Opened in 1988, The LaLiT New Delhi is the flagship of the Indian-based Lalit Suri Hospitality Group. The 461-room property has undergone many name changes, beginning with the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza at its opening, then as the New Delhi Hilton International in 1995, before becoming InterContinental The Grand in 1997. When its franchise agreement with IHG ended in 2008, the hotel subsequently adopted its present name in tribute to group founder, Lalit Suri.

Booking The LaLiT New Delhi

After spending about a week in Mumbai, it was time for me to head to my next destination: Kathmandu. However, for review purposes, I needed to position myself in Delhi to fly Nepal Airlines’ Airbus A330-200 product. As I would only be in Delhi overnight, I decided to find a relatively affordable hotel that’s close enough to Old Delhi. And that was where The LaLiT New Delhi checked all my boxes. For my one-night stay, I paid a rate of INR 12750, equivalent to GBP 110 or USD 150. This booked me into an entry-level Deluxe Twin Room, inclusive of breakfast and WiFi internet.

Location

The LaLiT is located in Connaught Place, in New Delhi’s central business district. The hotel lies within a walkable distance of a few attractions like Jantar Mantar, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, as well as India Gate in Lutyen’s Delhi. Furthermore, it is close to both Barakhamba Road Metro Station and Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, both of which are a 15-minute walk away. As I was staying for a short overnight, I wasn’t able to get a feel of the hotel’s surroundings. Nevertheless, I found it to be close enough to be convenient to explore old Delhi before I had to go back to Indira Gandhi International Airport for my Nepal Airlines flight to Kathmandu.

Check-in

After arriving in the evening on my Air India flight from Mumbai, I took a 40-minute Uber ride to The LaLiT. I was dropped off at the porte-cochère, where my luggage and I had to undergo security checks (as is standard in India). After the fact, I was welcomed inside and directed to the reception desk located under a prominently displayed painting by India’s M.F. Husain at the other end of the marble lobby.

At the desk, I was greeted by the incredibly welcoming and friendly Adit. He was quick to ask about my trip as he processed my check-in. Surprised by my short stay, he proactively recommended places for me to visit during my limited day hours the next day. After a short, pleasant chat, he explained the breakfast timing and location, as well as the facilities of the hotel, before handing me the keys to my room. What a nice welcome to Delhi!

Deluxe Twin Room

I was assigned a Deluxe Twin Room on the 16th floor, which is sized at a nice 40 sqm (432 sqft). From the entryway, the space opens up to reveal a modern and cosy-looking room – a complete contrast from the dimly-lit, cavernous lobby. With its light-coloured wooden floor, warm tones, and relaxed lighting, the room certainly feels very pleasant and inviting, particularly when you compare it to the outdated rooms at The LaLiT Mumbai.

Bedroom

Whereas the design is very agreeable, I was quite surprised by the positioning of the beds and nightstand. For one, I felt that they were placed very far apart from each other, making it awkward to reach the bedside power outlets and light switches. If anything, the position of the accent light does suggest that the furniture has been moved around; assuming such a case, I’m surprised that they have not been moved back to the original position between guests.

Tightly wedged between the bed and the window sits a plush, cumin-yellow armchair with a matching ottoman, accompanied by a small table. Given how limited the space is, it seems even more likely that the furniture has been rearranged. I wasn’t too bothered, however, considering that I was only staying for the night.

Regardless of the room’s arrangement, I found the bed to be a bit too stiff for my liking; for one, it could benefit from an extra mattress topper for a more comfortable sleeping surface. Additionally, across the bed you’ll find a flat-screen television hung on the wall, with a work desk and a built-in luggage rack placed on either side of it.

Finally, I’ll also add that the closet and the minibar are located by the entryway. Four bottles of mineral water is provided for free at the minibar, which is a bit too few, if you ask me. You’ll also find a safety deposit box hidden in the console under the minibar surface.

Bathroom

Located by the bedroom’s entryway is the nice-looking full marble bathroom. This features a sizeable sink and vanity, alongside a toilet equipped with a handheld bidet. Simple and modern, the bathroom’s ambience is elevated by being bathed in bright, warm light. There is also a window that looks into the bedroom, which allows sunlight to permeate the space during the day; of course, a privacy blind is installed to separate the space when in use.

Despite the lack of a bathtub, I do appreciate the spaciousness of the shower stall; in particular, this is equipped with both a rain shower and a handheld shower, alongside a narrow built-in marble bench. Furthermore, the water pressure and temperature were both good and consistent, which is a nice change from the situation at The LaLiT Mumbai.

The bath amenities were Kronokare Monsoon Bliss-branded. The brand is an Indian manufacturer of skin care products founded by a Frenchman and catering mainly to hotels. Being the main amenity at many LaLiT hotels, I still found them to be nicer, in terms of scent and quality, than the average unbranded toiletry.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served at the 24/7 Restaurant between 07.00 and 10.30 daily. As its name suggests, this is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, located by the reception in the lobby. At the entrance, I was promptly invited to take a seat anywhere I’d like after mentioning my room number.

As expected from any large hotel, the breakfast is served in a buffet style. Fitting with the theme of extravagance and lavishness in India, the buffet featured a multitude of dishes – from the usual traditional breakfast options, to various salads, curries, as well as an array of sweets and pastries. Likewise, the food included dishes from a variety of cuisines, including Indian, Western, East Asian, and Continental. I’ll also note that the food was nice and of a relatively good quality. Regardless, I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves.

Amenities

Art Junction

The hotel’s namesake founder, the late Lalit Suri, was a notable art collector in India. As such, it is no surprise to see an art gallery taking up a prominent section of the hotel’s public area. Located on the mezzanine floor across the Spiceology spa, the gallery features a full collection pieced together by the hotel’s in-house curator. A bit of an art fan myself, I was thrilled to see the collection before and after I visited the hotel’s gymnasium.

Gym

The Gym is located on the mezzanine floor in the same area as the hotel’s Spiceology spa. After signing in at the spa reception, I was welcomed to the fitness centre located to the right. I was impressed to find a beautifully designed fitness centre, complete with modern and well-maintained Technogym equipment.

On top of the selection of cardio and weight machines, there was also a couple of weight benches and a stack of free weights located at the far end corner. While the space wasn’t large by any means, I liked that the facility was bright and well-equipped.

I’ll also note that there are saunas and steam rooms located in the changing rooms. This facility is, of course, gender-segregated, as you’d expect in this part of the world.

Swimming Pool

The LaLit New Delhi has a sizeable outdoor swimming pool that is temperature controlled. Unfortunately, the pool was closed for seasonal maintenance during my visit. The undergoing work was clearly visible from my room, when I woke up the next day.

Service

Frankly I was impressed seeing how welcoming the staff at The LaLiT New Delhi were. Despite my short stay, I found the people at every corner of the hotel to be very warm and pleasant. From Adit at the reception, to the Spa reception, to the restaurant staff, everybody ensured that I felt welcome at the hotel. What a contrast to my experience at The LaLiT Mumbai!

Overall

Despite my short stay at The LaLiT New Delhi, I was thoroughly impressed by the hotel and its offerings. Contrasting to the aged and sometimes unpleasant vibe of their Mumbai property, The LaLiT New Delhi is nothing short of an excellent business hotel. I loved the modern and brightly lit rooms, as well as the warm service provided by the hotel’s staff. Combined with the nice breakfast and convenient location, you really have a winner in your hands. As such, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend The LaLiT New Delhi in the slightest and would come back without thinking twice.

Read more from this trip here!