Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

In some towns the Four Seasons is among the most conservative luxury hotels in town. But in Mumbai, and in India in general, it would take some doing to out-classic some of the grand old palace hotels. Here the new Four Seasons is all contemporary: from the gleaming glass facade of the Four Seasons Tower to the brand-new fleet of twenty Series 7 BMWs.

Here it should be noted that contemporary isn’t the same as avant-garde. The stone-clad lobby is impressive, almost monumental, but in subdued, natural colors. Upstairs the guest rooms avoid both colonial clichés and Taj Mahal kitsch, but they’re definitely not cutting-edge — the interiors take a back seat to the views, especially if your room faces the Arabian Sea, and the focus is on the creature comforts: marble baths with separate soaking tubs, oversized LCD televisions, all the usual five-star trappings.

The location, in the southern Worli district, means many business travelers will find it ideally placed. But it’s not all about work. The spa covers two whole floors of the building, and if you can’t find relaxation there, or in the Four Seasons’ daily yoga sessions, then we don’t know what to do with you.

How to get there: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is 20 km (12 miles) and approximately one hour by car from the hotel, while Santa Cruz Domestic Airport is 15 km (9 miles) and approximately 45 minutes by car from the hotel.