Saadiyat Island Beach Staycation
Overview
Abu Dhabi is an intricate connection of islands and Saadiyat Island is the luxury island to visit in Abu Dhabi, at least in terms of those connected to the mainland by bridges allowing vehicle access. It’s also close to and easily accessible from the Corniche area of Abu Dhabi & Yas Island. These are also popular tourist destinations replete with hotels. For a greater understanding of the islands and an informative map of Abu Dhabi within the UAE and Gulf region, see my post Abu Dhabi Highlights in 4 Days. If you’ve never been to a Gulf country before, this also details some of the important cultural considerations to keep in mind. If you’re after other luxury island escapes in Abu Dhabi then see my posts on Zaya Nurai Island and Sir Bani Yas Island! Note that these are via boat access.
What will I find on Saadiyat Island?
Occupying a vicinity of 27 km2, Saadiyat is a stunning hub for leisure, residential options, business and culture. It also has a famous stretch of pristine coastline, where luxury hotels line up in succession. It is home to the world-renowned Louvre Abu Dhabi (read more here) with other prize architectural and artistic installations soon to include the Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. All of these spaces have been designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winners.
For nature lovers, Saadiyat has two immaculate white-sand beaches which protect the critically endangered Hawksbill turtles. The golf club is also a popular destination.
This post focuses on the hotels, bars and restaurants available on Saadiyat Island but you’ll find other nearby activities in the posts hyperlinked above (particularly on Abu Dhabi). Importantly, the boat transfer to and from the luxury Zaya Nurai resort also leaves from Saadiyat Island.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Check In
Hotel check in
Pool side at Park Hyatt
Bath and wine
Shala Beach Bar sunset drinks
Dinner at The Park Grill
Day 2
Breakfast at Park Hyatt
Relax on Saadiyat Beach
Saadiyat Beach Bar Hopping
Dinner & drinks from a selection of restaurants
Day 3 – Check out
Breakfast at Park Hyatt
Morning pool side
Salon pampering
Check out
Afternoon drinks at Buddha Bar Beach or Brunch
Which hotel should I choose?
When deciding on a hotel for your staycation, you really can’t go wrong with one of 5 options on Saadiyat. However my favourite was Park Hyatt, followed closely by the Rotana. They are all within a 5-10 minute taxi ride of each other, or you can take a walk on the sand (or footpath if in heels!).
Best Saadiyat Island hotels for couples
I’d recommend Park Hyatt or Rixos for couples, as they capture a lovely combination of intimacy yet openness. The Shala Bar at Park Hyatt is really one of a kind, a small rooftop beachfront bar that oozes charm, style and sophistication. I’d choose Park Hyatt simply for Shala.
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas has a lovely layout, with a stunning swimming pool and private cabanas that overhang the water. The service and inclusions were impeccable. From a simple phone call we were able to arrange breakfast, a late check out and a special rate which included all taxes. Note that tax can be a killer in the Middle East as they are not usually included in the advertised price! It’s worth doing this! We had the incredible Aditya arranging everything during our stay and he spoiled us more than we could imagine. The glowing reviews on TripAdvisor are testament to Park Hyatt’s professionalism and personal touches. Furthermore, all Covid precautions were followed impeccably.
Best Saadiyat Island hotels for friends and groups
If you are a going as a group of friends and after a mix of relaxation and nightlife, then I’d suggest Saadiyat Rotana or the St Regis. Saadiyat Rotana is a clear winner when it comes to bars and restaurants, in particular the vibing Hamilton’s Gastropub and the relaxed breezy Nasma Beachfront Bar. Conversely the St Regis is home to the popular and trendy Buddha Beach Bar.
All of these hotel options are large, luxurious and have enormous swimming pools that connect to the sand and ocean by a wooden boardwalk.
Day 1
Hotel check in
It pays to call ahead and request an early check in. Many hotels in the Middle East are receptive to this, particularly at present in the middle of the Corona Virus pandemic where business is slower for everyone. Even if your room is not ready, the facilities will almost always be available to you.
Additionally, check in was 3pm but we arrived at 1pm – and found our room was ready for us! The Park Hyatt had thought of all the finishing touches, including a complementary bottle of wine from my home state in South Australia (granted they did not know my origins), a generous fruit bowl and extra bottles of water. Thank you Aditya for these generous inclusions!
Having taken all of this in and booking our spot for dinner, it was a quick change into swimwear so that we could hit the pool.
Pool side at Park Hyatt
There are two main pools at Park Hyatt. Specifically, one bears more of a family focus, with children splashing about (see below left). The other is a more stylish infinity pool, with shaded cabanas overhanging the water and extra daybeds behind these (see below right). Guests can order drinks and snacks pool side, while enjoying the background house music.
Bath and wine
After a few hours of swimming and sunbathing under the Middle East sun, there’s nothing more luxurious than heading upstairs to your room for a glass of cabernet sauvignon whilst leaning back in a warm bubble bath. Notably, there was even a convenient wood rack across the bath to hold our glasses!
Shala Beach Bar sunset drinks
“They told me to seas the day, and here I am”
Warm breeze, pink marshmallow skies reflected on the waves, plush cushioned sofas surrounded by palms and…. a golden cocktail. Yes, you heard right! Shala Beach Bar is capitalising on all things glitz and glam that the Gulf is known for, and on their menu is a gold cocktail. It is not actually listed on their menu however when the wait staff suggested their ‘special’ Elderflower Spritz, I pounced! I’m not sure that a microsecond passed before I heard myself accepting the offer for gold to be sprinkled across the top of my St Germain, peach and bubbles! It came with a definite tang and was a unique experience in itself.
