Best Boutique Hotels in New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi

The Delhi Bed and Breakfast is a good value, two-and-a-half-pearl homestay located in the South Delhi Friends Colony East neighborhood, not to far from the Lotus Temple. There are only three rooms here, and all are homey and cozy, with locally crafted decor, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, and air-conditioning. There aren't a ton of amenities, though breakfast is included in room rates and the owners provide reverse osmosis-filtered water that's safe to drink -- a boon for those who don't want to waste plastic (or money) buying lots of small bottles. There's also a kids' computer, and adults' computer, and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi. Those looking to be closer to the city center and the Paharganj neighborhood should consider the Hotel Godwin Deluxe, which has modern rooms and lower rates. 

Located in West Delhi's Janakpuri neighborhood, Shanti Home is a mid-range property that's popular with domestic travelers, but may not be the best choice for those wanting to be near tourist sights. It has only 17 rooms, which allows for more personalized service, and each has a quintessentially Indian feel based on a region or theme. There are plenty of amenities for a hotel of this size, including a terrace restaurant, cooking classes, and a small fitness center. Travelers wanting to be closer to the tourist attractions may want to compare rates and amenities at one of the more centrally located properties, such as Hotel Bright in Connaught Place. 

The Dusit Devarana New Delhi is an elegant luxury resort near the airport, though this 50-room boutique property feels secluded and peaceful. Perhaps that's owed to the massive grassy lawns and a variety of serene spaces, including a gorgeous luxury spa with Ayurvedic treatments and all sorts of massages. Each of the stylish rooms have open layouts, with large soaking tubs right in the rooms, and some have private terraces that look out onto the hotel's long swimming pool. While it's certainly more peaceful than the typical Delhi luxury property, its location is removed from local attractions and the Delhi Metro. This can be inconvenient for tourists, especially in light of Delhi's consistently nightmarish traffic. Guests wanting something equally high-end within the city should consider the Taj Palace Hotel instead. 

The Lodhi is an elegant, ultra-contemporary luxury hotel on Central Delhi's moneyed Lodhi Road, right across from the Delhi Golf Course. All 40 rooms here have private plunge pools, and those on higher floors have beautiful city views, many with Humayun's Tomb in the distance. Amenities are excellent, and include a lovely spa with Turkish baths, a beauty salon, a lap pool, three tennis courts, and an extensive gym with personal trainers and high-end equipment. The restaurants get rave reviews for their cuisine, though they do close for private events not infrequently. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities at the five-pearl Oberoi just down the street, which has a bit more quintessentially Indian ambience and better business facilities. 

The Fortune Park Boulevard is an upper-middle-range boutique business hotel located in an isolated area south of New Delhi that's still very much like a village despite being within city limits. It's far from attractions and businesses, but it does have on-site meeting and event spaces and it's near plenty of popular wedding venues, so those in town for a wedding might find it a reasonable choice. The 34 rooms are bright and contemporary, with lots of splashes of color in the decor and modern marble bathrooms. There's also a restaurant with buffet and a la carte options for all three meals, and breakfast is included in room rates. Travelers wanting to be closer to town may want to consider the more centrally located Vivanta by Taj - Ambassador instead. 

The Hotel City Star is a pleasant mid-range hotel in Delhi's Paharganj neighborhood, a short walk from the New Delhi Railway Station. The 31 rooms here are crisp and modern, with much sleeker decor than at the many backpacker haunts all around. However, those facing the street can pick up traffic noise and the bathrooms, while pleasantly done up in marble, run small. Hotel features include a small fitness center and a pleasant rooftop restaurant serving Indian and international food, plus 24-hour room service and free airport pick-ups. While the hotel is right by Delhi's main backpacker street, it's not in the center of the action -- travelers looking to meet others might be better off at the Hotel Hari Pikoro, a classic -- but less sharp -- budget hotel. 

