A solid choice

After having stayed at Grand Hyatt Doha and a night at the glorious Park Hyatt Doha on this same trip, I decided to stay at the last remaining Hyatt option in Qatar - for now at least, until Andaz Doha opens sometime next year before the 2022 World Cup.

Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha is located in the Old Airport district of Doha, within eyesight of the former Doha International Airport. The immediate area is characterized by office buildings, mid-rise residential towers, midscale hotels and the aforementioned airport [which is used for special flights and military purposes - be on the lookout for all the private jets that zip into and out of it], so it isn’t the most scenic or happening of neighborhoods.

On the plus side, connectivity is quite good with the excellent Doha Metro serving Umm Ghuwailina and Al Matar Al Qadeem [Old Airport] stations both within a few minutes walk to/from the hotel. I always used Umm Ghuwailina station to get to where I was going, and the walk from exit 5 of the station to the hotel takes four minutes on foot. That both stations are on the main Red Line from Hamad International Airport and into the city make cheap public transportation a wonderful possibility for this hotel.

Hamad International Airport [DOH] is a 10-15 minute drive to/from the hotel, or a quick two-stop journey on the Doha Metro from the airport to Umm Ghuwailina station. 

This hotel, owned by Qatar Airways [look for the airline’s flags billowing in the driveway] began life in 2010 as the Oryx Rotana but was rebranded to the Hyatt Regency flag at the beginning of 2021. It’s a big hotel with 400 rooms and suites split across two wings joined by a central atrium that spans the height of both buildings, and it’s showing its age since it hasn’t been renovated since opening. Thankfully, the owners and Hyatt are planning a comprehensive renovation that will transform the property, but I haven’t received any information as to when this will begin or end.

Passing through a metal detector and flashing one’s Ehteraz app [only those with green QR codes are allowed to access hotels and other facilities such as malls, restaurants and public spaces, and they take it very seriously here so always have it on your phone] grants one access to the hotel’s lobby, with seating on the left and three reception desks on the right. The décor is modern and clean in browns and beiges, with the atrium lobby punctuated by bright green tones and curvy furniture. It’s actually quite nice given its age, although it does look like an airport lounge - a fitting tie-in given the hotel being owned by Qatar Airways.

Check-in was handled in a few short minutes, with the staff acknowledging my status with the World of Hyatt program and explaining the hotel’s facilities to me. Unfortunately, no suites were available to be upgraded into so I was given the base king room I had booked.

I was given a room on the second floor and facing the front side of the hotel, which stared onto an active construction site for Qatar Airways’ staff accommodation and onto the former Doha International Airport site beyond it. I was glad I brought earplugs, because I was able to hear some of the sounds associated with construction into the night and early morning.

The entry-level king room I booked was spacious and well-laid out at 35 square meters. It’s clearly an older property, with the room being furnished in drab beiges and browns with patterns that are clearly from years ago. Upon entering the room, there were several closets and the tea/coffee station on the right, with the hallway leading into the bedroom. The bedroom area had a spacious counter housing the minibar which the television sat on, a full working desk with chair, two-seater couch, coffee table and king-sized bed. Despite the age, everything is in very good shape and holding up well.

The bathroom, opposite the closets, is a four-fixture affair with toilet, bidet, sink and shower stall. The shower is rather large, with a bench setup, rain shower head and handheld wand. Toiletries are from Pharmacopia, a Hyatt Regency brand standard.

Wi-fi is free for World of Hyatt members, and I found it to be reasonably fast with mostly excellent coverage throughout the hotel - except in the substitute lounge, which I will cover below.

Breakfast was included courtesy of my World of Hyatt status, and was served in the Choices restaurant on the first floor. A large facility within the atrium, there are several stations with your usual breakfast offerings of breads, cold cuts, salads, hot dishes and eggs. Given COVID, everything is served to you by the staff and guests don’t physically handle any serving ware. I must give this hotel credit for the variety of options available, as this breakfast spread offered items such as dim sum, sfiha [Lebanese flatbreads with meat or cheese] and eggs Benedict - above and beyond what is expected of a Hyatt Regency, let alone what is essentially an airport hotel.

The hotel has a space for the Regency Club on the first floor, but this is currently out of service aside from offering water and a quiet place for guests with access to work in.

Upon checking in, I was informed that the hotel would offer guests with club access alternate arrangements in their Spanish restaurant, but when I showed up, the associate looked confused and after some clarification, led me across the lobby to Al Nafoura, the hotel’s Lebanese venue and shisha garden. As it turns out, Al Nafoura is a replacement for the hotel’s evening happy hour from 6 to 8 PM, and this had its pluses and minuses.

Al Nafoura is an outdoor venue, save for a long tent-like space that is rendered all but carcinogenic with the thick clouds of cigarette, cigar and shisha smoke filling it. The outdoor space isn’t comfortable either, as Doha is hot and/or humid most months of the year; there are outdoor air conditioners on offer, but it isn’t charming to have a large machine loudly blasting air at you. As a non-smoker, it’s also very unpleasant to be sitting in an area where the vast majority of patrons are puffing away at their shishas, and you’re getting coated in sickly sweet, acrid smoke. Oh, and did I mention that the entire indoor and outdoor spaces have large televisions that are always playing sports and soccer matches? Enjoy your happy hour in these environs to the jolting commentary of men screaming in Arabic.

On the plus side, the food offerings consist of a mezzeh platter of falafel, cheese rolls, hummus and tabbouleh. More food options are available, but they contain meat - unsuitable for this vegetarian/occasional pescatarian. Drinks on offer include a house red and white wine [South African and decent], a variety of liquors and mixers, as well as San Pellegrino. The staff were great at coming around and keeping your glasses full, but sadly, there is no variety in the food - you get the same platters everyday. It must be said, however, that the quality of the food is high.

I didn’t have time to use the hotel’s facilities, but did pass by their expansive pool deck and spa. Segregated by gender, the men’s section included a rather inviting Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, locker room and shower facilities. There is also a large and well-equipped gym, so this hotel more than covers one’s fitness needs.

The hotel has ballrooms and meeting facilities catering to a business demographic, which I saw getting decent use during my stay.

The hotel’s service as excellent, with courteous and efficient staff handling guests in a professional manner. I appreciated the staff at Al Nafoura, who very quickly learned my food and drink preferences and made sure to always remain attentive and within reach.

I will note, however, that mask compliance among guests was incredibly spotty, with an alarming number of guests walking through the breakfast buffet without their masks on and not getting reprimanded. I brought this up to several staff members during my stay, but between the cultural phenomenon of staff in the Middle East being disempowered/afraid of confronting guests and a lackadaisical attitude around COVID seriousness, my feedback was unheeded and nobody did anything.

Clean rooms, good staff, great food, nice facilities and a connected location make this is a solid hotel that will only be made better with its imminent renovation. I would return to Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha, and would recommend it to others.