The Visaya

The Visaya is located in a four-story structure that's small enough to resemble an apartment building rather than a hotel. It's blocked off partially from the main road by tall hedges and trees, and there are spots for a few cars out front. Inside, the lobby is small but chic, with a few large velvet-covered sofas, a bronze-colored coffee table, and a small boutique selling designer Indian ethnic-wear off to one side. Stairs and elevators lead up to the artsy hallways, decorated with wall-mounted Buddha statuettes, with a few pieces of furniture fashioned from polished driftwood for additional seating. The restaurant has similarly contemporary decor, with marble floors, dark chairs, and a long buffet counter for breakfast. Additional seating is available outdoors on a small covered patio that's hemmed in by hedges.

The Visaya is located in the upscale South Delhi neighborhood of Panscheel Park, a residential area dominated by huge mansions and leafy streets. Plenty of sights and shops are within a reasonable drive. The UNESCO World Heritage Qutub Minar is a 10-minute drive from the hotel without traffic, while hip Hauz Khas Village -- with lots of shops, bars, and restaurants -- is a 15-minute drive away. Humayun's Tomb and the sprawling Lodhi Gardens, which is full of Lodhi-era tombs and meandering paths, are both a 20- to 30-minute drive away as well. The shops and restaurants of Connaught Place take a minimum of 25 minutes to reach by car, as does Jantar Mantar, a collection of ancient astronomical instruments. Getting to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi's best-known Sikh temple, is also a 25-minute drive. 

Old Delhi Railway Station and Old Delhi's bustling market area -- Chandni Chowk -- are both about half an hour or so away by car, while it's a 45-minute-long metro ride or 25-minute drive to New Delhi Railway Station. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is around 30 minutes away by car without traffic, but can take significantly longer to reach during peak hours.

Rooms at the Visaya come in 300-square-foot Superior Room and 350-square foot Deluxe Room categories, all with flat-screen TVs, safes, minibars, coffee- and tea-making facilities. Rooms have similar decor dominated by rich shades of brown and muted grays plus hardwood multi-toned floors with gray runner rugs; Superior Rooms have pairs of chairs while Deluxe Rooms add sofas. 

The bathrooms are more or less the same in both room types, with cream marble floors and walls, light-wood counters with white square-shaped vessel sinks, small hairdryers, and walk-in rainfall showers. The Visaya also has a single 450-square-foot Roof Top Suite, which uses more gray in the decor and adds a living room area plus a small counter for dining. The bathroom here is particularly striking, with charcoal-hued marble throughout, a double vanity, and a deep jetted tub along with a separate walk-in shower. There's also an outdoor deck with lounge chairs as well as a couple of patio tables with chairs.

The Visaya offers excellent facilities given its relatively small size. The fitness center is small but modern, with a couple of cardio machines plus a rack of free weights. There are also conference rooms for up to 80 guests, all with audiovisual equipment and pre-function areas. Room service is available around the clock from the on-site Life Cafe, which serves both Indian and international food plus a free breakfast full of hot and cold items. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and on-site parking is available. The hotel also offers transfers from the airport and railway stations (but it's expensive) and day trips to Jaipur and Agra (home of the Taj Mahal) can be arranged directly through the front desk.