The Leela Palace New Delhi

Everything :)

Nothing to complain except maybe breakfast delay

Incredible atmosphere and food. Bhuvan served the best masala tea table-side. Staff are so friendly, one of the best breakfasts of my life and the palace itself is so nice and calming.

Some hotels welcome you. The Leela Palace New Delhi receives you, and there is a difference. It began, as it always does, with Govind Ji. Stern of bearing, gentle of manner, he appeared at arrivals with the quiet authority of someone who has never once been late in his life, and whisked me into the Leela limousine before I had quite gathered my thoughts. My driver, Yogesh, then proceeded to do something I did not know Delhi drivers were capable of: respect a speed limit. All Leela drivers share this remarkable gift, confident behind the wheel, calibrated to your mood, equally at ease with silence or conversation. You arrive relaxed. This is not nothing. The welcome at the door is, frankly, theatre of the finest kind. Every doorman, every security staff member, walks up to you personally — Namaste, Welcome — and then you step inside to find a receiving line of no fewer than eight front office staff, hands folded, smiling, in the full warmth of Indian hospitality. I have checked in to enough hotels around the world to tell you: this never gets old. Check-in itself happened in my room, instantly. No hovering at a desk while someone types for four minutes with two fingers. Shifa and Diksha at the Club Lounge are the kind of efficient that makes you feel looked after rather than processed, a distinction that eludes most hotels entirely. The Bell Desk remain my unsung heroes: my packages arrive at the hotel before I do, and they are guarded, stored, and produced with the solemnity of crown jewels. What I particularly like about the Leela is that its senior managers are not tucked away in offices, occasionally emerging to initial something. They are present — moving, watching, accessible. Which brings me to Preeti, the General Manager, who is addressed by certain staff as "Preeti Maam Sir," a title that manages to be both respectful and slightly confused about protocol, and which I found utterly charming. A passing word with Preeti about a December event, six months away, I thought — she'll refer me to someone, schedule a call, send a brochure. Instead, in the time it takes most hotels to find a pen, every detail was settled. Done and dusted. Ajay drove me to the airport, and Ankit was waiting on the other side to navigate check-in and immigration with the ease of someone for whom airports hold no mystery whatsoever. My only complaint, and I make it every time, and it is never taken seriously — is that the stay was too short.

Heartfelt gratitude to Mr Bhuvan for his kind hospitality and wonderful tea. Small gestures make your day God Bless

Some of the staff—not everyone, unfortunately—are truly the stars of this hotel. I made sure to personally thank the team members who made my stay memorable.

The hotel itself could really use a facelift. During my first stay, the room had very old curtains that were tattered along the edges. I hope the management team pays closer attention to details like this, especially given that this is supposed to be one of the “best” hotels in Delhi. Also, be sure to check the salon menu prices beforehand. I got a quick men’s dry cut—no wash or shampoo—and ended up paying approximately USD 75, which is a bit expensive even by NYC standards. I’m not complaining, as it was my mistake for not checking ahead of time, but consider this a warning for other men who don’t want to be unpleasantly surprised. Lastly, there were numerous drain flies throughout both the bathroom and bedroom during my stay. I encountered them repeatedly, including on the bathroom sink and even on the bedding. I’ve attached photos for reference. While drain flies are generally harmless, their presence is not what one would expect from a luxury hotel and detracted from the overall experience for me.

This is my second review of this hotel. We stayed in one of the Royal Club rooms, and overall, it was a great experience. The bartender during cocktail hour was amazing, and all the staff working during afternoon tea were kind and accommodating. We were very grateful for such a lovely time. The pool staff were also excellent.

We did have an issue with the bathroom water, but it was quickly resolved. The operations manager apologized in person and kindly treated us to dinner for the inconvenience, which we appreciated. I’m still mentioning it because issues like this need to be addressed, especially when they concern the health and well-being of guests.

Many thanks to Bhuvan for the daily chai