TRIED & TESTED HOTEL
The Alexander, Yerevan
BEST FOR Location
DON’T MISS Some down time at the hotel pool
PRICE From US$245 per night
CONTACT 3/4 Abovyan Street, Yerevan; marriott.com
B A C K G R O U N D One of the newest hotels in the Armenian capital, The Alexander is the first Marriott Luxury Collection property to open in the country. Since opening in 2018, it’s fast become a favourite among celebrities and dignitaries including Armenia’s favourite TV star, Kim Kardashian, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The hotel is just 20 minutes from the airport and walking distance from all of the local sights
W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? Modern and sophisticated, with a chic and contemporary take on Armenian-style façades, this property blends in with the local architecture, but brings a little New York-inspired elegance into the mix. Even though Armenia is now mask free, staff at the hotel remain masked to ensure guest comfort.
B U S I N E S S The hotel, now a go-to for business dignitaries and diplomats, features five furnished meeting rooms, which can be combined into an expansive space accommodating up to 160 guests. Venues feature the latest audio-visual technology and a dedicated events team is on hand.
W H E R E I S I T ? Located in the heart of Yerevan, the hotel is just 20 minutes from the airport and walking distance from all of the local sights and a plethora of great dining options. However, due to its centrality, a downside was the noise disruption from the wedding party at the restaurant across the road, which was fairly disturbing at night . R O O M S The hotel has 114 guests rooms and suites, including the indulgent Presidential Suite, which spans an entire floor and covers 1,700 square feet. I stayed in the spacious and tastefully designed Grand Deluxe, which was well equipped
F O O D A N D D R I N K I only experienced breakfast at the hotel, which at that point was a self-service buffet offering an international menu. Following COVID-19, buffets no longer have the same appeal in my opinion. The restaurant transforms into a fine-dining Italian venue, Italiano, at night. Décor is classic, with sophisticated design in natural colours, and there is a pretty outdoor terrace for dining during warmer weather. Gabriel’s Bar & Lounge offers all-day dining in a relaxing lounge setting and Gabriel’s Patisserie, which looks out onto the beautiful Abovyan Street, offers French and Armenian sweet treats. One major issue is that breakfast does not start until 8am, which is inconvenient when you have a busy work schedule or simply want to get up early to make the most of the sightseeing opportunities.
L E I S U R E The hotel has a small but
modern gym, fitted out with Technogym equipment, while an indoor pool with a small terrace offers an extra touch of decadence to your down time. The Alexander Spa by Anne Semonin features a dedicated men’s treatment menu.
with high-tech touch technology, luxurious marble bathrooms, an ample workspace, which doubled up as a dining table, and plenty of room to spread out the suitcase, as well as generous wardrobes.
V E R D I C T Chic, sophisticated and
convenient, but lacking a little in the way of atmosphere. Perhaps that’s due to the pandemic, with the hotel not as busy as usual during my stay. Melanie Swan OCTOBER 2021
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