I was recently invited to stay at Conrad Pune by general manager Shubham Chandra for Christmas. Located in the heart of the central business district, the iconic Art Deco inspired Conrad Pune is the epitome of curated experiences, services and sophisticated style.
The hotel is managed by Hilton Worldwide and owned by Palm Grove Beach Hotels Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the K. Raheja Constructions Group. It offers easy access to the city’s IT and business hubs including Magarpatta, Kharadi, Hinjewadi and Pimpri-Chinchwad, as well as the airport. On arrival I was accorded a warm welcome by the front office team.
I checked into a spacious Deluxe Suite Room where the chef’s team had placed Christmas themed amenities. Conrad Pune features among the largest guest rooms and suites in the city, six stylish dining outlets, extensive business and recreational facilities and the city’s most sought-after meetings and events space ideal for exclusive social gatherings and business functions. Expansive public spaces with 40-feet high ceilings, cascading water features, a collection of handpicked artwork, bold geometric shapes, dashes of striking colour and hints of lavish ornamentation add to the charm of this elegantly designed hotel.
General manager Shubham Chandra said: “Conrad Pune’s stylish rooms and suites, innovative dining options and the luxurious full-service spa certainly poise the hotel as one of the most sought after destinations in the city. But what I believe truly sets us apart is our people. It is the passion and warmth of our team that makes the experience at Conrad Pune undeniably singular. The team goes out of their way to create an inspired stay and ensures everything is just right. That according to me is what is unique about this hotel.”
Starting at a spacious 450 square feet, the hotel’s 310 luxurious guest rooms including 20 suites offer the very latest in-room technology. These are equipped with everything a guest needs for a productive business trip or restful vacation including signature Conrad amenities; plush bedding and five-fixture marble bathrooms with walk-in rain showers and soak tubs. These ‘Intelligent Rooms’ sense the guest’s arrival and switch from energy saving mode to occupied activating the air-conditioning system, drawing curtains and adjusting the lights to suit the time of day.
The food and beverage outlets in the hotel include three innovative restaurants, a chic bar, a unique poolside café, a delightful delicatessen and a lobby lounge. An efficient kitchen team led by executive chef Sidney Dcunha ensures that there’s something to please everyone’s palate.
Coriander Kitchen, the all-day restaurant offers an interactive culinary journey with multiple live counters serving a range of Indian, Asian and Mediterranean street food inspired cuisine. With a dramatic 40 feet fully-glazed wall overlooking an outdoor waterscape, this restaurant offers an inspiring venue for a breakfast meeting; and a leisurely lunch or dinner with friends, family or business partners or a quick bite with colleagues.
For an indulgent evening, Zeera, the specialty Indian grill fine-dining restaurant, with a display kitchen and sweeping wine wall is a good option. Zeera offers regional thaalis which are elaborate platters of Indian cuisine. Koji, the Asian speciality restaurant, serves the best of Japanese, Chinese and Thai cuisine; I tried several preparations dished up by the talented chef Birender while I was a guest in the hotel.
The Asian-inspired chic Masu bar attached to Koji features a large sake wall, offering the ideal location for cocktails with colleagues and business associates as well as family and friends. Masu has an alfresco area as well for those who prefer to sit in the outdoors. A luxurious décor and an in-house DJ make Masu a great place to unwind after a tough day at work.
Kabana, the poolside café is just the perfect place for a snack and a drink served by efficient bartenders along with a breathtakingly beautiful space with various seating options. Pune Sugar Box, the delicatessen that offers freshly baked pastries and savouries, as well as hand-made chocolates also features a section with a great collection of books for those who enjoy reading at leisure while sipping on a refreshing cup of tea. I was delighted to notice Christmas goodies such as mince pies, plum cakes and Dundee cakes on display along with cute Santa Clauses in the hotel’s lobby. The festive spirit definitely managed to bring out the child in me!
The hotel features a dedicated rejuvenation floor with the city’s first outdoor temperature-controlled pool, a dedicated kids’ pool, whirlpool, a 24-hour fitness centre and a full-service Conrad Spa where I enjoyed a relaxing massage as well as an Ayurvedic treatment by an efficient therapist.
The two days I spent recently at Conrad Pune during Christmas were truly memorable thanks to a friendly team in the hotel, beautiful Christmas decorations, delicious food and efficient service! Conrad Pune is a great choice for both business and leisure guests as well as for staycations.
Factbox
Address: 7, Mangaldas Rd, Sangamvadi, Pune, Maharashtra 411001, India
Phone: +91 20 6745 6745
Website: conradpune.com
