The Best Hotels to Book in Islamabad, Pakistan

Ornately carved wooden furniture, including headboards and mirror frames, fills rooms exuding warmth and character. This luxurious slice of Pakistani hospitality sits on the edge of Islamabad, close to the sports complexes between Rawal Lake and Shakarparian National Park, at the foot of the Margalla Hills. Of the six on-site restaurants, Pakistani cuisine in Dawat or a light snack in the pleasant gardens of Rakaposhi are highlights.

Fleur de lis wallpaper, ornate woodwork and Persian-style rugs add to the warmth of the low-lit cream-and-wood palette of rooms at the Marriott. This popular Islamabad hotel packs plenty of facilities under one roof, including a spa, inviting indoor pool and no fewer than eight restaurants, specialising in cuisines including Thai, Japanese, Indonesian and Italian. Trailheads for hikes into the Margalla Hills are a short drive away, although the terraces and gardens will be hard to leave.

Some delightful touches of Islamic architecture adorn the exterior of this hotel, including wooden mashrabiya balconies and portal windows. It reflects the effective merging of local and international styles while providing comfortable, relaxing rooms dressed in cream and red, all with soothing lakeside views. The long list of amenities – including a fitness centre with running machines, free weights and an indoor pool – should keep you fit for touring the city sights.

Are you looking for a hotel close to the expressway towards Lahore during your stay in Islamabad? If so, this hotel is perfectly placed in the south of the city, yet still close to sights you’ll get up early to see. Relax after a day pounding the pavements in large, wooden-framed beds. There’s cooling tiled flooring throughout, and ceiling fans in most of the rooms to ward off the midday heat.

This gleaming glass cube at the heart of Islamabad’s business district will wow fans of shimmer and shine with its lobby lined with mirrors and marble. Room decor varies – plush red carpets, marble or hardwood floors and fleur de lis wallpaper are common motifs, while pretty, tasselled fabrics add a local, homely feel. The top floor is devoted to Tabaq, the hotel’s grill restaurant, where you can feast on dishes including masala fish and biryani.

This whitewashed city centre hotel is a dependable choice, 3km (1.9mi) from the Shah Faisal Mosque and Islamabad Zoo. In the rooms, jazzy floral carpets and carved antique furniture blend with aubergine-hued walls. Families can book interconnecting rooms for a fun-filled stay with space to spread out. Everyone will love the scenic, marble-floored restaurant where you can enjoy the hill view as you eat your breakfast eggs.

Named after the Himalayan foothills visible from most points around the Pakistani capital, and surrounded by woodland on the edge of Islamabad Golf Club, is the Hotel Margala. Decor and furnishings are modern, with filigree wallpaper and earthy tones giving the rooms an invitingly classic feel. Internationalism is celebrated through the tastebuds – the restaurant specialises in both regional and Mexican cuisine.