Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island is one of the finest luxury hotels in the UAE, known locally as “the living room of Abu Dhabi” for its elegant lobby that draws both residents and visitors. Reviewed in October 2025 by Steve Michailidis, a London-based Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel advisor, this waterfront property delivers refined design, exceptional dining across five venues, and the discreet personal service that defines the Four Seasons brand at its best. Located on Al Maryah Island with direct access to The Galleria luxury mall, it is the most recommended hotel in Abu Dhabi for both business travellers and couples seeking a serene city escape.
Four Seasons Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island — At a Glance
- Location: Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi — directly connected to The Galleria luxury mall
- Category: Five-star luxury hotel
- Best for: Business travellers, couples, city break, Middle East exploration
- Standout features: Butcher & Still steakhouse, Café Milano (one of two worldwide), terracotta fin architecture, extraordinary steam and hydrotherapy facilities
- Nearby: Louvre Abu Dhabi, TeamLab Phenomena, Rosewood Abu Dhabi
- Airport transfer cost: Approx. 67 AED to airport, 87 AED from
- Preferred Partner perks: Daily breakfast, $100 hotel credit, room upgrade on arrival
- Booking fees: None
- Reviewed by: Steve Michailidis, Four Seasons Preferred Partner advisor, October 2025
There’s a certain calm that sweeps over you the moment you step into Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, especially on a hot day. The lobby is cool but also very light, with white marble reflecting natural light coming in from the windows along two sides of the building.
Known affectionately as “the living room of Abu Dhabi”, the lobby is a favourite meeting place for locals and visitors alike. It’s a space that feels both grand and personal—buzzing with quiet conversation, softened by light, and framed by striking contemporary art that reflects the story of the UAE.
Four Seasons Abu Dhabi: Design, Architecture and Atmosphere
Opened ten years ago, the hotel remains beautifully maintained, thanks to ongoing upgrades that ensure it feels as refined today as it did at its debut. Behind reception, an elegant art piece draws the eye with its shades of black and blue—a nod to Abu Dhabi’s twin sources of wealth, oil and pearls. Along the lobby corridor, seven sculptures stand in quiet symmetry, each one representing one of the Emirates.
Outside, the building’s terracotta vertical fins—one of my favourite architectural details—take inspiration from the colourful textiles of traditional souks. They not only lend the hotel its distinctive look but also help regulate the temperature under the Middle Eastern sun.
At the time of my visit, there was construction work taking place along the seafront as part of Mubadala’s new promenade project (set for completion in 2028). Though I occasionally spotted boats and cranes, I barely noticed any noise from my room and only twice by the pool (YMMV though!).
Four Seasons Abu Dhabi Rooms: What to Expect
I was booked into a Deluxe Room but was upgraded to a Deluxe Waterfront Room, which offered calm views and a layout that worked perfectly for a short stay. The rooms here are more intimate than those at Four Seasons Seoul — which suits the property’s quieter, more contemplative character perfectly.
Interested in securing a Deluxe Waterfront Room or one of the Executive Suites? Get in touch for a free quote — I’ll confirm Preferred Partner availability for your dates and ensure the breakfast and $100 hotel credit are included from the moment you check in.
The décor feels timeless and quietly luxurious, with some furnishings reminding me of the former Park Hyatt Hamburg (which recently reopened as a Conrad Hamburg). Details such as Frederic Malle toiletries, a free-standing desk, and Fellow kettles (perfect for tea lovers like me) show how the hotel caters to both business and leisure guests.
For longer stays or those travelling with lots of luggage, I’d suggest booking a higher category room or suite (I love the hotel’s Executive Suites). Dyson hair dryers are standard in suites but can easily be requested for rooms. As always with Four Seasons, housekeeping standards are impeccable—everything was pristine.
Four Seasons Abu Dhabi Location: Al Maryah Island and What’s Nearby
The hotel’s location on Al Maryah Island is one of its biggest advantages. It’s directly connected to The Galleria, home to luxury boutiques, a food court, and relaxed lifestyle stores. The Rosewood Hotel, also attached to the mall, is worth visiting for its diverse dining options. I’m a Rosewood Elite advisor as well, so if you’re debating between the two for an Abu Dhabi stay, get in touch and I’ll help you choose based on your travel style.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi, TeamLab Phenomena, and other cultural landmarks are just a short drive away, while taxis are easy to find—only once did I wait more than five minutes. My trip to the airport cost 67 AED; from the airport, expect around 20 AED more due to the flag drop.
Four Seasons Abu Dhabi Pool, Spa and Fitness Facilities
The pool deck is an elegant retreat, dotted with sunbeds and cabanas. I appreciated the small details—Sun Bum SPF30 and after-sun lotion, and the filtered water delivered in thermos cases to keep it cool (additional bottles are chargeable).
In the fitness area, separate gyms for men and women are equipped with Technogym machines (the current standard of luxury hospitality), and both include steam rooms. The steam room here is extraordinary—large enough to stretch out comfortably, with a central platform and seating along the edges. There’s also a sauna set at 82°C, a hydrotherapy pool, and heated lounge beds—ideal for unwinding after a workout or spa treatment.
Four Seasons Abu Dhabi Restaurants: Butcher & Still, Café Milano and Crust
Breakfast at Crust
Breakfast is a delight, thanks to the warm and attentive F&B Manager and their team. There’s an à la carte menu with plenty of healthy options, complemented by a buffet of beautifully presented pastries, cereals, breads, gluten-free treats, dates, cinnamon rolls, and energy balls. My personal favourite dishes include: Overnight Chia Seed Pudding, Tofu Scrambled “Eggs”, and the Green Eggs.
Service was exceptional, especially with some members of staff that made mornings feel genuinely cheerful.
