Hotel Manhattan Avenue

The hotel is situated on a back street of Al Rigga Road opposite the ADCB (Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank) a five minute drive from the airport, in the Deira area. Most attractions are close by if you are driving, but like for most hotels in the area, it is quite common not to walk anywhere at all - especially in the intense summer heat. Otherwise there isn't much in the hotel's immediate surroundings apart from residential blocks mostly for hotel staff.

The hotel has rooms available for wheelchair users. There are also designated non-smoking rooms. Both of the latter should be enquired about at the time of booking. There is live entertainment (the quality of it really depends on your taste) in the hotel bar, 'Gravity', as well as in the nightclub in the basement. There is a mosque nearby, so do expect to hear the call to prayer which really makes you feel like you are away from home. There is a small gym for those wishing to work out a little, but nothing too sophisticated. Although the surroundings are quite quiet, the hotel is under a flight path, so noise from passing planes is common. There is wireless internet all over the hotel at an extra fee. The pool, located on the seventh floor, however guests with restricted movement must keep in mind that the lift takes the guests only part of the way up and that for the rest of the way the stairs must be taken. For guests travelling by car, which is the only reliable and quick way of getting around the city, there is a free underground car park available for guests; this should be reserved at the time of booking or with the hotel directly.

Be conscious that the Manhattan does not have valets or bus-boys to welcome all guests upon arrival as most other establishments in the city, although the staff will be happy to help guests with luggage in the lobby area.

The salmon pink and bluish glass hotel façade is not the most appealing in the city, but being located in the backstreets of the Al Rigga area, the hotel is relatively quiet. The hotel has most facilities one would expect from a city hotel, however the Manhattan Avenue hotel could de with a serious refit since it opened in 2006. There is a rooftop swimming pool as most Dubai hotels have. There is no spa however. The hotel rates itself as a 4 star property, and it may have been the case when it first opened, but on our last visit (beginning 2010), we deemed it needed a full refurbishment and have therefore given it 3 stars. On the top floor, the hotel has an outdoor pool, which is quite pleasant and has long sunshine hours as it is well-located. There is a view of the Sheikh Zayed road and its skyscrapers on the horizon, with the city's rooftops (and myriad satellite dishes) in the foreground.

There are 133 rooms spread over seven floors and split into four categories, standard, superior, junior suite and executive suite. The rooms did look good when the hotel first opened, but are a bit drab now as the decoration is outdated with pine furniture and dark red carpets and curtains to match. A good thing about the rooms is that the windows actually partially open, which is rare in Dubai, where due to the noise and heat, most windows are sealed shut. There are also complimentary tea and coffee making facilities in all the rooms. All bathrooms have bathtubs and Manhattan Avenue own-brand toiletries. When booking do ask for a spacious room in the category of your choice as some can be a little cramped.

The main restaurant, '24 Seven', is through the lobby to the right. Here, a buffet is served at every meal. Although it has a bay window it is not very light, and feels a bit drab. The décor is not particularly uplifting either. The area smells of old frying old...not the best odour to set your appetite going! There are four outlets altogether. The Steakhouse (open for lunch and dinner) and 'Gravity', which is a bar open from 6:00pm to 3:00am, are located on the mezzanine floors which add a little variety to the stay experience. Finally there is also '49ers', a wild west themed restaurant, in the basement, inside the hotel's nightclub. Guests should enquire about the opening times of this restaurant as they do vary.