Review: Bab Samhan (Diriyah) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The Lobby | Photo provided by Marriott

The hotel opened at the end of 2024 and is Najdi architecture heaven

Background

The first opened hotel in Diriyah, it’s quintessential Saudi, charming and nice to look at. Part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection of hotels, it’s where you stay when you want something real and authentic.

What’s it like

Steeped in Najdi architecture, the hotel is a mixture of traditional Saudi and a modern hotel. You’ll find the details of Saudi charm etched in the design work, seen throughout the hotel. The inner courtyard is calming and relaxing, taking you back in time to what life must have been like in mudbrick homes.

Where is it

Located in historic Diriyah, where the first Saudi state was founded, the hotel is a short walk to Bujairi Terrace and its top-notch dining options.  

Rooms

One Bedroom Bathroom | Photo provided by Marriott

The One Bedroom | Photo provided by Marriott

There are 134 rooms, 106 guest rooms and 28 suites. All rooms incorporate Najdi interior design, including locally sourced and hand-dyed linens. If you need a rollaway bed, some rooms offer this, but do ask for it beforehand. I stayed in a guest King Room that offered views of one of the hotel alleyways. It was very spacious and what was most fascinating was the Najdi details on the walls, ceiling, cushions, pillows, and furniture. The windows let in a lot of natural sunlight, and that along with the taupe tone walls and skylight, opens up the room, making it feel larger than it already is. There’re luxury details in every corner of the room. The bathroom is also spacious with a talk in shower, tan tones with marble and gold accenting. The rooms, as well as the hotel are tranquil relaxation from the traffic and hustle of Riyadh.

Food and Drink

Medheef Restaurant | Photo provided by Marriott

There is all day dining available at the hotel from in-room-dining to two on-site restaurants. All food at the hotel incorporates traditional Saudi cuisine in some way. In room dining includes a Chicken or Lamb Muglgal- a traditional Saudi breakfast with Saudi spices; or a Kibdeh Platter, a local delicacy with tenderly cooked lamb liber with indigenous spices with spices and Arabic bread for breakfast. There are also Western breakfast options of eggs, eggs benedict, and shakshuka. All day breakfast items range from a burger to a club sandwich, pasta, pizza, and salmon, and Naeemi Lamb Chops. The restaurant Jareed is all about a Najdi offering. Medheef and the Wujar Lobby café off all day dining with an international menu offering. Taleed by Michael Mina will bring the famed chef’s touch to Hejazi cuisine.s

Meetings

Meetings and events are available at the hotel, which incorporates the hotel’s Najdi style theme. There are various configurations for lounge event setups, open kitchen, banquet style, conference room, E-Shape, U-Shape, T-Shape table set up for meetings, theater style, reception, classroom set ups for whatever event is being had.

Leisure

There is a fitness room for men and women, that includes treadmills, elliptical machines, exercise bikes, and weight lifting equipment. There is also an indoor pool

The Lobby Cafe | Photo provided by Marriott

Verdict

Stay here. You’ll be swept away by the Najdi architecture and ambience of the hotel. You’ll also like its proximity to the hustle and bustle of Bujairi Terrace.

Best for

Najdi architecture

Don’t miss

The indoor pool

Price

Online midweek rates in February for a Jal Guest room 1 King room prepay non-refundable, non-changeable is SAR 3,285 (rates for prepaid Jal Guest rooms start at SAR 3,650).

Contact

7628 King Faisal Ibn Abd Al Aziz Road, Samhan, Diriyah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 13712