Kempinski Hotel Muscat

The food was the letdown at our Iftar at The Kitchen – Kempinski. There was good presentation and a varied choice of cuisines, but much of it lacked flavor and felt under-seasoned, which was disappointing given the hotel’s reputation. The setting was elegant and lovely for a relaxed Ramadan evening, and most of the service was excellent. We did have trouble with our seating: despite booking days ahead and arriving early, the hostess wasn’t very flexible when we disliked our table. Maity was attentive all evening, and Chef Ander was, as always, great and accommodating. The atmosphere and service were strong, while the food could use improvement.

This was our second stay, and we’ll definitely return. The pool team, Abbas, Durai, Belal, and Leslie, gave us attentive, helpful service at both the pool and bar. Our room was kept spotless and decorated beautifully by Rajeshwar, and we appreciated the decorations and the equipment provided for our baby. Gangarao also helped make things comfortable. At The Kitchen, manager Anit Kumar welcomed us warmly from the start, and Angel looked after us with kindness and professionalism. Jamie, the hotel manager, gave us good advice and was consistently warm, professional, and helpful. Vaplanda, the “Lady in Red,” was attentive whenever we saw her. The staff made the stay feel just right, and we highly recommend the hotel.

We chose this hotel over the St Regis and Mandarin Oriental for its combination of facilities, private beach, and service, and we’ve been delighted. The pool and beach are relaxing, the rooms are spacious, and the whole property is spotless. Restaurants are excellent without being extortionate. Staff were cheerful and ready to help with anything. Abbas sorted out loungers and towels on the beach, Inka at the Zale and The Kitchen front desk greeted us warmly each day, and Jay served breakfast with a smile. The gym and restaurant teams were great too. A truly lovely place.

The green Thai chicken curry was one of the best we’ve had, and the fried fish with tamarind sauce was beautifully presented with authentic flavors. We came for an early dinner, and the room had a great atmosphere once families and other diners arrived. Our hosts were lovely. The mango salad order was initially wrong, but the salad we received was delicious. Our 5-year-old was having a moment and didn’t want to come in. The ladies took the pressure off us, chatted playfully with him, and kindly brought food and coloring to help him settle. I’d definitely recommend it to family and friends.