The Oberoi, Mumbai

India
Asia

The Experience

The Oberoi Mumbai's sense of Indian culture blends seamlessly with contemporary amenities. And while it's harder to create the former in a high-rise like this (rather than a reimagined palace), local touches still abound, from colorful Indian tapestries decorating the walls to traditional antiques dotting the massive lobby. And it's all in a formal, tightly run environment that is poised to capitalize on India's surging economic growth. The heart of Mumbai beats faster every day, making this sleek high-rise on the banks of the Arabian Sea ever more of an escape.

The Rooms

The formality continues in the rooms, decorated in subtle pastels with classic dark wood furniture; each has a separate area for dressing and storage. At 340 square feet, rooms are arranged in a sphere around the hotel's central atrium and face every direction. And since views are mostly what differentiate the room categories, only upgrade if a clear view of the sea is important (other rooms face the city or bay). The hotel's four luxury suites push the opulence quotient even higher; the Kohinoor Suite includes a Jacuzzi, sauna and a telescope for close-up views of Mumbai's skyline.

The Service

The staff (particularly in the restaurant) are warm, friendly and for the most part efficient, although the butlers stationed on each floor can at times be forgetful. You may have to remind them more than once to bring you a newspaper or to replenish the ice in your room. Chefs here are happy to take special requests and will even prepare meals that are not on the menu.

The Highlights

The views from the Bayview Bar and the Indian restaurant Kandahar are certainly one of the reasons to stay close to home, though that's not to take away from the food. Staffers in traditional Indian dress serve northwest Indian cuisine in the warm environment, with hardwood floors, traditional Indian etchings on the walls and windows highlighted by hanging lanterns. After dinner, take a dip in the outdoor pool beside a faux rock waterfall or head to the Banyan Tree Spa; no matter where you go you'll be within eyeshot of the sparkling sea.

 

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