The Vivanta by Taj - Ambassador is a three-and-a-half-pearl hotel with 88 rooms located in Central Delhi, right next to the upscale shops and restaurants at Khan Market. Rooms are bright and mostly modern, with big bathrooms, though those facing the hotel's interior can get noisy when events are taking place and free Wi-Fi works poorly. The hotel's restaurants are popular with guests and locals alike; the 24-hour Yellow Brick Road is particularly well-liked and serves a huge breakfast buffet. While there is a small fitness center, there's no pool; the pool at the nearby Taj Mahal Hotel is free for Vivanta guests. Travelers looking for an on-site pool should compare rates at the much larger ITC Maurya, which has great restaurants and a similar style. 

The Manor is an upscale boutique hotel in a posh residential neighborhood in South Delhi. With only 14 rooms, the vibe is intimate, and staying here feels much more homelike than some of the city's larger high-end hotels. Rooms are formal and business-like, with sleek wood panelling and large granite bathrooms, and some have private terraces. Amenities are abundant for such a tiny property, and include an impressive fitness center, a high-end spa with hydrotherapy and Ayurvedic treatments, and a library that has a treadmill standing desk. However, the famous on-site restaurant -- Indian Accent -- is the real draw, and attracts plenty of locals with its high-end East-meets-West cuisine. For something a little more central, consider The Lodhi instead, which is similarly quiet and upscale, but often more expensive. 

La Sagrita is a mid-range boutique hotel located in Sundar Nagar, a leafy, upscale residential neighborhood on the eastern end of Central Delhi, on the border of the lush National Zoologic Park. The 19 rooms here are pleasantly furnished with wood floors and neutral decor, and the marble bathrooms add a luxurious touch, but some past guests have complained of maintenance issues. Hotel amenities include free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour business center, and a 24-hour restaurant serving Indian and international cuisine, with room service around the clock. However, there's no fitness center, so those who want to work out might prefer the nearby Vivanta by Taj Ambassador, which is noisier but has all the perks of La Sagrita, plus a small gym.

Basil the Residency is a cozy, mid-range hotel in residential South Delhi that's popular with tourists, business travelers, and those needing easy access to the nearby heart hospital. The 25 rooms are modern and bright, with air-conditioning and rainfall-showers, but they do get some street noise. On-site features include an excellent game room with foosball, billiards, table tennis, fitness equipment, and a video game console. There's also a restaurant serving a free breakfast and a pleasant rooftop terrace bar with a shaded area for hot days. While the ambience is casual and low-key overall, travelers looking for something even quieter and more homelike may prefer the three-room Delhi Bed and Breakfast just up the road. 

The Grand Godwin Hotel is a mid-range hotel with a boutique vibe -- not always easy to find in Delhi's Paharganj neighborhood. The 39 rooms here are sleek and modern, with minibars, electric kettles, flat-screen TVs, and marble bathrooms featuring enormous walk-in showers. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and a buffet breakfast is included in the room rates. It's located right on Arakshan Road, a busy strip of hotels near the New Delhi Railway Station, in a section of the Paharganj neighborhood more commonly frequented by domestic tourists than the international backpackers who hang out right in the Main Bazaar area. Backpackers looking for a more social environment might be better off staying at the slightly cheaper Hotel Hari Piorko in the main part of the neighborhood instead.

The Visaya is a four-pearl boutique hotel located in South Delhi's ultra-posh Panscheel Park neighborhood. With only 34 rooms and one suite, it's considerably smaller than the typical upscale New Deli property, but still offers plenty of facilities, including a fitness center, meeting space, on-site parking, and a restaurant offering 24-hour room service and a free breakfast buffet. Rooms are swish and contemporary, with big marble bathrooms, and the Roof Top Suite has a whirlpool tub and its own private terrace. Travelers wanting something with more facilities, such as a pool and a spa, might want to consider The Manor instead, which has a spa, a hydrotherapy pool, and a renowned on-site restaurant.