INDIA pt.II

SOHO HOUSE MUMBAI

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For anyone who has ever seen a movie set in India in the early 1900s and dreams of traveling to India, the mind will likely conjure opulent images of the British Raj; vast marble palaces with floor to ceiling silk curtains blowing softly in the warm breeze, regal high-ceilinged rooms full of vibrant colors and textiles, indoor jungles studded with roaming peacocks. Who wouldn’t picture women wrapped in bold saris, limbs gliding sensuously beneath the red and gold silk of Bollywood starlets? Mustachioed men in rattan chairs, reading large newspapers and drinking chai under lazy wicker fans. A handsome man with a bejeweled turban and dark, intoxicating eyes… *ahem*,ok, you get the idea. And the idea is a feast for the eyes; lush, luxurious and slow.

Fast forward 100 years or so: Enter Soho House Mumbai.

Having realized a few weeks before our trip that there was a new Soho House in Mumbai, Chef and I quickly reorganized and rebooked the first few days of our India holiday so that we could sample its colonial delights. Like many a Soho House, every stylish stick of furniture or bar glass, every piece of art or plush textile, is beautiful, bespoke, and utterly befitting a modern boutique hotel. At the same time, it all looks like it could be straight out of a grand Indian palace or colonial villa. The wood furniture is warm, dark and earthy; the chairs and couches - plush and welcoming. While there are sadly no roaming peacocks or exotic animals to speak of, you can find them represented in the rich color pallets and utterly cool art. Everything is patterned in perfectly subdued tones, with pops of teal, rust and mustardy gold. The crowning jewel of the hotel is its characteristic Soho House rooftop pool, complete with views of the city and Juhu beach. And for the record, Juhu is basically the Hollywood Hills of Mumbai, and any tuk tuk driver worth his salt will be able to point out the homes of the local Bollywood elite residing in this hip neighborhood.

Because we enjoyed Soho House so much the first few days of our trip, we actually added a few days in Mumbai to the end of our travels just so that we could check back in. And I must say that after a few weeks of traveling all over this large and vibrant country, this was exactly where I wanted to relax for a few days to psychologically prepare myself for our return to London. So, lucky for us, we got to experience two different Soho House rooms in one holiday. We first stayed in one of the ‘Big Rooms’, which is basically a suite complete with Juliette balcony overlooking the city, and partial views of the Arabian sea from the bathroom corridor (yes, you heard me right, it has its own corridor). On our return visit, we booked a ‘Small Room’ because it was the only one available on late notice and, let’s be serious, we were out of money after three weeks of travel. But don’t let the name fool you, it was very comfortable and just as beautiful as our large room, and still big enough to have a small entrance hallway if that says anything. The only downside was that there was no view to speak of, but the room itself, and the rest of the hotel, more than made up for it. The best part of both rooms were the stunningly beautiful, and insanely comfortable, beds. I have fallen so deeply into obsession with these beds, that my new goal in life is to one day possess one of my very one. A girl can dream, right?

Chef and I’s daily routine on our return stay was to head up to the poolside daybeds first thing in the morning to order cutting chais (basically tiny spiced tea) and coffee. Eventually we’d wander over to the open and airy dining area for some traditional Indian breakfast and fruit, surrounded by ornately tiled floors, hanging wall plants, dark wood and lots of sun. Need I say more? Between the pool, a good book, and a G&T or three, you can easily spend the entire day on this rooftop oasis. And as the day wanes and the temperatures cool, I recommend crossing over to the rooftop bar to sample some (more) artisan cocktails and take in the panoramic views of sunset over the Arabian Sea. Afterwards, if you fancy staying in for dinner, I can say that the house kitchens offer the best black dahl I had in all of India, hands down. And I had a lot of dahl. And the palak paneer was nothing to scoff at either.

Did it fulfill my marble palace fantasies? Not exactly, but that’s not going to happen in a big city like Mumbai, and that’s what the Golden Triangle is for (try Jaipur). But not only was Soho House Mumbai more affordable than our previous high end Mumbai hotel (and other Soho houses, for that matter), it was at once more lavish and distinctive. Having been to and stayed in Soho Houses in a few different cities and countries, I have to say that their Mumbai location is a cut above the rest. While most Soho Houses have a distinctive 'hipster' feel, their Mumbai house felt truly unique, lad back, and even a little unexpected. Of all the places Chef and I stayed on our India travels, Soho House managed to capture the feeling of a bygone era, paying homage to its colonial history while simultaneously presenting it in a modern light. It was, quite simply, everything I could have ever hoped for by way of urban Indian accommodations.

Sadly, like all Soho Houses, there are no photos allowed in the club areas unless they’re of food or drinks. And I’m not saying I didn’t take a sneaky photo or two for my own personal reveries… but I’m also not saying that I did. In any case, the photos posted here are mainly of our rooms and some of the views. But I highly recommend checking out their website for pictures of the rest of the House. And if you don’t want to immediately go there upon viewing said photos, then something inside you is broken and I can’t help you.

And on second thought, if you've made it this far, here are just a few of those sneaky photos I mentioned as an extra treat (I know you're cool, do not rat me out)...

#travelphotography #toptips