The Oberoi Mumbai

Unlike many of Mumbai’s most glamourous hotels, the Oberoi is not about old-school opulence. The lobby is sleek, chic and very contemporary - water features and specially-commissioned artworks are fun and enticing, as is the pillar-box red grand piano! Restaurant-wise, expect Michelin-starred chefs and a selection of cuisine from Japan to India to Italy, as well two bars (a champagne bar and the velvet-adorned Eau, perfect for a pre-dinner something), a bakery and a deli. The spa is as fabulous as you would expect, and there’s also a fitness room and in-hotel shopping centre.

As you may have guessed from the exterior, the Oberoi is not small and there are 287 rooms in total, all with floor-to-ceiling bay windows. Choose forward-facing for endless views of the Arabian Sea, or city-facing for the glittering lights of Nariman Point. Inside, you’ll find heavy oak furniture atop polished floors, colourful paintings, and plenty of heavy drapes to frame the views. The ensuite bathrooms are smooth and shiny and all have freestanding baths, showers and TVs. The different levels of suites are progressively larger, right up to the Presidential number, and most occupy the corner spots of the building, offering 270-degree views of the sea and the city.

The hotel will gladly organise tours, or a driver and a car to take you around the city sights. Walking tours are a great way to get under the skin of Mumbai and the Heritage Walk stops by most of the highlights - the university, Victoria Terminus and the High Court to name a few - and the Spice Trail is a favourite for foodies. If art is your thing, head to the Khala Ghoda, a stretch of the city’s most beautiful galleries and museums, and if you’re in the mood for some shopping, all you need to do is step outside the front door…