Our Weekend Stay at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana [Hotel Review]

T and I go to Raouche Arjaan by Rotana Hotel in Raouche as well as their Gefinor Rotana in Hamra for their frequently-held yearly events. However, we never checked in to discover what this charming hotel truly has to offer!

So…. I’ve just returned from a lovely weekend stay at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana Hotel in Beirut.

The lobby was festively decorated for the holidays.

Raouche Arjaan Rotana Hotel Christmas Decoration

Checking in was a breeze.

Opening the door to our beautiful suite, we were treated with a bottle of Clos St Thomas white wine and a lovely chocolate mousse with a granola-like biscuit crumble base (which was fantastic!).

Here’s a breakdown of our weekend stay at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana Hotel:

The Suite

We were in awe at the spacious suite we were assigned for our 2-night stay at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana.

The Suite offers:

A kitchenette equipped with tableware, a fridge (as opposed to a mini bar) and basket with expensive temptations, a kettle, and complimentary tea, coffee, and water, which was replenished the following day.

Rotana Hotel Raouche Suite Kitchen Room

Raouche Arjaan Rotana Hotel Suite Kitchen

A sitting area leading to a huge balcony with seaview including Beirut’s iconic Raouche Rock.

Rotana Hotel Raouche Suite Living Room

A bathroom with a shower AND a tub coupled with an additional smaller bathroom. I would suggest adding a rainfall shower for the suites 😉 I know you agree with me when I say this: Rainfall showers are life. Mmmhm.

Raouche Arjaan Rotana Hotel Booking Website

Rotana Hotel Raouche Suite Bathroom Amneties

What is it with hotels and white fluffy pillows and sheets? Even if I bought those same sheets, it probably wouldn’t be the same at home. I didn’t want to get up in the morning. Room service?

Raouche Arjaan Rotana Hotel Booking Website

Raouche Arjaan Rotana Suite Bedroom Coffee

The only issue I can say we had was the humidity; air-conditioning should be kept on.

Dining in Raouche Arjaan by Rotana

On our first night, we unpacked our bags, freshened up and had a quick dinner at Rotana’s Bella Vita restaurant on the ground floor right behind the lobby.

Raouché Arjaan Rotana Hotel Bella Vita

Raouché Arjaan Rotana Hotel Bella Vita

Raouché Arjaan Rotana Hotel Bella Vita

We really enjoyed the food and I definitely recommend this restaurant-café for a light lunch or afternoon coffee or tea even if you aren’t staying the night. We even had lunch here on our last day at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana – we couldn’t bear to part with their scrumptious offerings!

Rotana Hotel Raouche Bella Vita Restaurant

Rotana Hotel Raouche Bella Vita Restaurant

Rotana Bella Vita Healthy Restaurant Lebanon
Attempting to be healthy
Rotana Hotel Raouche Bella Vita Restaurant
Absolutely delicious – A mountain of rice keeping chicken nice and warm!

The Halloumi Sandwich with fig jam was my favourite (not on the menu, but available for order). I have a thing for Halloumi and jam.

Rotana Bella Vita Healthy Restaurant Lebanon
Just order it

The atmosphere of Bella Vita is casual and suitable for quick business meetings.

Thyme for Breakfast

As with many hotels, Raouche Arjaan by Rotana offers their guests a daily breakfast buffet at no extra cost. Non-guests can also have breakfast here at $22 per person.

Breakfast Buffet Rotana Hotel Lebanon Beirut

Breakfast Buffet Rotana Hotel Lebanon Beirut

Option 2: Room service at the 4-star Raouche Arjaan by Rotana – so much yes.

Rotana Hotel Breakfast Room Service Lebanon

How can you say no to this?

Rotana Hotel Breakfast Room Service Lebanon

Rotana Hotel Breakfast Room Service Lebanon
Breakfast with a view.

A Unique Pastry Class with Chef Michel Estephan

T and I got more than a peak into the central kitchen during our weekend staycation at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana. Check out the beautiful Christmas-themed pastry creation our talented Chef Michel Estephan taught us how to make!

