Old Harbour Hotel

Stylish art-centric heritage hotel with superb service in the heart of Kerala’s colonial jewel, Cochin

In a country as hectic as India, laidback Cochin, wedged between swathes of jungle on the most south-westerly edge of India, is a rare oasis of tranquility. Once a thriving trading post, the sleepy old town, Fort Cochin, is a colonial gem, its white-washed porticoed buildings reflecting eras of both Dutch and Portuguese rule.

The Old Harbour Hotel, recently converted from the premises of a English tea-broking firm, is in a prime location within a few steps of Cochin’s famous Chinese fishing nets. Young, funky owner and art-lover Edgar Pinto enlisted the help of Swiss/German architect Karl Damschen to deliver the heritage hotel concept with a fresh modern stroke. Its 13 spacious rooms and suites look out over a pretty internal courtyard or the lily pond and garden. The restaurant terrace also overlooks the relaxing tropical garden; ideal for recovering from Cochin's busy street life. The clean lime-washed walls of the 200-year-old building double up as a gallery for an impressive contemporary Indian art collection.

Highs

• You can listen to traditional musicians and the croaking of the frogs in the lily pond from the beautiful garden restaurant
• There's an immaculate raised infinity pool, with sunloungers dotted around the fragrant grounds
• The staff are friendly and the approach is wonderfully informal - there’s no reception as such, you just wander in
• The beautifully restored architecture, stylish rooms and great attention to detail create a delightful ambience
• It's a good option for young families, as children can run around the garden safely while you catch a few zzzs by the pool

Lows

• Pesky crows occasionally drop a bit of partly chewed fish into the garden and hover around the pool. Avoid sitting under branches occupied by the birds
• Some may find the beds a little hard
• Reports suggest the service in the restaurant can sometimes be a little slow, and the menu is quite westernised