A Unique Staycation Experience at Mumbai’s First Luxury Boutique Hotel Last Updated: June 27, 2021

A few months back, I got the opportunity to do a staycation at Abode Bombay: Mumbai’s First Luxury Boutique Hotel.

I brought my sister along with me on this staycation as it was her birthday weekend.

In all honesty, I was amazed and proud to see a unique property like Abode Bombay in my own city. 

I am not a huge fan of booking a staycation in Mumbai (my home city) but this one, in particular, was definitely worth the experience. 

Although more of a budget traveler, I found this place reasonably priced for the value they offer. 

First and foremost, COVID precautions were on point. As soon as we entered the hotel we were greeted by the amicable manager, Nobert who ensured our belongings were thoroughly sanitized. We were also given a pair of slippers while the staff sanitized our footwear. Temperature checks were done and no visitors were permitted inside the property. 

Location

One of the best parts for me was the location of the hotel. It is literally in the heart of Colaba which is the historic epicenter of Bombay. Additionally, it is less than 5 minutes by walk from the popular attractions of the city like Gateway of India, The Taj Hotel, and Colaba Causeway.

Architecture & Design

This place is not your usual hotel experience. The homely vibes of the property will probably make you stay for longer!

The time I was there, guests were limited so it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves. Besides, the staff was really friendly and made us feel completely at home. 

The hotel is a one-floor property with a mezzanine floor. There are only a handful of rooms to give a more intimate experience to the guests.  

The architecture of the hotel is inspired by Bombay’s heritage (note that I am using the word Bombay and not Mumbai because this place truly feels straight out of the colonial era). This includes the 19th-century chandelier, fully restored iron and wooden facade, and the hand-made cement tiles made by the local tile makers using a 100-year-old technique. 

Sustainability 

This is a sustainable property. For starters, we got reusable jute slippers.

Minimal use of plastic

Our room had amenities with 0% plastic. For example – every room has copper jugs for water. Storing water in copper vessels has medicinal values.  Something I didn’t know was that if you store water in these jugs overnight and drink it the next day, it kills cancer-causing bacteria in your body. 

Every room has copper “Handas” for trash instead of plastic trash cans. The hotel overall has minimal plastic usage which is so commendable. 

Guests are provided with bamboo toothbrushes instead of  the regular plastic ones.

Support local communities 

There is an entire section at the entrance of the property dedicated to the products for sale by the local artisans in remote parts of the country.

Reduced Energy Consumption

Vintage fans are used as much as possible, instead of the air conditioner that is attached to the high ceiling along with the large stone walls to keep the place cool for longer. The double-height spaces provide more natural light reducing the usage of lights during the light.

Use Refurbished furniture

Every piece of furniture is a part of Abode’s antique collection that has been restored/ refurbished and put to good use now. For instance, there is a 150-year-old cupboard that is now being used for storage. It really adds to the décor of the common area and brings out the vintage-ness (if that’s a word).

Empower local women

Abode has partnered with a taxi company for the guests that comprises only women taxi drivers. Right now the service is not operational due to the pandemic but they can’t wait for it to resume.

Rooms

Abode Bombay consists of 20 rooms in total, divided into 4 categories depending on your budget:

• Superior Luxury
• Luxury
• Simple
• Basic

No two rooms are the same. Each room even in the same category has a different layout adding to the uniqueness of the property.

We stayed in what they call the best room of the property with an open bathtub, high ceilings and a great breakfast platter! (Abode Superior Luxury category room)

We spent two days at Abode Bombay and felt like it was a much-needed ‘home away from home’ experience in our own city. 

If you are looking for a staycation in Mumbai, I highly recommend staying in Abode Bombay. You can take my word for it.

Got any questions or feedback for me? Feel free to comment below!