Rotana Chef Michel Patisserie Recipe Class

Rotana Chef Patisserie Recipe Mousse Christmas
Yes, we prepared each and every layer!

Rotana Chef Michel Patisserie Recipe Class

Also, sorry Chef for eating all the chocolate in the kitchen during our class.

Amenities

Valet: Very professional and usually quick to retrieve your car depending on the queue

Wi-Fi: The basic free Wi-Fi is too slow, so you’ll need to upgrade for faster internet (this should be sorted out)

Meeting rooms: Guests at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana and non-guests can reserve meeting rooms for business meetings

Rotana Hotel Booking Website Beirut Lebanon

Gym: The gym is clean, equipped with a trainer ready to assist you in case you need any help using the machines. However, it lacks one VERY important thing: an elliptical machine!

Pool: Because we’re in December, we weren’t able to benefit from using the rooftop pool 🙁

Rotana Hotel Booking Website Beirut Lebanon

There are other amenities such as laundry service, dry cleaning, etc.

The only thing missing at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana is a spa, although I was informed that there is a single massage room that fits one person. However, a couple’s massage should perhaps be made available in case hotel guests come in pairs.

The Service

The staff at the hotel are very friendly, professional, and always readily available to take care of our requests.

Not to mention, we were treated to several personalized thyme-related surprises throughout our stay at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana, which we sincerely appreciated! The thyme bruschetta dish we had at Bella Vita restaurant was absolutely delicious (I need to get that recipe!!) and the beautiful thyme plant pictured in the kitchen above now sits on my windowsill. Now let’s hope I don’t kill it.

Rotana Hotel Beirut Food Lebanon Eats

Rotana Hotel Raouche Bella Vita Cafe
Tea time & thyme bites

Things to do in Beirut

So here are a few things you can do in the area:

  1. Re-visit your childhood: You can opt for board games at Multiverse in Hamra, colouring nights at Joon on the Moon (be sure to reserve first!), or even play games to win tickets for prizes at Beirut Souks’ CosmoCity!
  2. Explore Beirut’s famous nightlife: Beirut is packed with trendy pubs – some of which serve delicious bites too! Otherwise, experience clubbing at one of Beirut’s most famous nightclubs.
  3. Have lunch or dinner in the MANY restaurants Beirut has to offer: You don’t need to leave Beirut to get a taste of cuisines from around the world! Feel free to browse through my restaurant reviews.
  4. Check out Beirut’s museums: There’s the National Museum of Beirut in Badaro and the MIM museum a walk away. Contemporary art fans, I recommend the Nicolas Sursock Museum in Ashrafieh.
  5. Play cards or Tawle at the traditional Lebanese restaurant, Al Falamanki.
  6. Walk or rent a bike on Raouche by the sea right in front of Rotana Hotel in the morning or evening.

Final Verdict?

In summary, we really enjoyed our weekend stay in Beirut and I definitely suggest you book your stay at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana when visiting Beirut or just pay their cafe a visit if you’re around for a coffee or quick bite to eat.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the sunset.

Rotana Hotel Raouche Sunset Wine Beirut

Rotana Hotel Raouche Sunset Wine Beirut

Until next time!

Rotana Hotel Sunset Beirut Raouche Lebanon


WHAT DID YOU THINK OF MY EXPERIENCE AT RAOUCHE ARJAAN BY ROTANA? HAVE YOU STAYED HERE YOURSELF OR ARE YOU THINKING OF BOOKING?

LIKED THIS ARTICLE? CHECK OUT OTHER HOTEL REVIEWS!

Raouche Arjaan by Rotana

Address: Raouché Arjaan by Rotana, Ground Floor, Karakas Street, Raouche, Beirut District

Contact: +961-1-781111

 


I was a guest at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana, and as always, all opinions are my own.

Unless otherwise noted, all posted content and photographs are owned exclusively by me. None of the content / photographs may be reproduced, modified, recirculated, commercially exploited or reused in any form whatsoever without my prior written consent.

Non-watermarked photos were sourced from Raouche Arjaan by Rotana website.

For further information regarding permission to use content or photographs, please contact me.

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