Last Updated on February 19, 2026 by Home in the World
With Muscat being the beautiful, low-key city that it is, I wanted to find a property that matched that classy, chilled vibe. I knew I wanted to be by the coast, and was looking for somewhere reputable and upscale that didn’t completely shatter my budget (Oman has one of the strongest currencies in the world and things can end up being quite pricey). Enter the Crowne Plaza Muscat.
It ticked all the boxes on paper, and I was beyond excited to finally get there and experience it for myself.
Would it live up to expectations? Read on to find out my impressions of the Crowne Plaza Muscat, and what you need to know if you choose to stay here. Please note, this review is about the Crowne Plaza Muscat in Qurum, not be confused with the Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC, which is located at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre.
And if you are serious about planning a trip to this part of the world, you can also download my free quick guide to Muscat, which concisely summarises everything you need to know before you go.
Arrival and first impressions
My first impressions of the Crowne Plaza Muscat came in the form of dealings with its reservations department by email and phone. How helpful and prompt they were! I had a few questions regarding interconnecting rooms and organising a birthday dinner for my mum’s 70th, and they were only too happy to assist.
So it was no surprise that, when we did finally get there, we were greeted by equally friendly and helpful reception staff. Having had quite a stressful lead-up (the Omani tour company through which we had booked our overland transfer from Dubai and all our Oman tours proved to be unreliable and we’d had to book flights and change plans at the last minute), the concierge picked up the pieces for us and swiftly re-arranged our sightseeing, which immediately put us at ease.
Another lovely touch was the fact that a little birthday cake was waiting in the room for my mum when she walked in!
Definitely a great first impression from the human side of things. In terms of the property itself, the lobby’s predominantly light cream colour scheme evocative of desert sand, coupled with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the stunning pool area and the Gulf of Oman beyond, gave it a veritable oasis feel. It definitely looked like I had made the right choice of hotel!
Rooms
The Crowne Plaza Muscat is actually 50 years old, but in the months prior to my stay (second half of 2025), it had undergone a massive refurbishment (not the first in its history), and the rooms still had a fresh, new smell about them.
We had 2 interconnecting standard sea-view rooms overlooking the Gulf, which made for some stunning sunset spectacles. Our rooms didn’t have a balcony because the opening windows and vistas were enough for us, but balcony rooms are available for an extra cost if that’s something important to you.
In terms of the rooms themselves, they were extremely spacious and clean, with super comfy king beds. The decor was pleasantly neutral coloured with pops of blue in the form of a textured rug against the wood-finish floor – an apt ‘sand and sea’ vibe, I felt. And while some may find the furnishings somewhat generic, I had no complaints. This is a chain hotel and I got exactly what I expected.
I loved how much storage space there was. I don’t know about you, but I like to have ample surfaces – tables, ledges etc. – to put stuff, and yet this can be quite hard to come by at some properties. Not the case at the Crowne Plaza Muscat. A table, writing desk and long ledge under the TV meant I was able to spread myself out and feel right at home.
The bedside tables also mercifully had drawers (once again, not necessarily a given anymore), and there were universal outlets on either side of the bed (as well as on the ledge under the TV and at the writing desk).
The bathrooms were of the type where there is a clear glass pane overlooking the bedroom, but this could be swiftly covered with a privacy screen at the press of a button. In an age where hotel bathrooms are becoming weirder and designers are increasingly doing away with doors (!) and other privacy features (I am yet to find any guest anywhere who thinks this is a good move), I am grateful this was the case.
I found the bathrooms to be practical, modern and spacious, featuring marble vanities, stylish raised basins, a zero-threshold shower cubicle with rain shower and hand-held nozzle, and refillable, luscious-smelling Antipodes toiletries.
Daily housekeeping and bottled water were always excellent, and there were also water filter machines in the corridors for those wanting to top their own bottles up.
Dining
The dining at the Crowne Plaza Muscat was one of my favourite aspects of the hotel!
Every morning we would start our day at the stunning poolside restaurant, literally called The Restaurant.
Inside the huge, airy indoor area was a vast array of food stations offering virtually anything you could possibly want for breakfast. From the Omani section, with its delectable dates and honey, to fruits, salads, cereals, yoghurts, pastries, dips, hot food, and eggs to order, and sometimes even South Asian specialities. Plant-based milks were also readily available.
And then, plates piled with bounty, we would head to the gorgeous outdoor area to dine on the verandah, soaking in vibes that were as chilled as you would expect from a setting that overlooks a palm-lined swimming pool and beyond to the blue waters of the Gulf. What a way to ease into the day!
But apart from the fabulous surrounds and huge variety of food, what really added to the experience was the staff. It was such a pleasure to see their welcoming smiles every morning, chat to them and get to know some of their backgrounds. After the first day, they knew all our preferences and would cater to our requests without us even having to ask.
And this wasn’t just the case at breakfast. The Restaurant has themed international buffets on different nights of the week: French on Sundays, Indian on Mondays, Far East Asian on Tuesdays, South American on Wednesdays, Seafood Night on Thursdays and Fridays, and Oriental Night on Saturdays.
On one night of our stay, we were treated to the Indian buffet for my mum’s 70th birthday. My mum is actually from India, so she definitely knows her Indian food, and she absolutely loved it.
Once again, the variety of food on offer was incredible; think all-you-can-eat biryani, kofta curry, butter chicken, lamb rogan josh, dhal, panipuri (made in front of my eyes), samosas, naan, raita and a huge selection of salads and dips, plus an entirely separate dessert station featuring kulfi, jalebi and kheer, as well as some Western-style cakes and mousses. Some of the curries reminded me of my grandma’s cooking (which is very much a compliment!). I’ll be posting more content about this on my Instagram page shortly.
