This place has high expectations (or at least it seems like it does walking in the front doors) but it falls flat on some many things. Rooms are very large, but they are empty. The bathroom is huge by hotel standards but there is only a small shower stall. The 1 towel they procide is sandpaper. There is a kitchen but its not equipped with even a hand towel (nor is the bathroom for that matter). The provided breakfast is not worth getting up for. Shall I continue? If you need a place across the street from the ministry of housing then you can't get any closer. Otherwise avoid this wannabe.

My first impression of the Aquarium was that it was a terrible place to stay, but after trying out a few other furnished apartments I found myself back here and appreciating it.
What the Aquarium has over the other places is that the staff is more competent and multilingual. There is breakfast (limited thought), as well in room service (not so great but its there). The apartments are clean and quite spacious.

On the other hand the bathrooms are not very well laid out and the shower cabin is too small. There are 2 elevators but 1 has been out of order for months! No gym or pool. No proper hotel parking just some spots around the building or in the empty lot next door. There are no shops or restaurants in the immediate vicinity but a few options around and several within a 5 min taxi ride. Its also hard to find a taxi sometimes after 7 pm.

I would recommend the hotel for those who have business in the area at one of the many ministries or offices. But if your in Riyadh for another reason this is not the place to stay.