The Malabar House is a documented part of the history of Fort Cochin, the old harbour quarter of Kochi. Its story goes back to 1755, when the Dutchman Jan Herman Clausing bought the property from Mathew Henrich Beyls; it later passed through the hands of spice traders, tea traders and bankers, and in 1997 it became Fort Cochin's first boutique heritage hotel. It is part of the small Malabar Escapes group and a member of Relais & Châteaux. The house mixes heritage, art and comfort: all 17 rooms and suites, from Deluxe Rooms to Roof Garden Suites and the Malabar Suite, have bold colour schemes and show antique and contemporary works of art, and the better suites have private balconies and roof gardens. There is a courtyard pool, the Malabar Junction restaurant, an Ayurvedic spa, Purespa, and yoga, and the group runs its own houseboat for cruises on the Kerala backwaters. A small park lies just in front of the hotel, with the beach and the Chinese fishing nets a little beyond, and the antique market of Jew Town is within walking distance.
- Nearest airport
- Not given on the sources read
- Rooms
- 17 rooms and suites
Insider tip Take the group's own houseboat for a day on the backwaters; book it with your stay so the dates line up.
Why I choose it Fort Cochin's first boutique heritage hotel, a Dutch-era house of art and antiques with a courtyard pool and its own houseboat.