Park Hyatt Chennai

Vast spaces and swish decor earmark The Park Hyatt's status as one of Chennai's top properties, and while luxury here comes at a price, guests generally find it's worth the splurge. Glossy marble floors and wood columns in the large lobby are colorfully accented by paneled paintings and statues by famous artist, Seema Kohli, and lilac-satin seating in brocade satins overlook floor-to-ceiling windows with views of a lily pond garden. Lush foliage and gazebo-sheltered seating border still waters here, and stone paths lead to a Ganesh idol. Spanning three stories, The Flying Elephant restaurant is the hotel's showpiece. Colorful velvets, curved woods, and pendant lamps here have ritzy flourishes from chandeliers and red-lacquered tables, and live stations champion international cuisine. The place can get noisy, but the vibe is vibrant. Panoramic vistas blending into Chennai's horizon are luxurious from decked terraces around the infinity rooftop pool, and indoor spaces here have suspended basket chairs. While there's no kids' club, families are welcome, though guests are overwhelmingly business travelers.

The hotel sits near major highways leading to Chennai's shopping and corporate districts, with some of the latter in walking distance. The Governor's Residence and Metropolitan Magistrate's Courts are both a seven-minute walk, and it's twice that for lakes and greenery at Guindy National Park. A bus stops outside the hotel, but most guests grab a cab for downtown destinations. T Nagar's shopping, Pondy Bazaar, and Chennai Trade Centre are all within a 15-minute drive, with around twice that for Marina Beach, temples, and the 15th-century Santhome Basilica. Chennai International Airport is a 16-minute drive, without traffic.

Facing Chennai city, the pond garden, or Guindy National Park (in upgraded categories), bright, contemporary rooms with a serene design start at a generous 463 square feet (43 square meters). Teal accent walls contrast otherwise neutral palettes of earthy leather and wood furnishings, and cream marble or carpeted floors. Beds with crisp white bedding are comfy and flanked by stylish suspended lighting, although dimmer switches can be confusing. Amenities include dual-line phones, cable flat-screen TVs, large desks, iPod docks, and Nespresso machines, plus traditional tea-making sets, mini-fridges with bottled water, electronic safes, and AC. Sliding wood and frosted-glass doors open to large, back-lit bathrooms outfitted in honey marble. They have tubs with caddies, wet room-style showers, quality toiletries, hairdryers, scales, slippers, and robes.Some with poster beds, 20 Suites with greenery vistas and plush living rooms start at 936 square feet (87 square meters). Perks include larger marble tubs, and upgraded Suites have dining areas that are staggeringly huge. Note that road noise and passing planes have disturbed some guests. Rooms can be fitted with cribs.

Good and extensive features here are high-end, though it's worth noting that there's no kids' club. The Dining Room's wood tables and scarlet-cushioned chairs aren't the most stylish, but the all-day menus and varied breakfast buffets are well-receives. More popular is the flamboyant and impressive three-story Flying Elephant. Fare in open kitchens here ranges from refined South Asian to Italian, and this vast space is a hotspot for group gatherings. Noise levels rise during busy hours, but decor is dazzling. Al fresco terraces at the lily pond's fringes offer outdoor dining at both restaurants. The pond garden is a great place to relax, while the rooftop pool takes it up a notch. Parasols shading cushioned loungers surround a semi-circular infinity pool, and panorama vistas are sensational. Indoor wellness amenities at The Antahpura Spa include six treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, and whirlpool, plus hot and cold plunge pools. The gym's modern equipment includes cardio, resistance, and weights machines, plus a yoga/Pilates studio with guided meditation classes. While there's no business center, secretarial video conferencing and print/copy services are offered, and the hotel has seven meeting rooms. Pets are welcome, and on-site parking and Wi-Fi throughout are free.