Mumbai boasts of countless luxurious 5-star hotels each better than the other. There is no end of options to choose from. The concept of staycation came to the forefront during Covid when many of us couldn't leave our city to travel be it due to the fear of catching Covid due to exposure to airports or due to the fact that travel for tourism was highly restricted domestic and internationally during that time. Being the travel addict that I am, the idea of a staycation was a great respite for me during the pandemic. Having stayed at many of the 5 stars in Mumbai during the pandemic and pre-pandemic time, if there was one hotel I had to shortlist considering all factors, for the top staycation destination in Mumbai, it would definitely be St. Regis Mumbai in my opinion. In this blog post, I will get into the details of why I feel St. Regis ticks all the boxes for an ideal staycation for Mumbaikars.
1. LOCATION
St. Regis Mumbai is located in the Lower Parel area. It has in its immediate vicinity the famous Phoenix Palladium Mall formerly known as High Street Phoenix and Palladium. This mall is considered one of the top shopping malls in Mumbai. This sets it apart from any other 5-star hotel in Mumbai. Let's face it, you will spend a few hours in the room and then you do require some entertainment or activity. That's where Phoenix Palladium comes in. There is an entry into the mall directly from the main entrance area of St. Regis, making it really convenient to access it. There is so much to do at the mall from luxury shopping, watching a movie, pampering yourself t a salon, unlimited eating options, big retail brand chains to shop from, cafes and more. Some of my favourite brands to visit here are Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Diesel, Vero Moda, Masaba, Ritu Kumar and H & M. Some of my favourite eateries are Pa Pa Ya ( Asian), Nutcracker (continental), Indigo Deli (continental), Foo Asian Tapas and of course Starbucks for coffee. My favourite salon to visit there is Jean Claude Biguine. I also like to go to Food Hall, a premium grocery store for all my chips, chocolates and drinks needs. There are many budget dining and shopping options in the mall as well. Being next door to this world-class mall really makes it a huge plus point at least for me. I know that the hotel dining and the hotel spa are also available, but having the mall gives me even more choices for restaurants, entertainment and more. At the same time compared to 5-star dining, it is more pocket friendly. Also close by is the famous Kamala Mills, which is well known for its top-rated eateries. You can either go there or you can use apps like Swiggy or Zomato to order food from there to be delivered to the hotel.
2. ROOMS AND DECOR
In Pic - Grand Hotel Lobby
In Pic - Racecourse View From the Room
The St. Regis Mumbai is one of the most opulent and beautifully designed 5-star hotels in Mumbai. The grand lobby on the 9th floor is a sight to behold, with its tall multi-floor layout, marble flooring, gold elements and luxurious furniture. This massive space welcomes you as you proceed to the check-in area. You really feel like you have entered a modern-day palace. Even the base category rooms here are so well-designed and spacious, you won't be disappointed. You know when you enter some hotels the rooms seem dated or in need of a facelift, well here you won't have that issue. The rooms are refreshing and modern, giving glorious views of the city as the rooms start from the 10th floor. Another thing I really like is that even the normal guest rooms have a bathtub, which is missing in some other 5-star hotels. There is ample closet space, a well-designed and fully stocked bathroom with a separate bathtub and shower area, an extremely comfortable bed and a sitting area. In the numerous times I have stayed there in different rooms and on different floors, not even once I felt that any of the rooms were lacking or having any issues whatsoever. This gives us a glimpse into how well-maintained this hotel really is.
3. BREAKFAST AND DINING OPTIONS
I can without a doubt say as per my personal experience, that the St. Regis breakfast served at the Seven Kitchens is the best buffet breakfast that I have ever had in the world. Yes, that's right, I did say the world. I have travelled a lot and eaten a lot over the world, but the variety, spread, flavour and effort put into the St. Regis buffet breakfast is a class apart. My suggestion is that when you book the room, get the breakfast included package. The sheer joy I get when I glance at this breakfast buffet is just overwhelming. Salads, cereals, juices and milkshakes, cheeses and a huge variety of freshly baked breads and pastries! Sushi, Mediterranean dips, a separate pancake and waffle counter with all the toppings one could imagine!! A separate eggs counter, an Asian section, North and South Indian Section, Continental Section and an Indian chai section!!! I can't put into words the mind-blowing variety and quality of the food served here, along with the ever-helpful staff getting to your table the special treats of the day and more. Yes, variety everyone can do but everything you taste has such great flavour. This is an extremely extensive and well-thought-out breakfast spread and according to me, it deserves a standing ovation! A good tip is to reach the breakfast buffet by 8 am as after 9-9:30 it starts to get crowded. They also have one of the largest variety of restaurants compared to other Mumbai five-star hotels. They have over 6 different restaurants including a Middle Eastern (Sette Mara) and a newly opened Japanese-Peruvian restaurant (Koishii) which is all over Instagram right now for its dramatic dishes. You can enjoy a delightful afternoon tea experience at The Drawing Room. They have launched an exclusive elevated experience called The Penthouse which is on their top floors and has many dining and nightlife experiences. Almost every week, they design speciality Sunday Brunches at Seven Kitchens with different themes and inspirations. All in all, they have really set themselves apart in the dining and bar experiences as well. They take an effort to keep on innovating to create new and exciting dining experiences for their guests.
So as per my personal experiences and preferences, I truly feel that my top staycation destination in Mumbai is St. Regis. I feel that it is the perfect combination of the factors I have given above and the times I have spent there have been really memorable for me. Thank you for reading ❤️
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