With 284 luxury rooms and suite, five restaurants, and a well-appointed spa, Conrad’s second property in India is delightful for a short break in the city. The two days that I spent last month at the hotel offered me a respite from the unpredictable Delhi weather and gave me a chance to explore the tech city and its myriad of urbane experiences.
Conrad Bengaluru soars at the end of the MG Road, with popular spots in the city just half an hour away. The 50-minute drive from the airport gave me a preview of the city’s meandering streets peppered with beautiful palms. The welcome at the property with a glass of mocktail with raw mangoes and a chandan tika was a reminder that I was in South India, indeed!
The globally-inspired architecture is the first thing you notice when you enter this property – there are modern world details and a hint of gold everywhere. It took almost eight years for the hospitality group Prestige to build this beautiful property and the hotel was inaugurated in January this year.
Perched on the 15th floor of the hotel, my room presented me with beautiful views of Lake Ulsoor from the floor-to-ceiling windows. With my eyes on the glittering waters, I sampled a treat of Mysore Pak tarts from the hotel’s in-house bakery and kickstarted my journey.
The hotel has five restaurants, an outdoor pool, the largest meeting and event spaces in the city with two ballrooms, six meeting rooms and a large boardroom. The helipad has been designed to ensure that the notorious Bengaluru traffic doesn’t mess up the schedule of A-listers and celebrities.
My first day was started with a grand lunch at the all-day dining Caraway Kitchen with a sumptuous meal. The buffet boasted a variety of cuisines ranging from South Indian to Thai. And guess what? Their lunch and breakfast menus change everyday!
After a little nap and a couple of cocktails later, I was ready for the dinner at their in-house Pan Asian restaurant, Mikusu. Their sushi platter is what they’re most famous for and I had my fill of Asian food! With a sigh of contentment, I lounged by the pool with a book in hand and house music playing in the background.
The second day was my introduction to their full-service spa. The session started with traditional washing of the feet with bath salts and a full-body massage which ended with a 15-minute long steam and a peaceful shower. After my masseuse’s ministrations, every bone in my body thanked me for this pampering. I was starving when I came out of the spa, and the next stop became Indian Durbar, the Indian restaurant at the hotel. The head chef of the restaurant had ancestors who served the Mughals, so his recipes and techniques were precious hand-me-downs that were sheer indulgence on the table.
Bangalore is famous for their authentic Hatti Kaapi (coffee). So, I strolled around a couple of places around to get some. After getting my dose of caffeine, it was almost about time to head to dinner. I had a fulfilling dinner at the Tiamo restaurant by the pool with some authentic Turkish meals before calling it a night. I spent most of my time by the pool and felt every bone in my body relax with a sigh here. Did I mention the reason why this was my favourite spot? They have temperature-controlled pools and a bar right next to it, so that you can take the lemons that life give you with a hint of tequila!
A getaway for two days seem short in retrospect, but Conrad Bengaluru offered a welcomed break from my daily routine. As I write this, I am back to the poolside, with a cocktail in hand, looking at the sky turn to a striking orange, then purple and finally with starts twinkling like polka dots against the dark black.
Until we meet again, Bengaluru!
POPxo is getting a makeover and we could not be more excited – a brand new look, fun features and a big surprise!! Check us out on April 2 🙂
