With nearly half a century behind it, this smart hotel — in a smart residential neighborhood, convenient to many Central Delhi sights — retains its authentic old-fashioned charm and period elegance but can’t quite compete with The Imperial. A renovation in 2004 hardly justifies the corresponding steep jump (over 100%) in price. The cheapest accommodations are smart but slightly cramped. By contrast, the more expensive club suites are enormous; nos.
128 and 228 face the centrally located pool. Decor varies in style and color, but most rooms are carpeted and have some antique furniture and large bathrooms with tubs; those adjacent to the pool have marble floors and rugs (sacrificing historical ambience for a more contemporary look). It may not offer quite the same sophisticated luxury as the city’s over-represented Western chains, but the Victorian aesthetic lingers, and you’ll find friendly service and more than adequate amenities here. Dhaba is the hotel’s Punjabi restaurant, done up like a roadside truck stop; it serves a refined, hygienic version of the simple, tasty food found along North India’s busy highways.