Mumbai is a big, bonkers, beeping-horn-of-city with traffic jams made up of roaming goats, honking rickshaws and knackered, red, London-style double-decker buses. However, India’s most populous city is also home to some of the biggest smiles and best street food you’ll find anywhere in the world. As well as some pretty nice hotels – Soho House recently opened here.
TLE visited the city to check out one of Mumbai’s newest hotel additions, THE Park Mumbai. The ultra-modern boutique hotel, located in West Mumbai, is the eleventh edition to THE Park Hotels’ collection and couldn’t be more dissimilar to its classical counterpart, the Denmark Tavern hotel (one of India’s oldest hotels), which is located in Serampore.
The five-star rated THE Park Mumbai is just a 20-minute drive from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in the Juhu District – an area popular with Bollywood stars and home to Asia’s first Soho House.
Those less interested in mixing with the elite, however, can relax on Juhu beach – perfect for watching kids wallop cricket balls on the wet sand or catching an other-worldly Indian sunset. The beach, around a three-minute walk from the grounds of the hotel, is usually quiet during daylight hours in summer but gets busy later on.
The district of Bandra also lies a short rickshaw ride away from THE Park Mumbai. Here you can taste craft beer, hit the shops, or sip chia juice in one of the many cafes. Visitors keen to see the likes of the Passage to India or the famous Taj Hotel must endure heavy traffic and cross the city via taxi, which takes around 1 hour 20 on a good day.
THE Park Mumbai stands out from the rest of the buildings nearby thanks to its distinctive ultra-modern charcoal facade, and burnt-orange and fuchsia-tinted windows. Designed by Indian architect, Sanjay Puri, the vibrant colours depict those cast by the sunset on Juhu beach.
The hotel’s modernist exterior is continued inside with a reception area that’s clad in black marble with white and gold furnishings – giving off a tasteful, Great Gatsby-esque feel. Close by you’ll find the tastefully-finished Meishi restaurant and a standout private dining area bordered by hanging gold mesh and a long table ready-made for special occasions.
All 60 rooms are kitted out in monochrome with bursts of colour – in the shape of orange, abstract tables. While bathrooms are spacious, bright and clad in a light-coloured marble. Rooms are equipped with the usual mod cons – 43 inch smart TVs (with Netflix), tea and coffee making facilities and minibar stocked with Cadbury chocolate and various soft drinks. The beauty of the dark feel of the rooms is that light struggles to punctuate the blackout curtains allowing for a good sleep on a comfortable, 12″ thick custom mattresses.
THE Park Mumbai sources as many of its ingredients locally as possible – often from nearby fish and meat markets. Executive chef Chef Altamesh Patel has developed a menu packed with street style, local Indian dishes with fresh seafood and international dishes catered to overseas visitors. Although the stand out dishes are typically local classics like the palak paneer and butter chicken. Vegetarian options are vast and allergies are looked after with complete authority and confidence, while tantalising desserts range from tiered chocolate cakes to pistachio mousse domes and the sweetest handpicked mangos.
One of the most impressive elements of THE Park Mumbai’s offering is The Walt – its high-ceiling, club-like whisky bar that could just as well be located in London’s trendy Soho district. The bar, lined with spirits from around the world, is backed by neat art deco designed cement tiles and faces out to hanging, abstract mirrored sculptures made local maker, Enliten.
Although one of the shining beacons of THE Park Mumbai is its service – from its security staff on the door that offer cheery salutes, to the reception staff who welcome guests with eternal wide-mouthed smiles. In the kitchen chefs are happy to talk through the catch of the day as waiters top your water glass before you’ve realised it’s empty.
The hotel offers all the classics like 24-7 concierge service, breakfast in bed and will also have a rooftop pool with sea views and gym facilities in the coming months when temperatures soar.
FACT BOX
Adam was a guest of THE Park Mumbai, Juhu Tara Rd, Shivaji Nagr, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400049, India
Double rooms from £185 – www.theparkhotels.com
Direct flights take 9-10 hours with British Airways
