Aqaba, Jordan
Kempinski Hotel Aqaba Red Sea
Modernist seaside resort
Aqaba, Jordan
Opened
2009
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Resort LuxeOutside the door
The house
KempinskiModernist seaside resort
A modernist seaside retreat engineered around the water, orienting daily life from daytime pool lounging to evening sundowners toward the Gulf.
“With its modern curves, smiling staff, and swimming pools set within a seaside bamboo forest, the Kempinski looks like nothing else in Aqaba.”
What it’s good at
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
Seen from the Red Sea at night, the Kempinski Hotel in Aqaba rises up like a retro monument to 1970s-style modernism.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Downtown shops along King Hussein Street are a short stroll away, and the waterfront looks directly across toward Egypt.
1 of 5
The rooms
Glass-walled bathrooms look straight through the bedrooms to the sea, and every room opens onto a private waterfront balcony.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Submerged stone stools line the swim-up bar, and the infinity edge looks straight out across the Gulf of Aqaba.
The spa
Treatment suites face the water through floor-to-ceiling glass, using scrubs and botanical oils from Jordanian label Trinitae.
The gym
Cardio machines and stationary bicycles sit along ribbon windows facing straight out across the Red Sea.
At the table
The rooftop 700 Lounge looks across three countries at sunset, and seaside tables along the promenade serve Levantine mezze.
How it began
Built in 2009, the crescent-shaped modernist structure was deliberately engineered so none of its two hundred rooms faced inland.
Aqaba
More like this
Al Manara, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Saraya Aqaba
“Levantine lagoon resort”
Bratus Hotel
“Sustainable downtown boutique”
The Westin Saraya Aqaba Resort & Spa
“Lagoonfront resort”
The app
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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.