There are many 5 star hotels in New Delhi and these range from entry level five star hotels meant for upper middle class community to truly ostentatious, uber-luxurious palace like hotels. Delhi caters for everyone. Infact, the 16th century poet Ghalib once said:
“If the world is a human body, then Delhi is the heart.”
This is more than mere poetic hyperbole as the capital of India is one of the oldest cities in the world and has seen empires come and go. What is left behind is a crazy city of amalgamations of cuisine, artistry, architecture, music and people which can be too much to tackle for the people not used to the thundering energy of a megacity.
Our list of the top 5 star hotels in New Delhi bottles this chaotically beautiful city and gives you the most luxurious addresses where service seemingly merges with traditions.
The Oberoi
There are some really famous 5 star hotels in Delhi, it is a megacity after all. But what exactly makes a hotel iconic? When it was founded in 1965, the Oberoi New Delhi was the fourth hotel under the Oberoi Group, a list that now contains 32 swanky and luxurious hotels all over India. The Oberoi New Delhi isn’t the most uber-luxurious of those 32, not the most architecturally grand. Despite all of this, if the answer to what makes a hotel iconic can be found anywhere, it must be at the Oberoi New Delhi.
Spanning five acres of land, the Oberoi has one of the most stunning locations among any 5 star hotels in New Delhi as it overlooks the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Humayun’s Tomb and the greenery of Delhi Golf Course. The Lodhi Gardens, Pragati Maidan, many shopping areas, along with government and financial districts lie a short car ride away from the hotel.
Despite it showing its age from the exterior, the marble lobby with the spiral staircase, water pond, and antique decorations make it one of the most luxurious hotels in New Delhi. Prior to the pandemic, it remained closed for 20 months from 2016 and re-opened in 2018 with $100 millions worth of refurbishments and it can be seen through a blend of modernist upgrades with long lasting traditional décor.
Out of the 220 rooms, almost every room from the second floor onwards has a great view of either the Golf course or the gardens of Humayun’s tomb while the lower rooms open into the pool. Unlike many 5 star hotels in New Delhi, the bold colours of the rooms and the décor have a tasteful Indian punch while being modern with the amenities and luxury.
However what makes the Oberoi one of the lost popular hotels in Delhi among the locals is its restaurants. India’s youngest Michelin Star chef Alfred Prasad serves his contemporary Indian menu at Omya while Andrew Wong who also has a Michelin Star serves Chinese cuisine in Baoshuan. The most popular restaurant among the hi-fi Delhihites is threesixty° which has continental menu.
The Leela Palace
From the outside, the Leela Palace looks like a massive colonial era building. But even as you step out of the long 7 series BMW or X5 or Rolls Royce onto the inner entrance, you will start to be engulfed in opulence. This is not a tacky, overdone show of money but a stunning display of extravagance as the lobby is carpeted by a single Persian rug, the sitting areas have opulent Venetian screens and every space is adorned by fresh flowers that are changed on a daily.
Undoubtedly one of the most lavish hotels in New Delhi, The Leela Palace is located just iff the Africa Avenue in Chanakyapuri in the Southern side of Delhi. The Lodhi Gardens, Safdarjung Tomb, Dilli Haat, Santoshi Shopping Complex are all nearby. Belief in Vastu is seen not just in the design but also in various services like spa which has wellness café, sauna, separate pools for male and female and treatment rooms.
What makes The Leela Palace different from many other 5 star hotels in New Delhi is how big the rooms are even at the entry price point. A massive king sized bed decorated in kingly manner, along with separate study and sitting areas adorn the rooms which have a sense of regency to it. While the service is discreet and runs like a well oiled machine working around the clock behind your back, the dining options at the Leela take the ultimate prize for being one of the best among hotels in New Delhi.
Qube provides 24 hours service along with a peaceful environment of gardens and waterways. You can try local dishes at Jamavar or have a lovely cozy evening at the Library Bar. Le Cirque serves perhaps the best Italian dishes in all of Delhi while the sushi at Megu is unbeatable.
The Roseate
For some reason, “Roseate” seems to be quite a famous name among hotels in New Delhi. However, this five star establishment with its eye pleasing curved and angled design language is located in Rangpuri near Indira Gandhi Airport. One of the best hotels in New Delhi for people looking to stay near to transportation options while having a luxurious time, The Roseate is not just barely 10 minutes away from the metro station but also near Gurgaon where you can find ample restaurants and shopping spots.
What makes The Roseate stand out from many other hotels in New Delhi is the presence of its 8 acre gardens that are interjected by a 108 meter long swimming pool. The Ahelin Spa offers wide range of treatments and is open all day long. The rooms are modern with lights controlled by iPad, doors with cameras and curvy design along with elliptical desk. Thai influence continues outside the spa with Kiyan serving Thai, Indian and European dishes while Chi Ni restaurant serves Chinese.
ITC Maurya
Located in the Diplomatic Enclave, the ITC Maurya has been one of the most trusted 5 star hotels in New Delhi by diplomats , both foreign and within the nation for its security, smooth service and luxury. However, if you aren’t a foreign dignitary and plan to see what New Delhi has to offer, Connaught Place, Chadni Chowk, India Gate, Nehru Chowk, old spice markets and DLF Shopping Centers are all within half an hour of ride.
ITC Maurya has stood tall and proud since 1978 and the age can be seen beautifully on its ornate Indian designs, use of wood from lobby to rooms and attention seeking murals. It is also one of the most environment friendly 5 star hotels in New Delhi as the hot water being supplied comes from solar panels on the roof where the flowers are also grown and the water is also recycled.