The atmosphere at the top is magical and it pays to arrive for sunset, particularly if your camera is in hand.
Dinner at The Park Grill
The Park Grill is an award-winning Asian restaurant at the Park Hyatt. Fortunately we visited during Ramadan (the Muslim fasting month) whereby at the end of each day of fasting, religious people celebrate the breaking of the fast with an Iftar meal. These are large buffet-style meals, often with a focus on meats, grills and seafood, as well as traditional Arabic style foods. The evening began with a selection of finger foods, a mezze plate and breads and dips. Later it progressed into a lavish affair of grilled fish and meat. There was also an icecream stall with a large variety of gelato for the taking!
During other months, there is an impressive a la carte menu or a chef’s tasting menu to choose from.
Day 2
Breakfast at Park Hyatt
Breakfast options at Park Hyatt are also extensive and set up in Covid-friendly stations. These include fruits, cereals and yoghurts, artisanal breads, omelettes and eggs, cold cuts of meat and cheese and a juice station. On arrival there is a menu of about 10 breakfast items for you to select from. While this is being made, you’re free to select other options from the stations.
Relax Beach side
Let’s be honest, you can’t visit Saadiyat Island without spending time on its glorious white sand beach! Sun lounges are a private affair and each hotel has a designated sunbathing area which means hotel guests only. Pack your towel, suncream, sunglasses and a book and prepare to bunker down for a morning of relaxation. The water is naturally warm and whilst there are shells on the sand in some parts, it’s quite soft under foot.
Beach Bar Hopping
The great thing about the beach on Saadiyat Island is that all of the hotels are connected by it. This means if you are booked into one hotel, you can easily walk to the next and so on! This the perfect opportunity for some afternoon bar hopping! The hotels all have an extremely Arabesque look to them and you’ll feel like you’re part of an Aladdin movie set.
Given we were booked into the Park Hyatt, we started with a gin and tonic at their beach bar, a wooden platform with some bar stools and tables overlooking the sparkling ocean.
Next to the Park Hyatt is the Rixos Hotel but the set up here is much more set back from the ocean and we decided to venture on ahead.
My next favourite hotel bar on Saadiyat was Nasma Beach Bar at the Rotana Hotel. With its large canvas sails providing protection from the beating sun and a funky aesthetic of lightbulbs hanging from thick rope, as well as some interesting barrel art, the ambience here was fantastic. Some steady background beats had us feeling properly on holidays and it wasn’t long before round 2 was in full swing.
A further trek up the sand landed us at the St Regis Pool Bar, a relaxed beachside area between the pool and beach. Alternatively, you can also visit the trendy Buddha Beach Bar at St Regis but we were feeling a little sticky from the walk by this point and didn’t feel we had the sufficient ‘fabulous quotient’ it tends to demand.
Dinner & drinks at Hamilton’s Gastropub
Continuing on from your vibing afternoon, there’s no better place to land for dinner and drinks than Hamilton’s Gastropub. Its retro steampunk interior is uber chic and it was full of evening revellers when we arrived. There’s a mix of booths and tables both inside and out, with a few large TV screens for the sports enthusiasts. The food menu boasts standard English pub fare, with bangers & mash, fish & chips and sausage by the metre. There are also cheese board options, burgers, interesting salads, mussels in the pot and signature American BBQ dishes of chicken, brisket and ribs.
If you’re after a fine dining option on Saadiyat Island, then I’d recommend one from the below list. These three restaurants are notoriously well ranked and reviewed.
Day 3
Breakfast at Park Hyatt
It’s time for round 2! Line up and fill those plates ahead of another glorious day on Saadiyat Island!
Morning by the water
Since later today is check out, it’s definitely appropriate to spend the last moments either pool side or by the beach.
Salon pampering
This afternoon is about more luxury and treats, with a plan for afternoon drinks at the Buddha Beach Bar or at a Friday afternoon brunch. This means it’s time to hit the salon! I went to Definition Hair Salon by Wassim Steve and received a blow wave fit for Farrah Fawcett, straight out of Charlie’s Angels. There’s also Beautyspot Ladies Salon at the Park Hyatt.
Check out
Sadly, it’s time to check out but this is also negotiable! Be sure to ask for a late check out if you have the time. On most occasions it will be granted so long as there is no-one scheduled to book into the room that day.
Afternoon drinks at Buddha Bar Beach or Brunch
“1996 was the year when a new concept revolutionized the way we eat, the way we socialize, the way we party and enjoy life. Raymond Visan channeled his traveling experiences into the Buddha-Bar concept, a stylish venue that emphasizes on the perfect atmosphere for a delightful meal with friends, cozy and casual with a dash of luxury and above all, exotic music sounds.”
Quote from Buddha Bar Beach website
Throughout the globe, Buddha Bar Beach is a recognised as a swanky home of gastronomy, hospitality, wellness, music and mixology. With seasonal venues such as Baku, Maldives, Santorini and Mykonos, the Saadiyat Island bar is an exceptional representation of the core values of this chain. From the back decking overlooking the ocean to the opulent interior, don’t let an opportunity pass by to visit this institution!
If you are on Saadiyat Island for a Friday brunch, then consider either the boat trip out to Zaya Nurai Island for one of the most heavenly and out-of-this-world experiences, or choose from one on the list below. Note that as far as prices go in Abu Dhabi, brunches on Saadiyat Island are some of the most expensive. The food is exceptional and venues high class, however you can definitely find great bang-for-buck not too far from here.
