Sheraton Kuwait, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Rooms and decor

Picture a hotel that opened in 1966 — back when Kuwait had only just started pumping oil and the city was still a small trading port on the Persian Gulf. Sheraton Kuwait, a Luxury Collection Hotel was one of the first hotels here, and it has anchored central Safat on Fahd Al-Salem Street for nearly 60 years, long enough to become a landmark locals know well. It now carries Marriott's Luxury Collection badge, reserved for heritage hotels with a story. All 151 rooms and suites are dressed in classic-luxury style — thick gold curtains, crystal chandeliers, Persian-pattern rugs, and polished contemporary-Arab woodwork — for a warm, old-world feel you simply do not get in a new build. If you prefer character over clean minimalism, this will land well. Many rooms on the Towers and Club Floor were renovated in the past few years, looking more current while keeping the heritage feel intact.

Food and amenities

The heart of the hotel for many guests is Riccardo, a classic Italian room that has run for decades and that Kuwaitis treat as an institution — anyone who knew Kuwait in the 1980s and 90s likely knows the name. It serves fresh house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, and Italian-style steak and seafood, with a full wine list and a formal setting of white linen, candles, and staff who remember the regulars — a dinner that feels special without trying too hard. Alongside it, Le Tarbouche plates Middle Eastern mezze, kebab, and traditional Arab food, Bukhara is a long-running Indian room, and there is all-day dining with buffets for breakfast. Facilities are complete — an outdoor pool in a palm setting, a spa offering Arab and Western treatments, a round-the-clock gym, large function rooms used for government events and local weddings, and free in-building parking.

Location and getting there

Location is one reason Sheraton Kuwait still ranks among the city's front-runners. It stands on Fahd Al-Salem Street in the heart of Safat, the Kuwait City CBD, ringed by major banks, ministries, and shops. A roughly 5-minute walk from the lobby reaches Liberation Tower, the 372-metre telecom landmark built to mark Kuwait's liberation from the Iraqi invasion in 1991. About 10 minutes further on foot brings you to Souq Al-Mubarakiya, a centuries-old market packed with spice stalls, local crafts, gold jewellery, Persian rugs, and traditional Arab restaurants in one corner of the city. The Grand Mosque, the waterfront Kuwait Towers, and Souq Sharq are all a short taxi ride away, and Kuwait International Airport (KWI) is only about 20-25 minutes by car — easy for getting in and out.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, reviews agree the building and some rooms are showing their age after nearly 60 years; despite several renovations, parts still want updating — furniture, showers, fixtures, and carpets in the un-renovated rooms are not as crisp as the newest, big-budget Gulf 5-stars. Ask for a Towers or Club Floor room, which were refreshed more recently and bundle in Club Lounge access with free breakfast and evening drinks. Second, the decor is firmly classic-luxury — thick curtains, chandeliers, Persian rugs — which can read as heavy and dated if you love clean grey-and-white minimalism, but charms anyone who likes heritage character. Third, noise: Safat is lively by day and silent at night, and rooms over the main street can pick up some traffic; request a room facing the inner courtyard side for far more quiet. Finally, the pool is a standard-size outdoor pool, not a grand waterfront resort one, so adjust expectations if you came for a resort soak.

Our take

After reading through real guest reviews across several platforms, Sheraton Kuwait, a Luxury Collection Hotel sells heritage, a central location, and classic service that has stood with Kuwait City for 60 years — and it does so with pride. If you are a business traveller with meetings in the CBD, a visitor who wants to walk the Old Souq and the old government quarter, or someone drawn to a hotel with a story and a formal Italian dinner at Riccardo, it fits, with rates from about $270 a night that count as good value for a 5-star in this spot. If you expect a brand-new, all-out modern hotel like the ones in Dubai or Doha, or want flawless bathrooms and furniture down to the last inch, the building's age may leave you feeling short-changed. Overall we give it 8.3/10 — best for business travellers and heritage fans who value location and character over a brand-new room.