Imperial Hotel

Delhi, India
Book from GBP Book from £278 per night

Imperial Hotel

Delhi, India

Delhi’s landmark hotel makes the perfect entry point to India - grand, luxurious and very elegant

Delhi’s landmark hotel makes the perfect entry point to India - grand, luxurious and very elegant

An elegant blend of Victorian, colonial and Art Deco styles, the Imperial Hotel is undoubtedly Delhi’s finest. Built in 1931 by Bromfield, it's rich in history and has undergone extensive and immensely stylish renovations to restore it to its former glory. With its Italian marble floors, Burma teak and rosewood furniture, high ceilings, spacious gardens and superb restaurants, this hotel exudes luxury, right in the heart of Delhi.

The Deco Suites are truly stunning and the Imperial and Heritage Rooms are amongst the largest to be found in the capital. The grand and impressive public areas and restaurants, replete with outstanding works of art, will make you feel like a Rajah.

Situated on Janpath, just a stone’s throw from the renowned shopping and commercial district of Connaught Place, you'll find museums, theatres, monuments, parks and cultural sites at your doorstep.

Highs

  • The hotel has been sensitively and stylishly refurbished over the years
  • The wonderful, central location means you can walk out to the shops and sites
  • There's an amazing choice of restaurants
  • The Deco Suites are to die for - huge, state of the art and good value
  • The atmosphere is relaxed and refined - this is a wonderful place to start or end your trip in India

Lows

  • The hotel restaurants are becoming very popular and are open to outside guests, so booking ahead is often necessary
  • If the hotel is busy, the service in the coffee shop can be slow
  • There's limited parking
  • With over 200 rooms, it's huge by i-escape's standards, but it's Delhi's best hotel

Best time to go

The best time to visit is from October to early April, when there is generally a dry heat with very little humidity. The city can get pretty cold in the mornings and evenings during December, January and February, though it's warm and sunny during the daytime. The weather begins to get humid in May and June, when temperatures can get uncomfortable. The monsoon breaks in July and lasts until September. October and November are still warm, but not too wet.

Our top tips

Although there's no official dress code, this is a luxurious city hotel - change into something smart for dinner and you'll feel more comfortable in the on-site restaurants.

Great for...

Family
Foodie
Spa
  • Luxury Hotel
  • 234 rooms
  • Restaurants and bars (open daily)
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Outdoor Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car not necessary
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
  • Concierge Service
Room: Deco Room

Rooms

There are 234 rooms and suites in total, each with a distinct interior - some are Art Deco in style with elegant muted tones and clean lines, others have a colonial feel, with richly coloured rugs and ornate antique furniture. Most rooms overlook the lush, verdant gardens; all offer total privacy and all the facilities you would expect from a 5-star hotel. The marble bathrooms have separate showers and bathtubs, as well as hairdryers and telephones. Two bottles of mineral water are provided per person per day.

Each floor is dedicated to an artist and original works adorn the walls in the corridors and rooms. The 45 suites are breathtaking - some with an area of 650 sq. ft., making them easily the largest in India and some of the largest in Asia. The most luxurious is the vast Royal Imperial Suite, which has guilt furniture, chandeliers, lofty ceilings, enormous mirrors, inlaid marble floors and Italian sculptures. It encompasses a bedroom with a four-poster bed, a huge seating area, a library of books, a private terrace and its own Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

There are rooms on the ground floor with ramps and easy access for wheelchairs, and many rooms are non-smoking (rooms 22-30 on the ground floor, rooms 202-271 on the second floor and rooms 302-331 on the third floor). Some of the Imperial and Heritage Rooms have been designed with female guests in mind and are located in a dedicated area, with security cameras for added peace-of-mind.

Features include:

  • Hairdryer
  • Minibar
  • Safe box
  • WiFi

Eating

With a choice of 4 different world-class restaurants, 3 bars and 24-hour room service, you need never venture out to satiate your palate.

The Spice Route has been voted as one of the top 10 restaurants in the world by Condé Nast Traveler (US). In its dark, cavernous and museum-like interior (designed by Rajeev Sethi, India’s cultural czar), you can feast on superb South-East Asian cuisine. The adjoining courtyard is a lovely, light and airy place to dine.

The 1911 Restaurant pays tribute to the historic milestone of the year 1911, which led to the emergence of New Delhi as the Imperial Capital of India. This is the hotel’s signature restaurant with cuisine from the world over. Its veranda, popularly known as ‘The Garden Party’, overlooks 3 acres of beautiful gardens and is wonderful inside or out, depending on the weather and temperature. The patio and the garden are open in fine weather for al fresco dining.