Café Milano
One of only two Café Milano locations in the world (the other in Washington, DC), this elegant spot serves dishes inspired by Italian designers. The set menu offers two courses for 235 AED or three for 275 AED. The Tiramisu was especially memorable—light, fluffy, and the perfect finish to the meal.
If you’re visiting Abu Dhabi and don’t dine at Café Milano, you’ve missed something you can only experience in one other city on earth.
Butcher & Still
If you’re a steak lover, Butcher & Still is a must. Helmed by Chef Marshall Röth, the restaurant channels a 1920s Chicago steakhouse, serving Kansas beef and Idaho potatoes. It’s a favourite among Abu Dhabi’s elite—Sheikhs, CEOs, and visiting dignitaries—and reservations are highly recommended. The energy here contrasts beautifully with the calm of the rest of the hotel.
For a complete picture of Four Seasons dining across the brand, my review of Four Seasons Seoul’s restaurant offering covers a very different but equally impressive approach.
Service at Four Seasons Abu Dhabi: The Details That Stand Out
Service at the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi is everything you’d expect: attentive but never overbearing. Turndown service includes thoughtful touches like a filled ice bucket and even a microfibre cloth for cleaning glasses.
The Four Seasons App continues to impress. I used it to request a yoga mat before arrival—it was already waiting in my room—and later, to arrange shoe polishing. The responsiveness and attention to detail were seamless throughout my stay.
How to Book Four Seasons Abu Dhabi With Preferred Partner Perks
As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner advisor, I book Four Seasons hotels differently to OTAs and direct bookings. Your rate is rate-matched — you never pay more — but your stay includes confirmed perks that simply aren’t available any other way. At Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, that means:
When you book through me as a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, you’ll receive:
- Upgrade on arrival (subject to availability)
- Daily American breakfast at Crust or through In-Room Dining
- USD 100 hotel credit per stay (converted to approximately 357 AED during my visit)
These benefits are confirmed in a personalised letter at check-in and add meaningful value to an already exceptional stay.
FAQ
Q: Is Four Seasons Abu Dhabi the best luxury hotel in the city? A: It consistently ranks among the top luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi, particularly for its combination of refined design, exceptional restaurant offering, and deeply personal service. Its Al Maryah Island location — directly connected to The Galleria mall and a short drive from the Louvre Abu Dhabi — makes it the most practical as well as the most polished choice for both business and leisure travellers.
Q: What makes Four Seasons Abu Dhabi different from other Five-Star hotels in the UAE? A: Several things set it apart. The terracotta fin architecture is genuinely distinctive. Butcher & Still is one of Abu Dhabi’s most sought-after restaurant reservations, drawing the city’s business elite and visiting dignitaries. Café Milano is one of only two locations worldwide. And the hydrotherapy and steam facilities are among the finest in any hotel in the region — far beyond what most UAE luxury hotels offer in their fitness areas.
Q: What are the best restaurants at Four Seasons Abu Dhabi? A: Butcher & Still is the standout — a 1920s Chicago steakhouse serving Kansas beef and Idaho potatoes, with an energy and clientele unlike anywhere else in the hotel. Reserve well in advance. Café Milano is the more intimate choice, with a two or three-course Italian menu at accessible price points. Breakfast at Crust is generous and thoughtfully designed, with strong healthy options alongside the pastry buffet.
Q: What perks do you get booking Four Seasons Abu Dhabi through a Preferred Partner advisor? A: Booking through Steve Michailidis as a Four Seasons Preferred Partner includes a complimentary room upgrade on arrival subject to availability, daily American breakfast at Crust or via in-room dining, and a $100 USD hotel credit (approximately 357 AED) per stay. The rate is matched to the best available — you never pay a premium for the perks. There are no booking fees.
Q: Is Four Seasons Abu Dhabi good for a short stay or stopover? A: Exceptionally so. The Al Maryah Island location means you can walk to luxury shopping at The Galleria, reach the Louvre Abu Dhabi in under 15 minutes, and get to the airport for approximately 67 AED. For a one or two-night stopover en route to or from Asia, it’s one of the most rewarding options in the region — particularly with Preferred Partner perks that make even a short stay feel genuinely special.
Q: Is there construction near Four Seasons Abu Dhabi? A: At the time of this review (October 2025), a seafront promenade project by Mubadala was underway nearby, due for completion in 2028. The construction was occasionally visible from the pool area but caused no noise disruption from the rooms. Worth noting for pool-focused stays, though the hotel team manages the environment well.
Is Four Seasons Abu Dhabi Worth It?
For a hotel that turned ten years old, the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island shows no signs of middle age. The ongoing investment in the property — from the refinished fitness and hydrotherapy facilities to the consistently exceptional restaurant offering — means it still feels like one of the freshest luxury addresses in the Gulf.
What stays with me most is the intelligence of the design. Every detail tells you something about Abu Dhabi — the oil-and-pearls artwork behind reception, the seven sculptures representing each Emirate along the lobby corridor, the terracotta fins drawing on souk textiles. It’s a hotel that respects where it is, which is rarer than it sounds.
Butcher & Still alone is worth building a dinner reservation around. Café Milano, one of only two locations on the planet, deserves a long lunch. And the steam room — genuinely one of the finest I’ve encountered anywhere — makes even a two-night stay feel restorative.
For business travellers, couples on a city break, or anyone using Abu Dhabi as a stopover between Europe and Asia, this is the hotel I’d recommend without hesitation. Booking through me as a Four Seasons Preferred Partner means breakfast, a $100 credit, and an upgrade are confirmed from the moment you arrive — at no additional cost and no booking fee.
Also considering Dubai? The Four Seasons brand has several exceptional properties there too — get in touch for a personalised recommendation.
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