The Suryaa New Delhi

The Suryaa New Delhi is an upscale business hotel that attracts both foreign tourists and business travelers along with domestic visitors, many of whom stay here due to its proximity to the nearby Jamia Millia Islamia university. It's housed in a large, two-wing salmon-and-beige building and has a more modern appeal than some of the other hotels in the city, owing partially to the ample use of frosted and reflected glass on windows across the facade. While things looks sharp enough from the outside, interiors are a bit of a mixed bag, with some modern spaces and others that look a little outdated. The lobby has low false ceilings with track lighting and off-white marble floors with black and tan geometric patterns that coordinate well with dark-brown trim on columns and the ceiling. There are also a few seating areas off to one side with traditional upholstered chairs clustered around coffee tables, and the space opens onto a massive atrium ringed with plants and decorative glass panels. Overall, the vibe is upmarket but not stuffy, and while common areas here are pleasant enough, there's nothing particularly remarkable about them. 

The Suryaa is located in South Delhi's New Friends Colony, an upscale residential area in the southeastern portion of the city. It's right at the edge of the New Friends Colony Market, which has banks, shops, a cinema showing Bollywood and Hollywood films, and plenty of restaurants and bars that draw expats and well-heeled locals. New Friends Colony is just across the Yamuna River from Noida, a major business hub. Getting to the center of Noida takes about 20 minutes by car, making this an ideal spot for business travelers who have work obligations there but want to be able to explore Delhi as well. However, there's no metro station within walking distance, so travelers will need to rely on taxis or tuk-tuks to get around.

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, or worship of the divine mother. Hip Hauz Khas Village -- with lots of shops, bars, and restaurants -- is just over a 20-minute drive away, and it's just a bit longer to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Qutub Minar. Humayan's Tomb, celebrated as one of the first examples of true Mughal architecture in India, is a 20-minute drive from the hotel as well. 

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). 

The Suryaa offers entry-level Superior Rooms, Club Rooms, and Deluxe and Luxury Suites, plus a Presidential Suite. While rooms are kept in good condition, the interiors are not particularly flashy or impressive, with floral patterned carpets, thick drapes and matching throw cushions, and simple wooden furniture. Colors are a blend of light wood tones, white, and earth hues, and some rooms include dated details like satin bedspreads and generic floral art on the walls. The Luxury Suite that we visited, in particular, had furniture that feels leftover from an earlier decade plus brass lamps and fixtures that only exacerbate the effect. 

All room come with air-conditioning, minibars, safes, desks, and coffee-and tea-making facilities plus 32- or 42-inch flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are primarily clad in marble, with small hairdryers, makeup mirrors, robes, and walk-in showers, while Luxury Suites add soaking tubs and a bit more space. Club Room and suite guests get free high-speed Wi-Fi as well as access to the Club Lounge, with extra perks detailed below. Unfortunately, especially for a hotel of this caliber, Wi-Fi isn't free for other guests. Additionally, rooms facing the busy roads outside may pick up significant traffic noise due to poor soundproofing.

Given the Suryaa's location in one of the better dining areas in South Delhi, it's not much of a surprise that the hotel has a few excellent dining hotspots of its very own. Sampan offers pan-Asian cuisine, with all sorts of vegetarian and fish-based sushi and sashimi along with other specialties. The Suryaa also has a 24-hour restaurant -- Ence -- which serves buffets at breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with a la carte items and room service at all hours of the day and night. Cuisine ranges from sandwiches to South Indian snacks along with pizza, pasta, and even Moroccan specialties. The Atrium Bar & Lounge features a wide selection of wines and champagnes along with single-malt whiskeys and light snacks and meals. There's also a patisserie and bakery -- French Crust -- serving all sorts of European-style cakes and pastries.  

The hotel's Club One Fitness and Spa includes a large outdoor swimming pool with lounge chairs and a sectioned-off area for swimming laps. It has a lifeguard and is open around the year, although Delhi does get cold in the winter. Other wellness facilities include a decent-size exercise room with cardio and weight machines -- though the colored linoleum paneling is a bit dated and the space is cramped -- plus a spa with a sauna, a whirlpool hot tub, and a cold plunge pool. Ayurvedic and Swedish massages are available.

Those staying in suites and Club Rooms have access to the Club Lounge, which has a meeting rooms, a pool table, a PlayStation, and a library, plus free afternoon tea and evening cocktail hours. It's worth noting that Club Lounge hours can be a bit restrictive. The hotel has four additional meeting and event rooms, the largest of which can fit up to 600 people. Catering, audiovisual support, and wedding planning services are also available. There's a business center with computers and a printer/photocopier/scanner as well. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, though those not staying in Club Rooms or suites are charged extra to use it.