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.
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.
A sitting area leading to a huge balcony with seaview including Beirut’s iconic Raouche Rock.
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.
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?
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.
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!
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.
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.
Option 2: Room service at the 4-star Raouche Arjaan by Rotana – so much yes.
How can you say no to this?
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!
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
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 🙁
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.
Things to do in Beirut
So here are a few things you can do in the area:
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Play cards or Tawle at the traditional Lebanese restaurant, Al Falamanki.
- 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.
Until next time!
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF MY EXPERIENCE AT RAOUCHE ARJAAN BY ROTANA? HAVE YOU STAYED HERE YOURSELF OR ARE YOU THINKING OF BOOKING?
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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.
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What an amzing hotel
Amazing view and sunset!!!