Arrival/Check-In: Security at The Oberoi, Mumbai is firm and efficient. Guests pass through a guarded vehicle gate, a metal detector and bag scanning before entering. On arrival I was welcomed in the eighth-floor lobby with a chilled drink and a refreshing cloth, then escorted to my suite.
Guest Quarters: The executive suite measured about 800 square feet and felt exceptionally spacious. It opened into a large living room with a sofa flanked by mosaic-inset end tables and chairs arranged around a glass-topped coffee table. Hardwood floors and white walls created a neutral backdrop for sage-patterned area rugs, red-silk accent pillows and matted historical prints. The executive desk included a drawer with universal electrical and media outlets. A 40-inch LCD TV sat above a credenza that housed a DVD player, minibar and electric kettle. A walk-in closet with a luggage bench, shelving, drawers and a sizeable safe opened off the living room.
The bedroom, separated by an oversized sliding door, featured a king-sized bed dressed in silky white linens. Furnishings included an upholstered bench at the foot of the bed, a reading chair with table, wall-mounted TV and bedside tables with lamps. Thoughtful amenities ranged from bottled and fresh spring water to a pillow menu and an iPod dock. A bedside control panel provided a universal outlet and switches for reading and bedroom lights, night light, blackout blind and a butler call. Floor-to-ceiling windows in both rooms had privacy drapes and blackout blinds with views over Mumbai Bay.
The marble bathroom, positioned between the bedroom and living room and accessible from both, offered a large soaking tub, an oversized walk-in shower, a separate water closet and a dual-sink vanity with a mounted make-up mirror. A 17-inch wall-mounted LCD TV and a glass wall with a privacy screen that opened toward the bedroom completed the space, letting in sea views when desired.
Services/Amenities: Service at The Oberoi is attentive, polished and consistent. Staff members—from room attendants to waiters—are observant and welcoming, often anticipating needs before they are voiced. Both the living room and bedroom featured buttons to summon a butler, who handles packing and unpacking, delivers beverages and continental breakfast, and performs other guest requests. Female guests can request a female butler and female concierge. Fresh fruit and flowers were refreshed twice daily—amaryllis in the living room and roses in the bathroom—and evening turndown included comfortable slippers. Guests are provided with both terry and silk robes.
The hotel’s 287 guestrooms surround a 14-story atrium topped with skylights. Dining options include Ziya, a contemporary Indian restaurant led by two-Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia, plus Vetro for Italian cuisine, Fenix for internationally inspired dishes, a lounge for light bites and a Champagne and tea bar. The Oberoi also offers a full-service, 24-hour spa overseen by a naturopathic doctor, a 24-hour fitness center, an outdoor sea-view pool and access to facilities at the adjacent Trident Hotel and nearby shopping arcades.
The Experience: Located on Marine Drive in Mumbai’s business district, The Oberoi, Mumbai combines prime location with luxurious accommodations and exemplary service. Staff frequently go beyond basic expectations—offering small extras such as a refreshing mint soda by the pool or a playful towel creation in the room—making for a memorable stay.
GT CHECKLIST
Doorman/valet
Less than 10 minutes for check-in
Separate tub and shower
Large vanity
High-quality towels
Powerful, unattached hair dryer
High-quality bed linens
Large, flat-screen television
Large desk with convenient outlets
Large, complimentary laptop safe
Complimentary in-room WiFi
Complimentary bottled water
Stocked minibar
Ample lighting
In-room coffeemaker
Iron and ironing board
On-site restaurant
24-hour room service
24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center
Turn-down service
The Oberoi, Mumbai
Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400021
Maharashtra, India
tel 9122 6632 5757
oberoihotels.com