There has never been a better time to visit Mumbai
From learning about the history of Old Bombay to discovering the cool neighbourhood of Bandra, there’s no shortage of things to see and do. Mumbai has also built a reputation for its food scene, driven by street food staples like the iconic vada pav, to a wave of new generation chefs popping up; it’s a real melting pot of old and new that doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
One of Mumbai’s newest highlights is hard to miss the moment you arrive. The Fairmont Hotel, which opened early last year, stands so tall next to Mumbai Airport that you’ll spot it from your seat coming into land.
It’s no wonder the building is so huge, with 446 rooms, three restaurants, a tea room, a cocktail bar, a swimming pool and an entire floor dedicated to wellness, all decked out in monochromatic, gold-gilded style, with nods to the Art Deco scene. Being part of the same group as The Savoy and The Plaza, The Fairmont Mumbai is very much keeping up appearances, so much so that you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in New York or London.
The magnificence of the lobby sets the intention for our stay. A cavernous room with marble from floors to ceilings and a huge golden mural centrepiece. They even enhance the air quality throughout. As we check into our suite, we are greeted with epic views overlooking Terminal Two. The room itself follows the theme, with marble bathrooms, a huge king bed, and plenty of space to lounge. Equipped with all the modern wants of any weary traveller, like waterfall showers, a deep bath tub, Le Labo toiletries and a mini bar of treats, you’ll struggle to leave the room.
The spa is a major highlight of the hotel. With the Fairmont’s Blu Xone spa treatments, we could get a quick longevity-boosting fix in in as little as three minutes (although when you’re in -80 degrees, these three minutes feel more like 300). There are five treatments to choose from, each targeted to rejuvenate, including an -80 degree cabin and oxygen chambers. This is something we’ve rarely seen offered at a hotel but is certainly worth trying, especially if you’re a newbie like us.
Once you’ve had a refresh in the spa, there”s plenty of food to get stuck into. The Merchants is the hotel’s all-day dining food hall. It’s huge, with buffet-style counters featuring a sushi bar, an Indian street-food stall, and even its own chocolatier. It’s open 24 hours, ideal if you land late and need some sustenance.
Upstairs, you’ll find Oryn, the Cantonese and Sichuan restaurant and Mediterranean restaurant Samaa. Oryn is stunning inside, inspired by 1920s Shanghai, with maroon velvet drapes, moody lighting, and its own glasshouse terrace. We loved everything we ate, but couldn’t get enough of the king prawn with Peruvian asparagus and the wok-tossed cumin lamb. Samaa, located on the terrace, reminded us of an Ibiza-style beach club, with a live saxophonist, a shisha menu and a runway backdrop.
If you’re a cocktail aficionado, the Hedonist bar, a hidden gem tucked away on the ground floor, is a must-visit. The cocktails were well-balanced and beautifully presented, our favourite being the Pearls of Wisdom.
Mumbai can definitely be a sensory overload, in the best way. Having so much to see meant we were thankful to come back to the Fairmont for a welcome reset, giving us the perfect balance of sightseeing and recuperating. Being so close to the airport was a huge bonus too, giving us more time in the jacuzzi and less time stuck in Mumbai’s infamous traffic – a win all around.
Key Information
Address | T2 C06 At C T S No 1405 (Part), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, International Airport T2 400099 Mumbai India
For more information | fairmont.com
