Review: Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi

Ben Schlappig
Published: June 12, 2014
Updated: December 10, 2021
19

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As I’ve written about in the past, there are some crazy good hotel deals in Abu Dhabi in the summer. The great rates aren’t really surprising, given the 110+ degree temperatures which are common in the UAE in summer.

For the first few nights I decided to stay at the Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi. I’ve wanted to stay at this hotel ever since it opened in 2011, for no other reason than how damn awesome it looks on the outside. The hotel leans at an 18 degree angle, which is just ridiculous.

Since my stay at this hotel it’s been rebranded as an Andaz property. The hotel amenities and furnishings haven’t changed much though. The hotel is now also a category two hotel, and free nights start at just 8,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi

Since it was summer, the hotel had a “2 for 1” promotion, so the average nightly rate came out to $75USD per night. That’s crazy good for a full service Hyatt. When you live in hotels full time, it’s tough to beat that as a Hyatt Diamond member, given that you can hardly get a Hyatt Place in a rural town in the US for that price.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi

Anyway, I was dropped off at the Hyatt Capital Gate at around 9:30PM by Etihad’s chauffeur service. The Hyatt Capital Gate is about a 15 minute drive from Abu Dhabi Airport. To kind of put the location of the hotel into perspective, it’s roughly halfway between the airport (the big red box on the right) and downtown Abu Dhabi (the Emirates Palace Hotel is the box on the left). That’s potentially convenient for an overnight, though there’s not a whole lot in the immediate area of the hotel, aside from the “Capital Gate” district.

Map of Abu Dhabi

Upon arrival at the hotel there were no bellmen outside, which kind of surprised me, given that hotels in the UAE are typically generously overstaffed.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi entrance

I walked into what I thought was the lobby, though as it turns out the lobby was actually on the 18th floor.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi entrance

On the ground floor was just sort of a secondary lobby and Profiterole, which sells coffee, pastries, etc.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi ground floor

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Profiterole Cafe

I took the elevator up to the 18th floor, where I quickly arrived in the rather impressive lobby. It wasn’t massive, though was gorgeous, both architecturally and in terms of the natural light.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi lobby

Near the reception desk was a table with dates and arabic coffee.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi arabic coffee and dates in lobby

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi lobby

Off the lobby was the lobby lounge, which is open from 7AM till 1AM, so is a good place to grab coffee in the morning or a drink at night (or if you’re like me, a great place to grab a coffee at night). 😉

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi lobby cafe

There was no queue at reception, and within about five minutes I was checked in. The associate was efficient though not especially friendly, which is just about on par with most service in the UAE in my experience.

I was informed that as a Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond member I’d receive complimentary internet, breakfast, and a welcome amenity (I chose the 1,000 points). I specifically had to request 4PM late check-out, though, which was granted.

I was assigned a Deluxe King Room on the 21st floor. The associate walked me to the elevator area, and then I made my own way to the room.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi elevators

The atrium starts a level above the lobby floor, and goes to the top of the hotel (below that are offices, I believe). The atrium is fascinating, which I guess isn’t surprising given the angle of the hotel. Because of the angle, though, there’s very little natural light in the atrium area, even in the middle of the day.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi atrium

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi 21st floor

My room, 2105, was located across the atrium from the elevators.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi room entrance

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi floorplan

The room was massive for a “deluxe” room, at 45 square meters (almost 500 square feet).

At the entryway was the bathroom to the left and the rest of the room to the right.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room entrance

In the room was a king bed, which was super comfortable.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room

Next to the bed was a desk with two chairs, along with some conveniently placed outlets.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room entrance

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room desk

Then in the far corner by the window was a couch and the TV.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room entrance

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room couch

That’s also where the minibar and illy coffee machine were located.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room minibar and coffee machine

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room coffee machine

The bathroom was separated from the rest of the room by a sliding door.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room bathroom entrance

The bathroom was really impressive, especially for a non-suite. It featured a large soaking tub, walk-in shower with both a rainforest shower head and a “portable” shower head.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room bathroom

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room bathtub

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room bathroom

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room sink

The one thing I found puzzling was the sink design, especially for a newly built hotel. The faucet was maybe three inches over the bottom of the wash basin. It was a damn task to wash my hands without touching the bottom of the wash basin. Just puzzling, no…?

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room sink

But the shower more than made up for it. The water pressure was insanely good.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room shower

The toiletries were Cornelia Signature branded. That’s not a brand I’ve ever heard of, thought I thought were perfectly nice.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room toiletries

Then the toilet and bidet were in a separate room.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room toilet

Just outside the bathroom was a closet.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room closet

One other thing worth noting about the room is that the views are a bit obscured by the actual structure of the building, given the angle its at. So you don’t have a direct view out of the hotel, but rather you have a glass shield which looks out on the actual window.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi Deluxe King Room view

On the whole I was impressed by the room. It was massive, well designed, and nicely appointed. I especially loved the shower and bathtub, which more than made up for the crappy sink design. The Wi-Fi was also quite fast, though seemed to disconnect once in a while.

In terms of the hotel’s other features, 18 Degrees Restaurant was located on the lobby level (the 18th floor). 18 Degrees served breakfast daily from 6AM till 10:30AM. As a perpetually jetlagged person, I loved the 6AM start time.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi 18 Degrees Restaurant entrance

The restaurant was massive and stylish, with good views of the surrounding area (not that the surrounding area has many views, but…).

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi 18 Degrees Restaurant