Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaAs Sahafah
JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh
Desert-inspired glass tower
As Sahafah Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Renovated
2022
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe WellnessOutside the door
The house
MarriottDesert-inspired glass tower
Housed inside a 70-story skyscraper, the hotel softens corporate scale with desert-inspired greenery, creating an unhurried pace for visiting families and executives.
What it’s good at
Notable
A triple-volume lobby opens onto landscaped water features and a backlit sculpted desk.
Listed
Gender-segregated outdoor pools pair with Roman-style laconicums and dual fitness suites.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Formerly a Kempinski, the hotel has been reimagined with soft coral tones, marble floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the skyline.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
King Fahd Road runs directly outside, placing northern business districts and the entertainment at Boulevard Riyadh City minutes away.
The rooms
Najdi-inspired earth tones warm the high-altitude living spaces, where expansive glass overlooks the city and marble finishes anchor the bedrooms.
The water
Bring a swimsuit.
The spa and pools
Treatment rooms use Aromatherapy Associates oils, and outdoor swimming pools sit beneath slatted timber pergolas.
Restaurant
Kitchen On 3
An open brick oven bakes fresh bread, and tables with woven chairs look out across the city skyline.
At the table
JW Steakhouse cooks hand-selected cuts over a Josper grill, and Casa Cacao sells single-origin bean-to-bar chocolates.
How it began
The tower originally opened in 2014 as a Kempinski, before a multiyear overhaul reshaped its soaring interiors around ancient Arabian desert poetry.
Riyadh
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.