Le Sutra
Mumbai, India
A lovely, quirky art hotel tucked away in a leafy lane of a vibrant Mumbai suburb. Good food, great location
Look out for this little hotel or you might miss it altogether.
However, once you’re past its unassuming frontage
there’s plenty to capture your attention. Conceived as an
'art hotel', this little suburban sanctuary is a great entry point
for first-time travellers to India who want a rapid initiation into
its art, philosophy and culture. Small enough to be a guesthouse
but with the conveniences of a large hotel, including a spa and
concierge services, Le Sutra packs quite a punch with its 14
original and immaculate themed rooms.
From the minute you enter, there’s plenty to look at -
amorphous sculptures, installations tucked into niches, literary
quotations scribbled on walls and intricately inlaid flooring. The
owners mobilised over 150 artists, designers and visualisers from
across the country to help with the design, which was spearheaded
by Mitali Bajaj of Dr. Art + Design, the Mumbai design studio. But
don’t expect expensive, auction-worthy pieces; many of the
artists were art students.
Set in the lively northern suburb of Khar (adjacent to Bandra), Le
Sutra has fantastic access to some of the city's most popular
restaurants and vibrant bars. A hop, skip and jump away is Carter
Road, a waterfront promenade that comes alive at dusk thanks to its
long strip of street-style eateries. It’s also perfect for
that early morning jog. In a city filled with either pricey
signature chains or indistinctive mid-range hotels, Le Sutra is a
cool addition to the pack.
Reviewed by Arati Carroll
Last updated 19 April 2012
Highs
- Close to Mumbai’s most popular suburb, Bandra, which has a thriving nightlife, cosmopolitan feel and great shopping
- The design concept makes for an interesting stay. Ask for a guided tour of the rooms, each a one-off, with a unique carved chair
- Two restaurants, serving excellent food: Out of the Blue offers Indian fare, and is super popular with locals; Olive has Mediterranean meals in a cool Ibiza setting
- The themed rooms, based around the 3 gunas of Hindu philosophy, are full of beautiful detail: Buddha frescoes, horse-head beds, mirror sculptures, lotus-pond showers. Great value for money too
- Books on Indian art, philosophy and yoga in your room
Lows
- You might be disappointed by the lack of facilities: there is no swimming pool or gym
- Not child friendly; best suited to single travellers or couples
- It can get noisy during the day, and we've heard that the next door bar plays loud music until after midnight on Thursday-Saturday nights
- No inspiring views from the bedrooms, despite the hotel’s proximity to the sea
- Service can be laid-back but overall is very friendly and helpful
