Feel the Arabesque vibes at Manzil Downtown
How often have you woken up on a Friday morning with an urge to just take a break and go on a relaxing holiday? Almost every Friday, right? While we Dubaians keep suffering from this constant need to vacay, its not always quite possible and logical. What is possible though is choosing to indulge in a relaxing and luxurious staycay in the heart of Downtown. So off we drove some 20 minutes from home and checked into Manzil Downtown for a much needed city break.
Offering an Arabesque vibe, which falls completely in line with the look and feel of the Manzil District, this boutique hotel exceeds in terms of hospitality and amenities. Read my review on the hotel, a quick virtual tour, and why you should choose this for your next staycation.
The Room
We stayed at the Deluxe Burj View Room in Manzil Downtown. One of the many many good things about this room was a spectacular view of the Burj Khalifa. Well, ever since it was built, I have dreamt of waking up to the views of the Burj. While those staying in Downtown and Business Bay would have had their wishes fulfilled, I, for one, still had to check that off my bucket list. And I did.
Watch this video to take a virutal tour of the Deluxe Room at Manzil Downtown.
Everything about this room was so welcoming. From the beautifully done Arabesque design on the wall, to the dazzling white bed sheets and the relaxing lounger to the compact study, this room encompasses all the elements that you would require during your stay. Whether you are on a city break, an extended holiday or a business stay, you will find that the room will give you privacy, while at the same time, connect you to the most happening place in the city.
The room featured a 42-inch flat screen IPTV, coffee and tea making facilities, security safe, hairdryer, minibar and ironing facilities. As guests of the hotel, we were also entitled to complimentary Wi-Fi in the room and around the hotel.
Here are some photographs of the room.
The Bathroom
Did you see that fancy bathroom. I really love bathrooms and I am equally particular about them. To be honest, bathrooms are the first thing I look at when I decide to stay at a hotel. This one just impressed me right away. While it had a separate shower and toilet, however, a word of advice; the bathroom is a door-less one. This means that you might not want to share this room with just anybody. With the contemporary setting of the bath area and bathtub, I would recommend it as a perfect option for couples. However, you can definitely choose to share this with your besties and have a girls night out at one of these.
Take a closer look with these pictures.
The Welcome Pack
As soon as we settled, we were treated to a hospitality gesture that left me happily surprised. I was humbled by the care, convenience and thoughtfulness extended by the hotel which included sending across an “Amenities Pack”. One of the lovely hotel staff came by to drop a welcome bag which included a personalized thank you note, a glass full of macaroons and strawberries, a Bluetooth speaker, a portable Backgammon game and a collapsible compact Shisha. What’s surprising is that while I thought these amenities were for us to use during our stay, while checking out the next morning we were told it was a gift from the hotel for us to keep. Now that’s worth a mention, isn’t it?
The Brunch
The check-in time at Manzil Downtown, like most other properties, is between 1 pm to 2 pm. When we arrived there, it was still 1 pm, and our room wasn’t completely prepped up yet. Making sure we didn’t have to wait, the lovely staff at the hotel escorted me and my guest to a Friday brunch at the neighboring Nezesaussi Grill in Souk Manzil while they took care of our check in formalities.
The Sin Bin Brunch on Fridays at Nezesaussi Grill in Souk Manzil really makes you want to indulge in gluttony. Featuring an open selection of breads, cheese, cold cuts and salads, followed by shareable starters and a choice of mains, this brunch is priced at AED 199 and includes house beverages.
This brunch is available on Fridays from 12pm to 4pm. But if you prefer weekdays, Nezesaussi has something going on everyday from Saturdays to Wednesdays which include everything from ladies night, and even mens night to quiz nights! Ring them up on 04 428 5888 to find out more!
Here is a glimpse of what you can expect from the brunch that takes place every Friday from 12 pm – 4 pm.
We tried out the shareable platter with chicken wings, calamari rings and vegetable spring rolls, served with fries.
This was followed by chicken pie, served with a side green salad and catch of the day – sea bream which was served with Yorkshire pudding and roasted potatoes.
The Pool
Since the brunch left us absolutely stuffed, we decided to take a quick nap on the cozy and comfortable king size bed. A couple hours later we decided it wouldn’t be fair to sleep away while all that beauty of Manzil Downtown kept calling out to us. So we slipped into our swim suits and set off to explore the pool.
With a pool so beautiful, there could be nothing better than a lazy soak to end the afternoon. The Oriental Pool Bar at the hotel serves a variety of salads, snacks, pizzas, sandwiches and drinks right by the pool, wherever you choose to lounge away. If you crave of sheesha, you can definitely fancy some flavored smoke to go along with the swim.
