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Page Contents<\/p>
- What to Know About the Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel<\/a><\/li>
- Guest Rooms at the Bab Samhan Hotel<\/a><\/li>
- Exploring the Bab Samhan Hotel<\/a>
- Spa, pool, and fitness center<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Dining at the Bab Samhan Hotel<\/a><\/li>
- What's Around the Bab Samhan Hotel<\/a><\/li>
- Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n
What to Know About the Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Bab Samhan Hotel<\/a> is not only the first five-star luxury hotel in Diriyah, it\u2019s the first hotel in Diriyah, period. This historical city sits about half an hour northwest of the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. And while it was only inaugurated in late 2024, this Marriott Luxury Collection property gives the impression of having been there for hundreds of years.<\/p>\n
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Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n And that\u2019s part of the main draw of the property to begin with. The Bab Samhan Hotel\u2019s construction was inspired by historical Najdi architecture and designed as a modern, luxurious interpretation of the local Middle Eastern aesthetic that dates back to the mid-1700s.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Just walking around the property was a neat experience. And doing so was just one of many things I enjoyed about my four-night stay<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Equally impressive was the hospitality. From the moment I arrived and checked in, I was addressed by name (and thanked multiple times for my loyalty as a Marriott Gold Elite<\/a> member). And if one of the friendly staff members — whether at the front desk, in the spa and fitness center, or virtually anywhere else — didn\u2019t happen to know my name, they asked and remembered.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n A stay anywhere is far more memorable when you\u2019re in a place where people demonstrate they care you\u2019re there. And that was a consistent theme at the Bab Samhan. I appreciated this almost as much as being offered a date and a cup of qahwa each time I stepped into the lobby.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Related: Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Program Guide: Everything You Need to Know<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Guest Rooms at the Bab Samhan Hotel<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Bab Samhan gives the impression of an expansive compound. It\u2019s hard not to, considering the property comprises 19 buildings. Spread across these buildings are 134 rooms, among which 28 are suites.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n This is a Luxury Collection property after all. While it\u2019s possible to find a good deal on a room using cash, Marriott Bonvoy points<\/a>, or Free Night Awards<\/a>, the bottom line is that you get what you pay for.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n That said, I found the property\u2019s base-level \u201cSeffah\u201d guest rooms more than adequate. They\u2019re elegantly furnished, the beds are plush and comfortable (with a pillow menu to boot), and the secluded nature of each building makes the room corridors feel extremely private.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n These Seffah rooms measure roughly 377 square feet, though no two are exactly the same. Each has its own nuances. This is true not just of the Seffah rooms but of the entire property. The buildings are replicas of traditional Najdi mud-brick homes.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n As a result, layouts and the placement of features like the bed, sofa, pillars, and sitting area vary slightly from room to room. As the property\u2019s general manager, Fabrice Ducry, explained to me during a tour, this gives each room its own special personality.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n On that same tour, Ducry showed me the most impressive accommodation on-site. It's a multi-story suite featuring a water feature, outdoor terrace, multiple bedrooms, and a seating area that (alone) was at least twice the size of my Seffah room. I don\u2019t recall the exact average nightly rate. However, Ducry mentioned that Sir Richard Branson stayed there, and that should tell you everything you need to know.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n That said, a room like this isn\u2019t something you can upgrade to, even as a Marriott Bonvoy elite status<\/a> holder. I did ask if it was possible, though, and Ducry seemed amused by the question.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Related: The Top Hotels for Using Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Free Nights<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Exploring the Bab Samhan Hotel<\/span><\/h2>\n
One of my favorite aspects of the Bab Samhan was the layout. I\u2019ve stayed at a handful of unique hotels, but few were as enjoyable to poke around as this one. A maze of alleyways connects the central lobby with the guest room buildings, the property\u2019s restaurants, and other amenities like the Nafel Alwadi Spa and fitness center.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Suffice it to say you\u2019ll do a lot of walking if you stay at the Bab Samhan. But it gives you additional chances to appreciate the ornate architecture, the intricate design elements, and the property's greenery.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n During my stay, the property was consistently bustling. Even so, I was almost always able to find a quiet spot to myself where I could grab some fresh air and seek refuge from the sun while tapping away on articles for AwardWallet.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Spa, pool, and fitness center<\/span><\/h3>\n
When not working or exploring Diriyah, I had plenty of chances to check out the other guest amenities. At the Bab Samhan, many of these \u2014 including the pool, spa, and fitness center \u2014 are in the Nafel Alwadi Spa<\/a>, which occupies its own building.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n While massages or facial treatments aren't my thing, I did visit the gym each day of my stay. The Bab Samhan has two gyms: the one on the ground floor is co-ed, while the one on the first floor is just for women. Aside from doing the mental math of converting kilograms to pounds, I found the gym perfectly sufficient as far as equipment goes. That said, I enjoyed it most when I had the space to myself. It felt a little too cozy when I had company.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n The Bab Samhan also has a single indoor pool. I regrettably forgot my board shorts since I packed for the trip within minutes of leaving home. But I\u2019d definitely bring them next time. The pool is complete with a fountain feature and in-pool “lounge” of sorts.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Exiting the pool area, you\u2019ll pass a series of rooms that complete the spa experience, including a sauna, steam room, showers, and a \u201cchill zone\u201d where you can cool off before heading back out into the elements. This chill zone is sort of like a giant snow cone. I'd have taken a picture of I wasn't so enamored with it.<\/p>\n
Dining at the Bab Samhan Hotel<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Bab Samhan Hotel has three restaurants spread throughout the property and a caf\u00e9 inside its lobby. During my stay, I had the chance to dine at two of the three restaurants and down a couple of unleaded drinks at the caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n The caf\u00e9 area was a convenient place to work, and the menu is surprisingly comprehensive for such a small counter. It features everything from half a dozen mojitos (all non-alcoholic) to smoothies, Arabic coffee, light bites, and more. The baristas were friendly and attentive, and I appreciated their willingness to prepare to-go drinks or take an order when I returned from exploring.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n My most frequented restaurant was Medheef<\/a>, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n The food was consistently excellent. For breakfast, I particularly enjoyed the eggs Benedict and shakshuka. And, I won't turn down a bottomless cup of coffee.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Dinner was also routinely very good. One of my go-to dishes when visiting the Middle East is chicken biryani, and Medheef\u2019s version was excellent. The portion, however, could've fed a small village.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n The highlight of the dining experience, though, was at the hotel\u2019s flagship restaurant, Taleed by Michael Mina<\/a>. The cuisine blends Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences, and every dish I tried \u2014 from chicken dolmas to crispy falafel topped with tuna to salt-baked sea bream \u2014 was to die for. Mina is no stranger to Michelin Stars, and the flavors here make it easy to see why.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n When I travel, I usually try to venture off the beaten path for meals. While I did that on this trip, I had no regrets dining at the hotel multiple times. However, I didn\u2019t get a chance to try Jareed<\/a>, the hotel\u2019s third restaurant. But it\u2019s on my list for next time.<\/p>\n
What's Around the Bab Samhan Hotel<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Bab Samhan Hotel is located in Diriyah. This is where the first Saudi state was founded several centuries ago. Riyadh is located about half an hour away (depending on traffic) and is the country\u2019s most recognizable city. However, Diriyah is now the subject of tens of billions of dollars in new investment.<\/p>\n
Credit: Tyler Glatt \/ AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n - Dining at the Bab Samhan Hotel<\/a><\/li>
- Guest Rooms at the Bab Samhan Hotel<\/a><\/li>
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