9 Best Hotels in Delhi, India

Easily the most appealing hotel in Delhi, with a driveway lined by soaring king palms, the luxurious Imperial offers unparalleled service and location. It was designed by Lutyens' associate F.B. Blomfield in a unique mixture of colonial, Victorian, and Art Deco styles, and the terrace of the Royal Imperial Suite peeks out from above the entrance. Inside, the building is well lit and hung with original lithographs and engravings. Guest rooms continue the Raj look with quilted bedspreads and marble or parquet floors; "Heritage" rooms have sitting areas and are significantly more sumptuous than the cheapest rooms.

A favorite with executives and dignitaries, the ITC Maurya works hard to style itself as the swankiest hotel in Delhi, and the whole place buzzes with importance. The lobby soars, yet somehow creates intimacy; its three-tiered, wood-beamed dome has a fantastic technicolor mural. Fountains outside the picture windows add a natural touch. Rooms are varied but essentially Western, and the more money you spend, the more wood paneling, plush carpeting, and pampering you receive.

After a nearly two-year, multimillion-dollar refurbishment, the beloved hotel reopened in 2018 in a fresh new avatar though still retaining much of its classic Indian charm; highlights of the change include more spacious rooms and technological upgrades. The wood-floored rooms filled with light from large windows that overlook the Humayun’s Tomb or the lush golf course. Loyalists can happily return to good old Threesixty, the main restaurant, along with a host of great new dining additions.

Facilities are top-notch in this giant, boomerang-shape hotel with first-rate business services and good leisure amenities. The teak-panel business center has laptops for rent, the health club is amply outfitted, the beauty salon has a range of treatments, and the outdoor pool overlooks manicured lawns. There's even a putting green. Aside from giant traditional lanterns in the sprawling marble lobby, the building is Western and designed for corporate convenience. Half the rooms face the pool and lawns; the rest have city views. 

In an exclusive 1930s neighborhood dripping with late-Raj charm, this quiet Taj Group hotel's service is heartwarmingly friendly. The small marble lobby has comfortable banquette seating; upstairs, the hallways are windowed and bright. Most rooms have carpeting, basic teak furniture, city or garden views, and a modern bathroom; a few have tile floors, area rugs, and old-style bath fixtures. Try to get a garden-facing room in front, as rooms in back can be noisy.

In 1950, three years after Independence, an Indian family was talked into building a hotel with a British aesthetic, and the result was a winner: tasteful yet unpretentious, in a central yet quiet location. The old-fashioned charm starts on the front lawn strewn with cane chairs, and in the lobby, with its two swing staircases. Standard rooms are medium-size, but all rooms facing the pool have either a window seat, terrace, or balcony. Rooms in the newer wing have plasma televisions, marble floors, and immaculately designer furnishings.

For its size and range of amenities, the Hyatt has a surprisingly homey feel. The mirror-spangled lobby is suffused with light from the pool-facing pastry shop at the back—where you can relax with good European desserts. Guest rooms have parquet floors, a rarity in India; views on the pool side are better. Choose a breakfast-inclusive rate to access a lavish spread each morning.

An exclusive hotel at an exclusive address, The Lodhi is over-the-top luxury all the way, starting with the private pool nestled on the balcony of most of the rooms. Standard rooms are more than spacious, and the suites are massive. There are also service apartments, the rate for which is negotiable. Calm and quiet grandeur is the theme, with dark wood and soothing neutral tones. With excellent dining options, plus a spa and hammam, you might not want to leave the grounds.