About this hotel
General information
The Merchant House is a small boutique hotel in old Manama, beside the Bab Al Bahrain gateway and the lanes of the souq. It has just 46 suites, and each is laid out more like a city apartment than a hotel room, with a kitchen, a living and dining area and a separate bedroom.
Art is what people remember. More than two hundred contemporary pieces by Bahraini artists and others from across the Gulf hang in the suites, corridors and two-storey lobby, where bare concrete columns meet graffiti and bold fabrics and colour set the tone throughout. A mezzanine library above the lobby holds over a thousand books on Bahrain and the region, while the roof carries the restaurant with its garden terrace and an emerald pool looking out over the city.
Location
The hotel sits in the heart of old Manama, a few steps from Bab Al Bahrain, the mid-20th-century gateway building that opens onto the old souq with its textiles, spices, incense and craft shops. Bahrain International Airport is about 15 minutes away by car; the hotel arranges transfers in its Range Rover and Maserati cars, and guests arriving by car can use the 24-hour valet parking.
Spa
PURESPA works by hand, with oils and natural, organic products, using the Bahraini label Green Bar alongside the Spanish skincare brand Natura Bissé. A 90-minute discovery treatment uses Bahraini organic products, after which guests take home a tool and step-by-step instructions for their own routine.
Sports & leisure
The gym is open around the clock and reserved for hotel guests, with Technogym cardio machines, a Kinesis system, free weights, pull-up bars and a stretching area. Classes cover yoga, mat Pilates, dance fitness, stretching and circuit training, and a personal trainer is on hand.
Guest services arrange outings across the city and the island:
- a guided walk through the old quarters of Muharraq and their restored pearling-era houses, ending at Bab Al Bahrain and the Manama souq
- a sunset trip to Qal’at al-Bahrain, the ancient harbour and capital of Dilmun, where a laser show is projected onto the fort walls
- the Bahrain National Museum followed by a short boat ride to Bu Maher Fort, a 19th-century fort and part of the Pearling Path
- a pottery session on a traditional foot-driven wheel with a local craftsman in the pottery district of A’Ali
- dives to a sunken Boeing 747 lying at 20–22 m (advanced diving certification required)
Restaurants & bars
The hotel’s dining is split between the roof and the lobby:
- Indigo Terrace — rooftop restaurant with an indoor room and a flower-filled garden terrace beside the pool; Mediterranean and Asian dishes made for sharing at breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus cocktails, wines, an all-day bar menu and afternoon tea
- Café Gray — lobby café among the concrete columns and contemporary art, serving home-made cakes, coffee, fresh juices, sandwiches and salads, with afternoon tea by advance booking
- The Library — mezzanine lounge above the lobby with its book collection, light bites and drinks until late, and afternoon tea by advance booking
Swimming
There is no beach. Swimming is in the emerald-green, chlorine-free infinity pool on the roof, with city views, towels provided, and cocktails and light bites from Indigo Terrace. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset and reserved for hotel guests.
Rooms
All 46 suites feel residential, each with a kitchen, dining and sitting area, a separate bedroom and an en-suite bathroom, dressed in strong colours, patterned fabrics and contemporary art. Some can be joined into a two-bedroom suite through a shared private entrance foyer.
Every suite has a kitchen counter with a bean-to-cup coffee machine, tea-making facilities, minibar, freezer and ice dispenser, TVs in the living room and bedroom, a work desk with a charging station, a safe, bathrobes, slippers, a hairdryer and natural, chemical-free bath products, with daily housekeeping, evening turndown, 24-hour room service and free Wi-Fi.
Urban Suite
A suite with a king-size bed and an adjoining kitchen, dining and sitting area, sleeping two. It can connect to a Signature Suite through a private entrance foyer to form a two-bedroom suite.
Urban Plus Suite
A separate bedroom with a king-size bed, a living room with kitchen and dining area, and a walk-in shower. An extra bed can be added for a third guest.
Executive Suite
A roomier suite with city views, a king or super-king bed and the adjoining sitting, dining and kitchen area. An extra bed can be added for a third guest.
Corner Suite
A corner suite with windows on two sides for extra daylight, a king or super-king bed, and a kitchen, dining and sitting area. An extra bed can be added for a third guest.
Signature Suite
The largest suite type, with a super-king bed or twin beds, a naturally lit bathroom and a generous kitchen, dining and sitting area. An extra bed can be added for a third guest, or it can connect to an Urban Suite to form a two-bedroom suite.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.