The Oberoi, Mumbai — Hotel in Mumbai

By far the BEST hotel experience we have ever had while abroad...and we travel a LOT!

The Oberoi Mumbai FAR exceeded our expectations. We usually stay at Ritz Carltons or JW Marriots, but the Oberoi staff blew our past experiences there away. (No disrespect meant to Ritz or Marriott --we love them-- but the team at the Oberoi are second to NONE!)

From the moment we stepped on property we were treated like royalty. Rochelle took us directly to our room and completed check-in from the comfort of our suite -- she was SO sweet and smiley! A delicious tea and juice drink was brought by the butler to welcome us as we were finishing the formalities, and our luggage arrived moments later. Every interaction with the staff was beyond pleasant, from the bellmen handling our luggage to housekeeping (4x a day!), the spa (ask for Umila), restaurant servers...even the general manager introduced himself on the stairs -- he knew us by name, even though we had not had any interaction before. Truly, TRULY impressed by their attention to the details. (We left our cell phones plugged in and charging when we went to breakfast, and when we returned to the room the staff had rolled and organized all of our charging cords, complete with little monogrammed velcro ties to keep them from tangling!)

There were two tiny hiccups during our stay, but the staff resolved them so quickly that they never seemed like an issue. (I only mention them because we have never seen a hiccup handled so well!)

1 - Their lounge is being remodeled, and the construction noise started at 8am sharp...it felt like they were drilling through the bedroom wall (loudly), non-stop for several hours. We mentioned it at the desk downstairs and they immediately arranged for us to relocate to a higher floor. We headed out to explore the city, and when we returned the butler had transferred all of our luggage and the front desk met us at the elevator with the new keys and room number. They handled it so smoothly that is didn't feel like an inconvience at all.

2 - My husband had arranged a private spice lesson for me with their Executive Chef (I love cooking, and this trip was a birthday present for me to learn about authentic Indian cuisine). Due to a large group buying out the restaurant that night, his special arrangements for me slipped through the cracks. (No big deal, it happens sometimes) Not only did the chef apologize profusely for the mix-up, but he also left the group in the hands of his team and PERSONALLY cooked us dinner that evening. When I expressed an interest in one of the dishes, he typed up the recipe (along with photos), and had them delivered to my room. He also made an appearance at our table each and every meal after that, taking time out of his day to explain the spices and cooking techniques used in every dish we ordered. When we checked out this morning, the chef came to ask my email -- he is going to email me recipes for EVERYTHING. He and his team went above and beyond our expectations, making our experience feel so personalized and special. We had dinner at their Italian restaurant one evening (before meeting Chef), and their tasting menu and wines paired PERFECTLY. Kudos to their sommelier! The piano player and singers should have a recording contract -- I could have sworn it was the ghost of Louis Armstrong!

My husband and I booked massage appointments at the spa, and they far exceeded our expectations! (Ask for 'Umila' -- her Balinese massage was the best deep tissue EVER!) The pool area is kept spotlessly clean, with phenomenal chair-side service.

I could write for DAYS about how pleasant and happy our stay at the Oberoi Mumbai was. Truly the best hotel experience we have ever had. Its the PEOPLE that make this place so special, and we will choose an Oberoi property every time now, given the chance. Their service goes way...

When you look at it logically, there's a reason why classic hotels are considered classic hotels. It's decades upon decades of experience that culminates in your stay being absolutely awesome and that's exactly what you get when you stay at the Oberoi. This isn't an unknown entity. The Oberoi is often considered to be amongst the best hotels in the city and every member of staff there ensures to live up to that name. Yes, the rooms are wonderfully done up and extremely comfortable. There's no form over function here. Does it look good? Yes. Does that take precedence over comfort? No. And that's exactly how it should be. The Ocean-facing rooms at the Oberoi also have, in my estimation, one of the best views in the city of Mumbai, only beaten by their sister-hotel–The Trident– and their Queen's Necklace view rooms.

But as mentioned earlier, it's the service here that really stands out. From the moment you enter the hotel to when you check out, every staff member works as hard as I've ever seen anyone work to ensure you have everything you require. Sushmita at the front desk as well as Priyanka, Divesh, and Gaurav deserve a special shoutout. They go out of the way to make sure you're comfortable and if you're visiting for an occasion, they take care of all the little details to make your stay even more special.

We can't imagine how difficult it is to keep everything spic and span during these times and Prajakta and Ameya and the entire housekeeping team does an outstanding job. Finally, Savio was exceptional help when we misplaced something around checkout time.

All in all, whether you're visiting the city for work, for pleasure, or you stay here and just want to celebrate an occasion or have a small staycation, The Oberoi truly is luxury in Mumbai at its finest. Splurge a little and opt for one of the ocean-facing rooms or for one of the suites. It's worth it and it's a place I'll definitely be staying at in the...

Truly a Phoenix rising from the ashes of its past. It’s no wonder that the architects of this sprawling hotel in one of the most revered parts of Bombay, have done a terrific work with redesigning it piece by piece, with their meticulous attention, love and honour. Each piece of marble, each window and windowsill, and each piece of craft here has been honoured. Mr. PRS Oberoi, the Executive Chairman must be thanked, because if facts are to be known, he has been down on the field while the hotel was being resurrected. The Ocean View Executive Suite, offers you marvellously well, the serene cool blue panorama of the Arabian Sea, indulging your visuals abundantly - with the thin white coastal strip of Marine Drive, thriving right underneath your window. No wonder, you always feel like you’re floating! Be it in the chicly decorated living-room, or the cute study that adorns it, where one can sit and work at leisure for hours; work meets peace? Here, at Oberoi. The bedroom sea - view, is such that one can wake up to a dawn that bathes the sea with its gentle purple hue... Even the bathtub surprises you, as you can enjoy your afternoon, drinking wine, while watching the sea, sparkle like a diamond. There is a round-the-clock Butler service, just for you, only a button away, on the bedside. As the evening falls, look at the skyline of Bombay, and absorb the spectacular Queen’s Necklace lights. An excellent way to dine is at the Ziya, because after a heavy day of work, this place makes one feel unwinded, relaxed and cozied, with its soothingly-lit aura and beautifully done delicacies, served at a drop-of-hat, by an equivalently classy service staff. Overall, The Oberoi, Neriman Point, Mumbai, is highly suggested, for anyone looking for a getaway from their mundane, or be taken in by their mundane, but all of that, submerged peacefully in the oceanic veil of luxury...