Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat

The name means 'the castle', and the building earns it. Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat stands on a rocky headland at Barr Al Jissah, 20 minutes south of Muscat's harbour, with crenellated walls the colour of the mountains behind and a private beach below. It is the smallest and most exclusive of the three hotels that make up the Shangri-La resort on this bay, and the only one reserved for adults.

History

Shangri-La opened the Barr Al Jissah resort in 2006 on a stretch of coast where the Hajar Mountains meet the Gulf of Oman. Three hotels shared the site: Al Waha for families, Al Bandar at the centre, and Al Husn on the headland. Al Husn was conceived as the top tier, with its own entrance, lounge and beach. In 2019 it took its own name, Shangri-La Al Husn, with a separate address and reservations.

Architecture and design

The resort was designed to echo Oman's forts, with battlements, rounded towers and arched windows, and Al Husn is the most literal of the three buildings. The entrance opens onto a high lobby of Omani arches and lanterns, with a terrace looking across the bay. Corridors are shaded, and the colours are stone, sand and dark wood. The hotel's own beach is a crescent of sand at the foot of the headland, reached by a path from the gardens, with a pool and lawn above it.

Rooms and suites

The 180 rooms and suites all face the sea. Deluxe rooms have terraces or balconies, bathrooms in marble and a separate shower, and the suites add a sitting room. Guests of Al Husn receive breakfast, afternoon tea in the lounge and evening canapés and drinks as part of the stay, a routine the hotel has kept since opening. The hotel does not take young children.

Dining

Sultanah is the fine-dining restaurant, named after the ship Sultanah, which sailed from Muscat to New York in 1840 as the first Arab vessel to call at an American port. The dining room faces the sea and serves a European menu. Shahrazad serves Moroccan dishes in a room of lanterns and carved screens. Bait Al Bahr, a seafood restaurant on the rocks of a cove, is shared with the rest of the resort. Al Husn Lounge handles afternoon tea and the evening drinks, and the Piano Lounge opens later.

Wellness

CHI, The Spa, the resort's spa, lies between Al Husn and Al Bandar, with treatment villas, a hammam and a garden. Al Husn guests have their own pool and beach but may use the resort's main beach, lazy river and water sports. The resort runs a turtle care centre, and green turtles nest on the beach in season.

Weddings and events

Al Husn hosts wedding dinners on its sea-facing terrace and lawn, and private dinners in Sultanah. Larger weddings and conferences use the Barr Al Jissah Ballroom and meeting rooms at Al Bandar, one of the largest convention facilities in Oman. The resort has a single events team shared across the three hotels.

Location

Barr Al Jissah lies on the coast south-east of Muscat, reached by a road that climbs over the mountains from Qantab. Muttrah souk and the corniche are about 20 minutes by car; Muscat International Airport is 45 minutes to an hour. The resort has its own marina and dive centre, with boats for dolphin watching and snorkelling at Bandar Khayran. As a luxury hotel in Muscat it is the choice for guests who want a beach without a city, and the walls shut out the rest of the resort.