28 Kothi

It’s no grand statement, no hospitality revolution. And with just five rooms it isn’t going to fundamentally alter the Jaipur hotel scene. But what makes a place like 28 Kothi so extraordinary is precisely that — that it seems to exist for no reason other than to bring a little bit of gratuitous beauty into the world. A collaboration between an Indian jeweler, a French architect, a Lebanese interior designer, and a restaurateur who splits his time between New York and Mumbai, it’s nothing if not cosmopolitan. And though its luxuries border on the extravagant, the low cost of lodging in Jaipur means this fantasy can be had for a relative pittance.

Rajasthani craftsmanship meets modern design in the rooms, which range from a relatively humble single to a suite that spans an entire floor. The location is quiet, discreetly tucked away in a residential neighborhood, and the atmosphere throughout is more akin to a guest house than a hotel. There’s no restaurant per se, and why should there be, for just ten guests? Instead you’ll dine on made-to-order vegetarian dishes as you lounge in the gardens or on the terraces. Let the rest of Rajasthan bowl you over with riotous activity — this is where you’ll retreat for serene, genteel calm.