Royal Rose Abu Dhabi, a Curio Collection by Hilton

Our Verdict:

Royal Rose Abu Dhabi is one of those places you won’t forget, whether you love it or find it slightly baffling. Styled like a 17th-century French palace, the gold-heavy interiors, chandeliers, and velvet upholstery make a bold first impression. It’s a five-star property with competitive rates, generous room sizes, and a few high points. Just don’t expect the service to always match the wannabe grandeur.

In this review:

• Hotel Summary
• Location
• Check-in
• Our Room
• Facilities & Services
• Food and Beverage
• Check-out
• BG1 Verdict

Hotel Summary

Name: Royal Rose Abu Dhabi, a Curio Collection by Hilton Affiliated Hotel
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Hotel Class: ☆☆☆☆☆
Chain: Curio Collection by Hilton Affiliated Hotel
Loyalty Programme: Hilton
Room Type: Suite
Price bracket: ££
Good for: Families

Location

Just a few blocks behind the Corniche, Royal Rose Abu Dhabi is ideally placed for exploring central Abu Dhabi. You’re within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and the Abu Dhabi Mall, which is a ten-minute stroll. Despite being in the city centre, the area is safe and relaxed especially when you compare it to the hustle and bustle of Dubai. You can walk around day or night quite easily. It’s also right on a good arterial road out of the city, making airport transfers or day trips to Saadiyat straightforward.

Check-in

Our arrival got off to a slightly awkward start, as no one came to help with our bags when we pulled up in the car. That said, once inside, the front desk staff were warm, helpful, and quick to explain the hotel layout and room features. We were taken up to our chintzy room (no other word quite fits), where a generous plate of treats awaited us, thanks to Hilton Platinum status. Our bags were delivered shortly after by a very courteous staff member. A shaky start, but mostly smoothed over. But the cardboard cutout of a Marie Antoinette-style lady in the lobby sums it up perfectly… grand at first glance, flimsy on closer inspection.

Room

There’s no denying the visual drama of a Royal Rose Abu Dhabi room. We got one of the suite that had several windows; although it only faced a neighbouring building, so not much in the way of views and it was very dark. The bed and pillows were excellent. We slept well. Our suite – which was on the left hand side of the building – was next to speakers hanging on the building opposite for morning prayers, so just expect to be woken up at sunrise. The room included extras like a trouser press, light travel iron, and full-size ironing board. Sadly, the iron was too small and had no steam function, making it more of a museum piece than a useful appliance.

The bathroom was stylish but let down by basics. The sink drained slowly, the shower leaked beneath the door, and the hairdryer didn’t match its nozzle, rendering it useless unless you enjoy warm air aimed at your elbow. So while the room had charm and comfort, the maintenance didn’t quite keep up.

Facilities & Services

The hotel has potential, but there is a lot of inconsistency. Some good, most bad. The gym is modern, clean, and well-equipped. The rooftop pool area, although compact, offered plenty of sun loungers, two jacuzzis, and a separate children’s pool. Concierge service, however, was underwhelming. Requests for local suggestions resulted in vague references. For the full outline of the facilities look at the welcome letter below.

Bars & Dining

They turned one of the bedrooms into an Executive Lounge that served a few canapes and alcohol. Selection is OK, but limited, and food is poor. The executive lounge on the 16th floor had a small reception area and bar, with complimentary drinks served between 6 and 8pm. Unfortunately, wine routinely ran out early. The lounge itself felt gloomy with dim lighting, loud pop music, and two oversized TVs fighting for attention.

Breakfast

Breakfast was served in the mezzanine-level Printania restaurant and ran from 6:30 to 10:30am. The buffet had a wide mix of Western and Asian items and included a made-to-order egg station. Be prepared for queues though, especially for omelettes and the single overworked coffee machine. There was no table service for drinks, but the staff were quick at clearing plates and keeping things moving. It’s a decent spread, but far from a relaxing morning ritual.

Check-out

Standard check-out is at 11am, and the team urgently called us to say our driver had arrived to take us to the airport. They seemed very eager to have us out of the room, but weren’t actually ready for the check-out itself, which was far from efficient or sensible. No one asked how our stay was, and the front desk staff looked genuinely stressed by the system. They couldn’t work out what we had paid for and what we hadn’t. A printed receipt was requested but not give, so I had to take random bits of paper work they were writing on as evidence the bill was settled. Due to the disorganisation, we left unsure whether the refund on our pre-authorisation would be given. It eventually came through, but not before an anxious wait that didn’t exactly end things on a high.

BG1 Verdict

The Royal Rose Abu Dhabi isn’t your average five-star chain. It’s flamboyant, full of character, and unapologetically over-the-top. But behind the chandeliers and baroque walls – made with cheap materials – the basics sometimes falter. If you value design drama and a comfy bed more than polished service or fully functional plumbing, this could still be a memorable and good-value option in Abu Dhabi. Would we visit again? No. Even though it was the cheapest five-star available, you’re effectively paying for three-star quality. It’s a false economy. We’d recommend spending a little more to get something much better.

Read our hotel review of the Conrad in Dubai.