The 1911 Bar is one of the most popular bars in Delhi and has a very colonial atmosphere. Deep, comfy leather chairs and bar stools are the perfect place to spend time drinking and chatting. There are also 2 adjoining private rooms, which may be hired for private parties and dinners - the ‘Hardinge Room’ and the ‘Lutyens & Baker Room’. The bar is well stocked, with more than 500 varieties of fine wines, liquors and spirits. There's usually an excellent live band playing jazz in the background.

Daniell’s Tavern traces a culinary journey in the footsteps of Thomas and William Daniell, the famous landscape painters who arrived in India in 1786 to capture its unrivalled scenery. A live band plays on weekends, there are great drinks at the bar, a fine selection of cigars is on offer and there's an extensive à-la-carte menu of worldwide cuisine.

San Gimignano is a restaurant inspired by the medieval town of the same name in the heart of Tuscany. Delicious Italian cuisine is served in surroundings decorated to reflect Tuscan landscape and architecture. There's also a private garden, more popularly known as ‘Paradiso DiVino’, which is open when the weather's fine.

Patiala Peg is a stylish bar with an impressive range of spirits and a cosy atmosphere - it's a relaxing place to spend time at the end of the day. The Atrium has a high-domed ceiling, tropical plants and humming fountains, creating just the right atmosphere for a traditional English afternoon tea, enjoyed in deep wicker armchairs.

If you fancy a sweet treat, there's also a French-style patisserie, La Baguette, selling a range of calorific gateaux and pastries.

Features include:

  • Bar
  • Breakfast
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurants nearby
  • Room service
Eating: 1911 Bar
Activity:

Activities

  • Old Delhi's most famous historical site, the Red Fort, is located just north of the city centre. A typical Indian Moghul fort, with grand halls, royal baths, mosques, palaces and extensive gardens, it's a haven from the chaos of the city and is well worth a visit

  • There's a multitude of museums in Delhi, ranging from the National Museum, the National Gallery of Modern Art and the Nehru Museum to the quirky International Dolls Museum, the Rail Transport Museum and the Natural History Museum

  • Delhi is a shopper's paradise - from the bustling and colourful bazaar of Chandni Chowk (Silver Street) in Old Delhi, to the more organised and selective 'state emporiums' on and around Janpath, where you can find everything from woodcarvings, furniture and brasswork to paintings, clothes and textiles

  • After a packed day's sightseeing, spend time relaxing in the hotel's refreshing reflection swimming pool

  • Or unwind with a treatment or massage (Shiatsu, Swedish massages, body scrubs, aromatherapy treatments and reflexology) at the hotel's spa

  • Visit the hotel's resident astrologer to find out what your future holds

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Historical sites
  • Museums / galleries
  • Nightlife
  • Shopping / markets
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Traditional cultures

Kids

The hotel accepts children of all ages and kids can stay in their parents’ bedroom for an additional charge. Cots, extra beds and babysitting are all available on request.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Babysitting:

Babysitting is available by arrangement.

Baby equipment:

Baby cots are available on request.

Remember  baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking

Kid Friendly:

Location

Imperial Hotel is a stone’s throw from the renowned shopping and commercial district of Connaught Place in New Delhi.

By Air
Delhi Indira Gandhi International (20km away) is the closest airport and has many international and domestic links; click on the links below for a list of airlines.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange private airport transfers. Alternatively, jump in a taxi, but be sure to agree a price beforehand. The airport is also linked to the city centre via the metro (see below).

By Train
Delhi is easily reached by train from almost anywhere within India. There are 4 main railway stations - Old Delhi, Nizamuddin, Sarai Rohilla and New Delhi; taxis are readily available at all of them.

By Car
Driving in Delhi is not for the faint-hearted, but hiring a car and driver is a good way to see the city. Delhi is an easy drive from Neemrana, Kesroli, Gurgaon, Kuchesar and Meerut. and a longer drive from Shekavati, Jaipur, Agra, Corbett, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Moradabad and Chandigarh.

Getting Around
The hotel can arrange taxis, rickshaws and cars with drivers. Alternatively, the rapidly-expanding Delhi metro is fast, safe and air-conditioned; the hotel is within a short walk of the Patel Chowk, Barakhamba Road and Chandi Chowk metro stations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Delhi and getting around

Airports:

  • Delhi Indira Gandhi International 20.0 km DEL

Other:

  • Beach 999.0 km
  • Shops 0.5 km
  • Restaurant 0.1 km

Rates for Imperial Hotel

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