Taj Santacruz Mumbai

Mumbai is by no means underrepresented in the Taj portfolio, but it’s by no means an underpopulated city, either, so there’s always room for another. Sandwiched between two airports, the 279-room Taj Santacruz Mumbai adds convenience to the traditional Taj opulence that the global business set has come to expect.

The façade sets a stately tone, blending Art Deco curves and curlicues with stonework of imperial proportions. Further in you’ll find signifiers of high luxury in the lobby: daring chandeliers glittering overhead from a lofty ceiling, mirror-polished surfaces in every direction, and discreetly professional staffers bustling in the middle distance, keeping the whole apparatus oiled. Upstairs, rooms adhere fairly rigidly to a subtly elegant design scheme, elevating amber and goldenrod base notes with traditional Indian decorative accents and timeless touches like etched glass and mother-of-pearl furniture finishes. High-speed wi-fi, LED flatscreens, and substantial desk space should satisfy even the most exacting businessperson, while deep soaking tubs and plush king beds ensure satisfaction on a more basic level.

Tiqri is the destination restaurant, complete with a six-story, color-changing atrium mural and a heady menu of authentic Mumbai cuisine. A pair of aptly named dining outlets round out the food offerings: Rivea riffs on Mediterranean Riviera classics, while China INC. serves beautifully plated Chinese and Szechuan specialties. Work off the weight and the stress at Taj trademark Jiva Spa or in the jacuzzi-equipped fitness center — and there’s also a Maserati showroom, for some fairly extreme retail therapy.