Luxury in Bengaluru has never really been about showing off. It is more about knowing where to disappear for an afternoon, which hotel has the best garden, where the cocktails are worth dressing up for and, increasingly, which lobby you would happily spend an hour in even when you are not checking in. From old-school addresses that have been part of the city’s fabric for decades to newer hotels bringing a sharper, more contemporary energy, Bengaluru’s luxury scene has quietly become one of the country’s most interesting.
At The Leela Palace Bengaluru, the mood is unapologetically grand, with its palatial architecture, sprawling gardens and the kind of old-world atmosphere that makes you forget the city outside. The Oberoi, Bengaluru, takes a quieter route, with polished interiors, attentive service and an easy elegance that never feels like it is trying too hard. The Ritz Carlton, Bangalore, brings a more social energy to the mix, with its dining, bars and central location making it as much a place to meet for the evening as it is somewhere to check into. Then there is Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru, which has made a strong case for the city staycation, offering somewhere to spend the afternoon by the pool, linger over lunch and generally pretend you have gone away without actually leaving Bengaluru