Since it has been historically used by foreign diplomats, there are several categories of rooms that can be found in the old and the new towers. The Eva floor houses women only rooms with various security options and female staff only. Guests can dine at any one of the four restaurants and bars here including the quite famous Bukhara restaurant which serves North Indian cuisine.
Andaz Delhi
Andaz is Hyatt’s entry into the market of 5 star hotels in New Delhi and this is a rather unique establishment. For starters it is located in Aerocity, an oasis of just hotels and tourist facilities barely 3.5 km away from the airport. Top notch area for anyone looking to skip the high octane hustle and bustle of New Delhi and stay nearby the airport without sacrificing any luxury.
The hotel itself is a part of a square block that also contains the Andaz Residency. By this virtue, most of the rooms face inwards towards the center of the square at the gardens and the pool unlike many other nearby 5 star hotels in New Delhi that look towards the road and airport. Ofcourse you can get rooms that face the airport if you fancy seeing planes fly but the triple glazed glasses stop all the noise.
Andaz doesn’t rank higher on our list of the best 5 star hotels in New Delhi because of its minimalist décor which makes it look like high end hotels without local character. However, the modernist approach means that the staff are all very eager to help and dressed in jeans and sneakers which was quite a welcome difference. There is an outdoor pool with a lifeguard, two storeyed Chinese restaurant and AnnaMaya, a food hall which also sells local produce.
The Taj Mahal New Delhi
It is quite easy to confuse this with The Taj Palace which is also one of the top 5 star hotels in New Delhi.
However, The Taj Mahal is a hefty name to carry not just because of the tomb in Agra but also because it is associated to the iconic Taj (Mahal) Hotel in Mumbai which was established in 1903. The Taj Mahal Hotel or Taj Mansingh Hotel in New Delhi was the second hotel built by the Indian Hotel Company Limited and has been standing tall since 1978 and the monumental pibk sandstone exterior will catch you as soon as you lay your eyes on it.
As it is one of the oldest 5 star hotels in New Delhi, the age can be seen here and there but with the age comes old world grandeur. Domed roof, spiraling grand marble staircase, intricate local designs and huge floral displays make you feel that you have spent a lot of money to be here. Also with the age comes sharp as a razor housekeeping as the service is the best among any 5 star hotels in New Delhi.
The gym and spa are a bit smaller and not as flashy as many competitors above and the entry level rooms are also a bit dull. But, the restaurants and dining section of the hotel make up more than enough for it. Varq, House of Minq, Wasabi by Morimoto, Rick’s are included in 6 restaurants under the hotel and simply serve the best food anywhere around the globe.
The Lodhi
What makes The Lodhi one of the best 5 star hotels in New Delhi is its top notch location. Lodhi Gardens, Delhi Golf Club, Humayun’s Tomb serve for the greenery, while Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah adds soul touching qawwali. Khan Market, the Indian Habitat Center are all nearby.
Formerly the Aman Hotel, the Lodhi with its sculptured brown façade is a very well known address among the locals. However, inside the beautiful brownstone workmanship exterior, the inside needs a bit of updating. There is a long heated swimming pool, a gym, tennis courts which offer several classes. The rooms in the Lodhi are one of the best among 5 star hotels in New Delhi with floor to ceiling roofs, private pools, black marble bathroom. Also equally great is the breakfast served at Elan while you can also dine at Indian Accent which serve their famous blue cheese naan.
The Imperial New Delhi
The Imperial is different from any other 5 star hotels in New Delhi. No monstrous building, it is barely 4 storey tall, no ornate colouring or façade, just a white building surrounded by well kept lush gardens. The history oozes at The Imperial as this 1930s hotel is one of the finest 5 star hotels in New Delhi.
It is located on Rajpath meaning that the Rastrapati Bhawan is barely few minutes away, Old Delhi, Connaught Place are also nearby to satiate all your shopping and fooding desires. The rooms, suites, lobby, the whole hotel is full of thousands of prints, furniture, reminders from the British Raj era which can either be charming or discomforting from person to person.
There are 235 rooms that are divided into 8 different categories and the entry level rooms although being equipped with all kinds of facilities look into the inner atrium. While booking rooms, make sure to ask for garden view rooms. There are also 4 different restaurants here that serve buffet breakfast to dishes from Kerala to South Asian cuisines.
JW Marriott Hotel
Not the first entry in our list of top 5 star hotels in New Delhi that is located in the Aerocity. The location means that you are placed near the airport and won’t have to face the traffic which can get horrendous at times. As with other modern establishments, the JW Marriott is modern and sleek but does lack the traditional touch that other hotels in our list have.
But with the modern makeup also comes one of the best rooms among all 5 star hotels in New Delhi. The rooms are huge, smartly designed, with wood accents, king sized beds and gorgeous big bathrooms. Guests are also served 24×7 at the K3 kitchen which serves Indian, Asian and Italian cuisines. For more travel-logged guests there is a modern Quan Spa and a gym too.
The Lalit
We don’t have hard stats but the Lalit may have the largest rooms among all 5 star hotels in New Delhi on an average. Because of its wide spectrum of facilities and a top notch location of Connaught Place, the hotel is equally famous among travelers on business trips as well as tourists. Even the entry level rooms have great space while the top Executive Club Rooms are as large as 432 sq. foot.
Apart from spacious rooms, the hotel also features a luxurious Rejuve spa, a salon, a 24 hour fitness center with upgraded modern equipment, a rooftop pool. Popular among party goers, Kitty Sunis Delhi’s most famous nightclubs. Guests can also try Indian cuisine at Balluchi, pan Asian dish at WOKS, and great non-veg and seafood at the 28th floor Grill Room.
