The second of Shangri-La’s three hotels on the beautiful Barr Al Jissah Bay is Al Bandar, offering larger rooms, quieter pools and a laid-back feel, making it a firm favourite with our clients. 

A 45-minute drive from the airport.

15 minutes from downtown Muscat on the south east of the Arabian Peninsula.

198 rooms and suites are sea facing, each with a generous bedroom opening onto a private terrace or balcony. Deluxe Terrace Rooms are recommended for direct access to the pools and gardens, while Deluxe Sea Facing Rooms offer views of the beautiful Sea of Oman. Premier Rooms are a spacious 51 sq metres, and One Bedroom Suites and Specialty Suites additionally include a separate lounge/dining area. All also feature complimentary WiFi, a 42” flat screen TV, DVD player, tea/coffee making facilities, mini bar and a separate bath and shower.

Al Bandar is home to three of the resort's nine main restaurants, with our favourite being Capri Court, where authentic yet contemporary Italian dishes can be enjoyed in an intimate atmosphere. Al Tanoor is the main buffet restaurant, offering themed nights with Omani, Indian, Turkish, Asian, Seafood and International cuisines. Head to the chic Piano Lounge after for a late evening cocktail. For dining al fresco, Tapas & Sablah serves authentic Spanish tapas cuisine and shisha, in a casual piazza-style setting. The brand-new Chow Mee offers a taste of southeast Asian street food in a cosy and casual setting. There’s also Bait Al Bahr, the seafood restaurant, located between Al Waha and Al Bandar, offering a romantic dinner on the elevated balcony, followed by drinks at the new rooftop BAB Lounge.

Bed & Breakfast Half Board

Al Bandar offers a range of facilities, including tennis courts, a gym and CHI, The Spa with its wonderfully relaxing atmosphere. 12 treatment villas are complemented by a herbal steam room, hydrotherapy pool and Jacuzzi and emphasis is based on rebalancing chi to maintain good health. You can also take to the water with a sailing lesson at the resort’s private marina, or jump in a rubber ring and head off down the Lazy River, which links up with Al Waha and brings you back to Al Bandar again.As of 2018, there are a host of new watersports facilities to enjoy, located on the beach. Watercooled Powered by Uniboats now includes top-of-the-range equipment such as hydro-sport jet packs, clear bottom kayaks, stand-up paddle board, wakeboarding, waterskiing, windsurfing, wakesurfing and dinghy sailing.