And to crown it all off, the same lovely staff from breakfast time brought out a cake for my mum and sang her ‘happy birthday’. Having such wonderful hospitality, amazing food and a stunning setting under the stars, perched atop a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Oman was an experience our family will definitely never forget.
We did also try the in-room dining and found it to be excellent value for money. Huge serves, great quality and a good variety of options. We sampled the aubergine salad, steak sandwich and beef burger.
The Crowne Plaza Muscat has a number of other restaurants on site too, including Omani and Persian specialities at Shiraz, and Italian cuisine at Come Prima, as well as international snacks and refreshments at the Qurum Tea Lounge (lobby lounge), Duke’s gastro pub, the Pool Bar and The Edge open-air Asian fusion bistro, all of which offer fabulous indoor or outdoor dining options – and, if possible, I highly recommend opting to sit outside to make the most of the hotel’s incredible cliff-top location.
Other facilities & services
I have already mentioned that the Crowne Plaza Muscat has a spectacular pool, but it gets even better. Because it also has its own private beach. Just beyond the pool are steps leading down the cliff to a secluded cove of golden sand, palm trees and the expansive blue waters of the Gulf of Oman. And it’s all just for you and fellow hotel guests; no public access. It takes the idyll to the next level!
And as you would expect from a hotel of this standard, there is a comprehensive gym, steam & sauna facilities, massage treatments and a 24-hour business centre – though I did not try these myself.
The Crowne Plaza Muscat’s resort-style vibe means its grounds also include extensive gardens, 2 tennis courts, indoor squash courts and even some ping-pong tables on the verandah, which I did enjoy trying my hand at.
Another service I made use of was the free area shuttle. Muscat is quite a spread-out city and the public-transport infrastructure is not the best, meaning taxis or self-driving are usually the best way to get around.
But the Crowne Plaza Muscat runs several daily shuttle services to and from some of the city’s main attractions: the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (drop-off at 8.30 am, pick-up at 11 am, except on Fridays), the Mall of Oman (drop-off at 11am, pick-up at 3pm) and the Mutrah Souq (drop-off at 5pm, pick-up at 7.30pm).
These are all free of charge for hotel guests, but need to be pre-booked with the concierge. We used it for the mosque and it worked really well. You don’t even need to take the shuttle back to the hotel again if you plan to go on somewhere else afterwards.
Location
The Crowne Plaza Muscat is located in the upscale beachside neighbourhood of Qurum. It sits atop a cliff overlooking the Gulf, surrounded by expansive grounds, and the adjacent streets are lined with expensive-looking residences.
As mentioned, the best way to get around Muscat is to take a taxi or self-drive, or make use of the hotel’s free shuttle service. The city’s main attractions are all within a 15 to 20-minute drive away, giving you great access to all the sights, while being able to stay by the beach in a stunning, secluded setting. I absolutely loved the Crowne Plaza Muscat’s location and would even go as far as saying it is one of the best in the city (some locals said this to me too).
How to book the Crowne Plaza Muscat
You can book your stay at the Crowne Plaza Muscat via its official website or using your preferred booking platform:
Crowne Plaza Muscat on Expedia
Crowne Plaza Muscat on Hotels.com
Crowne Plaza Muscat on Booking.com
Crowne Plaza Muscat on TripAdvisor
Getting to Muscat
Since 2018, Muscat has had a shiny new airport that I personally found to be very impressive. It is rated 4-star and is extremely modern, functional and clean. It is serviced by many major airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines, as well as the national carrier Oman Air. I flew Oman Air both into and out of Oman, and highly recommend them. They have recently become part of OneWorld and operate a number of flights to and from Europe, Asia, other parts of the Middle East and beyond.
I recommend using Skyscanner or Trip.com to find and compare the best fares.
You can also reach Muscat by road from Dubai – it’s about a 5-hour drive. While there are tour operators who provide this service, I found there weren’t too many decent options.
I thought I had found a good company and booked an overland drive (as I wanted to avoid taking a 40-minute flight) but at the last minute they proved to be quite unreliable, and I ended up having to book flights at 1am on the day of my departure! Thank goodness for the efficiency of Oman Air! You can, of course, hire a car and self-drive – just remember to have all the necessary documentation for the international border crossing.
Why choose the Crowne Plaza Muscat
It would be no exaggeration to say my stay at the Crowne Plaza Muscat was right up there with one of my best all-round hotel experiences ever.
There really was nothing to find fault with. An amazing setting; practical, spacious, clean rooms; a wide variety of delicious food; excellent service and sightseeing access; and, the real clincher, the wonderful staff. Everyone was a joy to deal with, from reservations to reception & concierge, to housekeeping and of course the entire lovely restaurant team who created some truly memorable moments for us.
We were made to feel so comfortable and welcome in every way, and if I ever return to Oman’s beautiful capital, there is no place I would rather stay than the Crowne Plaza Muscat.
| CROWNE PLAZA MUSCAT |
| Qurum Heights P.O. Box 1455 Muscat, 112 Oman |
** This is a genuine, non-biased review based on my own personal experience **
** This post, like everything else on this website, has been written entirely by me. No ChatGPT or any other AI tool has been used. It takes longer to create, but I value 100% human-generated content and I hope you do too! **
Before you go…
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For more Middle East travel content, check out my Middle East section (or specifically my Oman section), and consider downloading my free Muscat guide, which combines all the important information you need in an easy, one-page format.
And for more luxury hotel content, visit my Hotels section, where you will find my reviews of other properties in the Middle East region, as well as further afield.
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Great review of a property that certainly ticks all the boxes
Thank you, yes, it was a sublime place to stay!