We reached there slightly late, not knowing the last order would be taken in at 5 pm. But ranking amazingly high in hospitality, they were more than pleased to make an exception and recommended some lovely drinks and snacks that we could nibble on alongside the water.
While there, I sipped on the lovely cinnamon and coconut cream blend of Cinnacolada, while my guest had a classic Long Island. We also munched on these delicious chicken tacos topped with a slice of fresh avocado, and their bestselling Chicken Burger that was served alongside some crispy fries.
The Relaxing Bath
What came up next after my swim was even more relaxing. In fact, this was by far the most relaxing part of my staycaction at Manzil Downtown.
Nothing beats the soothing feeling of soaking up in lukewarm water covered in aromatic bubbles after a long day.
I used my own lavender bubble bath which I purchased from Boots Pharmacy. If you haven’t got yours along, it wouldn’t hurt to check with the hotel if they can arrange something for you. Alternatively you can step next door to Souk Manzil that houses dozens of stores including Spinneys, and you are sure to come across something you like in there.
The Dinner
After this utterly relaxing experience, we decided to step down a light bite at the Courtyard restaurant. We did make a reservation for dinner earlier, but it so happened, the restaurant doesn’t take any reservations. While we didn’t know that, we realised it was not too much of a waiting time and just went with the flow. We were called in within 5 minutes, which was quite good seeing how busy they were on a Friday evening.
Since we had been eating quite heavy all day, we kept it healthy with a portion of hummus and some Arabic bread. My guest opted for a grape and mint sheesha to go along with the food while I settled down for a Cafe Latte.
Courtyard is known for its drinks and sheesha, and is open until 4 am in the morning, which makes it especially famous among party animals in the Downtown area who want to grab a bite after a late night out.
The relaxation mode was still on, so we decided to call it a night. Also because there was lots more in store the next morning.
The Gym
Just because you are on holiday, doesn’t mean you cannot stay fit. We started the next morning on a healthy note with a visit to the gym at Manzil Downtown.
Take a look at a quick video of the gym.
This compact yet classy gym equipped with state-of-the-art fitness machines which caters to cardio as well as weight training lovers. Moreover, it is open round the clock. This means you can burn off those calories anytime you fancy a workout.
TVs will keep you company while you sweat it out. And if you decide to take a dip after, the swimming pool is located adjacent to the gym, so you can hop there right away. The pool is open only from 7am to 7pm, so make sure you adhere to their timings.
The Breakfast
Breakfast. This is one of the best reasons to stay at a hotel. It is probably one of the sole elements that can make or break a stay. Now I’ve always been in love with breakfasts, so there was just no way I could miss out on this at my staycay in Manzil Downtown. After the workout and a quick shower, we went down straight to the Boulevard Kitchen for a scrumptious first and most important meal of the day. This breakfast is available from 6 am to 11 pm.
Right from juices, coffee and Moroccan tea to Lebanese, Indian and continental favorites, the breakfast spans across a variety of breads, muffins, croissants and cakes, yogurt, cereals, cheese and cold cuts, baked beans, sausages, saj bread, idli, chickpea and potato bhaji, and of course, eggs made your way. All this and so much more. Just look at these pictures and you will know!
The Goodbye
After we treated ourselves to all that goodness, it was time to say goodbye. Although I was a bit sad, because one day is definitely not enough, I left content knowing that this oasis of tranquility exists right in my city, just a few minutes away from home. I wholeheartedly loved and enjoyed every bit of my stay at Manzil Downtown. I recommend this place for a quick city break to unwind from the daily rigmarole and experience relaxation amidst chaos.
If you love staycations or simply want to take a quick break and revel amidst utmost comfort with great hospitality in an Arabesque setting, log on to www.vida-hotels.com/en/manzil/offers. They have lots of dining and stay deals you are sure to love. This includes special rates for Ramadan and Eid, early bird offers, UAE resident discounts and more!
My Take on Manzil Downtown
Ambience: 9 / 10
The Arabesque feel is unmatched.
Cleanliness: 10 / 10
Impeccable!
Bathroom: 8 / 10
A door or some sort of dimming mechanism for the bathtub area would make the stay more comfortable for guests.
Restaurant options: 8 / 10
There’s a Souk Manzil next door and a Souk Al Bahr right opposite. But if you want to dine at the hotel, there are just 2 options of The Boulevard Kitchen or Courtyard. You can always opt for the in-room dining menu which has a wonderful variety of international favorites though.
Amenities: 9 / 10
I am yet to try the sheesha we were gifted, but the Bluetooth speaker is a real star.
Hotel facilities: 7 / 10
I loved the pool and health club, but really hope they will come up with a spa within the hotel. A relaxing massage would just top off the staycay experience like icing on a cake.
Overall: 9 / 10
