The Imperial opened in 1936 on Janpath, a few minutes from Connaught Place, and it still feels like the New Delhi its architects imagined. A drive lined with royal palms leads to the porch, and the building blends Victorian, Art Deco and Lutyens styles across eight acres. Inside are marble colonnades, Persian carpets and one of the larger private art collections in the city. The 235 rooms run from old-world English to a lighter Art Deco look, with Porthault linens and marble bathrooms. Dining is a strength. The Spice Route serves food from across Asia in rooms painted by hand over seven years, 1911 Restaurant cooks Indian dishes, and San Gimignano is Italian; the 1911 Bar, the Patiala Peg and the Hardinge Bar cover the evening. Behind the hotel the Imperial Lawn gives a quiet garden in the middle of the city, and there is an outdoor pool, a spa, a yoga room and a gym. It works as an urban resort for a first night in India or a rest between journeys.
- Nearest airport
- Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), 7 Miles / 11 Kilometres
- Rooms
- 235 rooms and suites
Insider tip Book a table at The Spice Route and look up: its walls and ceilings were painted by hand with natural dyes over seven years.
Why I choose it It has the history and gardens to make Delhi feel unhurried, and its central position keeps the city's main sights close.