The Manor

The Manor is a cozy boutique hotel attracting both business travelers in search of somewhere quiet to stay and tourists who appreciate a low-key, polished property and don't mind being a bit away from the center of town. It's housed in a two-story building that fits in well with its largely residential neighborhood. The hotel has a tiny lobby featuring a few funky, retro chairs, but the outdoor spaces are far more impressive. A huge lawn surrounded by lots of lush shrubs is particularly pleasant and has plenty of seating areas for guests to relax. 

The on-site restaurant -- Indian Accent -- is a fine-dining affair, but with a casual ambience that draws scores of locals as well as hotel guests. It offers simple, bright indoor seating as well as plenty of chairs and tables on the hotel's patio and out on the lawn. Occasional DJ nights means the space can get a little busy. That said, the crowd is generally more mature and the music is more of the lounge variety, so loud, late parties are usually no concern. When combined with the hotel's nice gym and excellent spa, there's a lot to like in this hotel's small package.

The hotel's Friends Colony location is an asset for most travelers, but don't expect to use the metro or walk to Delhi's major sights. This is an upscale residential area in the southeastern portion of the city, a five-minute drive from New Friends Colony Market, which has banks, shops, a cinema, and plenty of restaurants and bars that draw expats and well-heeled locals. Noida, a major business hub, is just across the Yamuna River from the neighborhood, and it takes about 20 minutes by car to reach.

It's a 10-minute drive from here to the East of Kailash/Nehru Place neighborhood, with attractions such as the Baha'i Lotus Temple, the adjacent ISKCON (Hare Krishna) Temple, and the famous Shri Kalkaji Mandir, an important religious site for Shaktism. Humayun's Tomb, celebrated as one of the first examples of Mughal architecture in India, is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Hip Hauz Khas Village -- with lots of shops, bars, and restaurants -- is just over a 20-minute drive away, and it's a bit longer to reach the UNESCO-designated Qutub Minar. 

Both the shopping hub of Connaught Place and the Jantar Mantar, a collection of ancient astronomical instruments, take around 25 minutes to reach by car, as does Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Indira Gandhi International Airport is about half an hour away by car without traffic (but can take up to twice as long during rush hour). 

There are three room types: entry-level Manor Rooms with queen beds and the larger Manor Junior Suite and Manor Suite, each with a king bed. Decor is consistent across all categories though, with wood details throughout, including wood-panel headboards. The heavy use of neutral tones, like gray upholstery, alongside modern lamps do give the rooms a slight business-like vibe that's not quite what one would expect from an intimate boutique hotel. Nonetheless, the look is fresh and contemporary. The Junior Suite adds a small seating area, while the Suite has a separate bedroom plus a living room with plush sofas and a small round table with chairs.

All rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with DVD players, coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars, and laptop safes. Wi-Fi is only available for a fee. Bathrooms are spacious, with granite walls, floors, and long counter tops plus big walk-in showers with square rainfall showerheads, The Junior Suite and Suite add separate tubs. Hairdryers and Kama-brand Ayurvedic toiletries are provided. Rooms are quiet due to the property's residential location, and a few have private terraces. 

The Manor has excellent amenities for such a small property, and the on-site Indian Accent restaurant is particularly notable. It's considered one of the best Indian restaurants in the city and features all sorts of innovative dishes that mix traditionally Western plates with Indian spices and cooking methods. Room service is also available around the clock. Other notable features include a large fitness center with modern machines and free weights, plus lots of Life Fitness-brand cardio equipment positioned under flat-screen TVs. There's also a Pilates reformer machine, personal training, and group exercise classes. A high-end spa, Zehen, features hydrotherapy pools, Ayurvedic and Western massage treatments, and salon services. It's quite popular with previous guests. Business facilities include a meeting room, a business center, and property-wide Wi-Fi (for a fee). There's also a small library nook with a few narrow shelves of books, a couple of plush chairs, a desk, and a treadmill standing desk. On-site parking is available free of charge. The hotel can also arrange all sorts of tour packages and cars with drivers are available for local sightseeing.