Stay here: Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh review

What’s the deal? 

The Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah  sits next to the Al Faisaliah Tower, a glass-and-steel monument to King Faisal bin Abdulaziz that rises like a dagger held aloft in the Riyadh skyline. It doesn’t disappoint its regal namesake: the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah is an abode fit for royalty, with five-star service and air of splendour.

Opened in 2000, the luxury hotel underwent extensive renovations in recent years before being rebranded as the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah in 2024. Outside, the roads of the Olaya business district are heavy with traffic, but once we step inside the hotel’s lobby – beautifully designed by the iconic New York designer Adam Tihany – we’re enveloped in a sanctuary of calm. Azure window panels and a chandelier with cascading glass drops evoke the shimmering waters of an oasis, which is exactly what the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah is amid the buzzing upscale shopping malls and office buildings that surround it. 

Why stay?

Bright, elegant interiors characterise the hotel’s 325 rooms and suites. In the Junior Suite, desert sunlight pours in through wide floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the red roses thoughtfully placed on the desk. On the coffee table in the spacious living area, fresh dates and chocolates from The Mandarin Cake Shop are a sweet welcome treat. The well-lit white marble bathroom is equipped with a walk-in shower as well as a tub for a long soak after a day of exploring the Saudi capital. All bookings come with 24-hour butler service, ensuring that we want for nothing during our stay.

Wellness is a priority here, with the Ladies’ Spa and Men’s Health Club offering state-of-the-art fitness facilities and indoor pools. Indulging in a spa treatment is a must – the hammam rituals leave our hair silky and skin glowing.

When it comes to dining, we’re spoilt for choice. Here, you can have shakshuka for breakfast at La Brasserie, dim sum for lunch at Yauatcha and Italian for dinner at Mamo Michelangelo, all without ever leaving the hotel complex – and that covers just three of the five onsite restaurants. Don’t miss high tea at The Globe, located in the spherical structure near the top of Al Faisaliah Tower, if you like your sandwiches and scones with a spectacular view.

Cathay editors say… 

“Embrace the sultry atmosphere of Asir Lounge, also at the top of the Al Faisaliah Tower, where hushed conversations take place in the haze of cigar smoke. It’s the perfect place to sink into an armchair and savour a few delicious mocktails while admiring panoramic views of Riyadh at night. You’re so high up you feel as though you can almost touch the stars.”