Ramadan, and the beautiful sea view and warm welcome stood out. Prices seemed fairly reasonable for the range of dishes, including different kinds of fish and meat. Chef Anwar was in charge, and we appreciated his professionalism in both cooking and reception. There were some drawbacks: no prayer room and no private garage at the hotel. Thanks to the managers and all the staff who looked after us. Ramadan Mubarak.

The room was small, but the balcony and view were lovely. There was a bad smell at first. Someone came quickly when we reported it, and he was friendly. He said housekeeping had left an odor-control tab behind. Taking it out made things better, though the smell wasn't completely gone. The bed was uncomfortable and hot because of a plastic protector over the mattress. We removed it and slept better, but I could feel it sticking through the fitted sheet even with the air conditioning on. At breakfast, the employee setting up the service couldn't provide serving utensils for the hot food. She pointed us to a drawer with regular table utensils and told us to use those. It felt odd rummaging around in restaurant drawers, and other customers looked confused too. One person left a small spoon by the eggs because he didn't know what else to do. She didn't seem willing to help or happy to be there, which was unfortunate because the rest of the staff were good. The receptionist was wonderful, kind, and easy to communicate with. The man who checked the room was just as friendly, and they both made a lasting impression. Their excellent service made a big difference to my stay. Thank you to those two.

The rooms are simple, and the staff are delightful. I especially liked the location right in front of the mosque and the fantastic views from the terrace.