The Oberoi, Mumbai

Why book?

For stellar hospitality in an iconic South Mumbai setting by the Arabian Sea.

Set the scene

Perched on the tip of South Mumbai, overlooking the glittering lights of the curved bay that forms the Queen’s Necklace, the 237-key Oberoi Mumbai is an icon set between land and sea. Built in 1986, the hotel is a modern classic that continues to thrive in a city teeming with options, with a loyal clientele who treat it with the familiarity of a second home. Walk into the lobby and the first thing that greets you is an ever-smiling member of the staff and an awareness of exactly where you are. The changing colours of the sky and the ever-shifting sea are framed as the perfect artwork in the lobby, the ocean-view suites, and the Eau Bar. A soaring atrium with skylights suffuses the interiors with natural light and a sense of space, accentuated by a profusion of white marble and minimalist interiors. At one end sits a cherry-red grand piano and every afternoon, the young and talented Shefin Mathew plays classic tunes, setting the mood for a leisurely Champagne brunch at the Tea Lounge. Other restaurants and the bar branch away from the lobby, each a popular spot with its own roster of loyalists.

The backstory

This was among the first hotels built by the late Biki Oberoi, a legendary hotelier who marked the beginning of his journey with this property and then went on to reinvent the Oberoi group’s identity as a bastion of world-class hospitality with an Indian core. Here, he experimented with everything from design to service standards, creating new templates for the hospitality industry. Built on reclaimed land that went on to form the business district of Nariman Point in South Mumbai, this building, with its stark modernist lines, was part of the new imagining of the city. Foregrounding natural light, air, and open space, the design was remarkably future-forward – a result of Biki Oberoi’s extensive travels around the world – with service at its core. His thinking ensured that the hotel needed only minor updates over the decades, the biggest renovation resulting from a deadly terror attack and siege in Mumbai in 2008. In the four decades since its opening, The Oberoi Mumbai has remained a grand doyenne of hospitality, even as Mumbai has politically and physically reshaped itself.

Rooms and suites

Clean lines dominate the design across rooms and suites that fan out across multiple levels around the central atrium. Rooms and suites offer views over the ocean, the South Mumbai cityscape or the bay and are elegantly fitted for business and leisure travellers. The top-tier Kohinoor and Golconda Suites are equipped with wall-to-wall windows framing the entire Queen’s Necklace, statement art pieces, silk furnishings and a grand piano. Other ocean-view suites and rooms offer similar panoramic views, along with ample sleeping and living space, plus a free-standing tub in a glass-walled bathroom, providing unhindered access to the view.

The newest offering at the hotel is a collection of 20 residential suites designed for long stays, each featuring a fully equipped kitchen, study, dining area, bedroom, and powder room. These residences can be customised to meet the needs of each guest, with the option to redecorate with your own furniture, art, and more, making it your own private space.

Food and drink

This is one aspect of The Oberoi Mumbai that has undergone a complete overhaul over the years, adapting standard five-star dining menus to a more focused and exciting culinary program. At the helm is newly appointed executive chef Kayzad Sadri, who comes fresh from his stint at Amadeo By Oberoi, an independent restaurant by The Oberoi Group.

Each of the restaurants has distinct programming. At Ziya, the contemporary Indian fine dining restaurant, renowned chef Vineet Bhatia’s wizardry is evident in tasting menus that reinterpret regional flavours from around the country in exciting new formats. The range spans from indulgent to playful, featuring everything from Kerala-inspired butter garlic scallops with Beluga caviar and lemongrass moilee to lamb chops coated in Mumbai’s favourite condiment – thecha – accompanied by a kokum-laced sol kadhi rice cream and some beaten rice flakes for texture. Interpretations apart, there are hints of home cooking with hearty regional fare, a range of biryanis, breads and desserts from around India. All-day diner Fenix trades typical coffee shop fare for an interactive robatayaki grill, sushi bar and tandoor oven. Expect everything from freshly caught seafood grills to hearty plates of pasta and fish curry-rice. The old school club sandwiches still exist for those who request them, but the menu pushes the envelope far beyond. Continuing Biki Oberoi’s tradition, The Oberoi Mumbai eschews buffet breakfasts in favour of tableside service, thereby foregoing queues or crowded counters. Across the lobby from Fenix is Vetro, serving up classic and contemporary dishes from around Italy, with everything from a saffron risotto with prawns and a root vegetable carpaccio to salt-baked celeriac with Sicilian salsa and the much-loved eggplant parmigiana. The restaurant is also home to Enoteca, an expansive wine library with a mix of old and new world wines. Finally, what is considered by many to be the jewel of the property – the Eau Bar. The Art Deco-inspired bar is undoubtedly one of the best sundowner spots in the city, featuring large windows, a sunken indoor bar, and a private dining area. Its expansive outdoor deck overlooks the sea and a dramatic, larger-than-life installation of the Wall Street Bull – a cue to the financial capital’s enterprise. The space captures the spirit and aesthetics of Mumbai under one roof. Add to it an excellent cocktail programme inspired by local and seasonal cues, a selection of globally inspired petit plates, and an electric vibe set to the DJ’s set – little surprise that this is one of the most coveted nightspots in this part of town.

Service

There are many stories of The Oberoi’s service standards where guest requirements are paramount in all aspects of operation. Most old hands recall how every briefing session with Biki Oberoi would begin with a detailed reading of every negative review, followed by ways to address the issues raised. This formed the framework for the staff’s attention to detail. Most managers and front office staff know the names of regular guests and note their preference for room, or how they like their coffee, or which newspapers they prefer in their room. From noting a guest’s preference for breakfast to thoughtful touches like female service staff attending to single female guests post sundown, at every touchpoint, there is thought, care and sensitivity to ensure complete ease.

Accessibility

There are wheelchair-accessible ramps at the entrance and a room for guests with special needs, equipped with larger toilets, support rails next to the bed, an emergency call button, and flashlights at the entrance to indicate any emergency. A 24-hour butler service can serve specific requests and help with scheduling and excursions outside the hotel.

Anything left to mention

The hotel has a competent spa which is open till 11pm to keep pace with the city’s hectic schedules, as well as an outdoor pool with Oberoi’s signature royal blue tiles, also open till 9pm. The enviable location and proximity to the historic heart of South Mumbai ensure a robust schedule of activities, which include museum visits, shopping tours, and walks through the heritage precinct and UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Fort area, replete with Victorian Gothic and Art Deco ensembles. And beyond planned trips, there are the unbeatable joys of a breezy walk on the city’s most striking seaside promenade to catch a sunset or simply a pause in the day.