The Oberoi New Delhi is an icon for India’s capital city and has a deep-rooted, lively history. Now, it combines all that with a fresh and modern style after an extensive two-year makeover. Larger rooms, clean-air technology, and the Oberoi’s signature service make this Indian Excursions’ favourite place to stay in India’s capital city.
The Oberoi New Delhi; our favourite place to stay in India’s capital city
It’s not just us, though! The Oberoi New Delhi has long been loved by visitors and locals alike since its conception in 1965, by the late Mohan Singh Oberoi. Throughout this time, the Oberoi raised the bar for luxury hotels in Delhi, in India, and arguably the world (the Oberoi hotels were collectively voted as the “Best Hotel Group in the World” by readers of Travel+Leisure magazine in both 2015 and 2016). The Oberoi New Delhi was the capital’s first privately owned luxury hotel, its first to employ female staff, and its first to offer 24-hour room service. Following an extensive two-year, $100 million renovation and reopening its doors in January 2018, The Oberoi New Delhi continues to stride ahead with several innovative concepts. Such as state-of-the-art ‘Clean Air’ technology, ensuring guests are treated to the purest of air, on par with global standards. Further, all rooms are equipped with Oberoi E’nhance – an iPad from which you can control lighting, check your bill, or order room service.
The redesign, headed by Indian interior designer Vinod Goswami, is much inspired by the Lutyens’ New Delhi – an area of the capital named after British architect Edwin Lutyens (1869 – 1944) who was responsible for much of the architectural design and building during the heyday of the British Raj. The Oberoi New Delhi retains Indian twists too; from traditional silk panelling to contemporary Indian art, to the original Tree of Life carving that’s been an icon of the hotel since it opened in the ’60s. Mr Rahul Parasher, Sales Manager of The Oberoi New Delhi, showed our Co-Founder, Madeleine Hann, around the revamped property. He explained that while practically the entire hotel had been gutted and rebuilt, the Tree of Life remained precisely where it had always been and that the new and improved lobby had been built around this.
The gracious lobby. In the background, you can see the iconic Tree of Life wood carving that’s been here since the hotel first opened in the 60’s.
We begin our tour in the impressive lobby. It’s refreshingly light and airy as compared to many of the thickly-carpeted, dimly-lit reception areas we’ve seen at other hotels in New Delhi. Here, on the lobby level, is the much-loved 360° restaurant; The Oberoi New Delhi’s all-day, multi-cuisine offering something to suit all palettes from European to Japanese, Italian, Thai, and – of course – Indian. A short walk away, you’ll find the 360° bar serving the usual tipples, as well as innovative cocktails, and fine wines from a temperature-controlled cellar. Nearby is another of The Oberoi New Delhi’s in-house eateries; Omya, an authentic Indian speciality restaurant under the hands of internationally acclaimed, London-based chef Alfred Prasad.
360° is the all-day, multi-cuisine restaurant. It’s here that you’ll be served breakfast.
Omya; the traditional Indian fine-dining restaurant at The Oberoi New Delhi
The Oberoi New Delhi also present Baoshuan; an authentic Chinese restaurant serving innovative Chinese cuisine under the guidance of Michelin starred chef, Andrew Wong. Cirrus9, the rooftop bar, offers sweeping views of the city, accompanied by cocktails, a delicious bar menu, and specially curated music. Lastly, step downstairs to the lower ground level, and you’ll be immediately hit with the delightful aroma of cakes and pastries, freshly prepared in-house at The Oberoi Patisserie & Delicatessen.
Baoshuan is the authentic Chinese-speciality restaurant at The Oberoi New Delhi, open for dinners
Cirrus9; the rooftop bar at The Oberoi New Delhi
The recent revamp has seen The Oberoi New Delhi reduce their number of rooms and suites from 283 to 220, resulting in incredibly spacious lodgings which are rare when compared with the box-sized rooms of many hotels in the capital. Of their 220 rooms, these are divided into eight categories, starting with the Deluxe Room, then the Luxury Room, the Premier Room, the Premier Plus Room, the Oberoi Suite, the Deluxe Suite, the Luxury Suite, and – finally – the jewel in The Oberoi New Delhi’s crown – the Kohinoor Suite.
The entry-level Deluxe Room is identical to the next category, the Luxury Room, except the Luxury Room is on a higher floor so offers a better view. They’re a spacious 350 sq ft (32.5 sq mt.), provide a king-sized bed or two separate twins, and are tastefully adorned. Guests can expect teak-wood flooring, white Italian marble bathroom fixtures, a bathtub and separate multi-pressure shower, fluffy white bathrobes and lovely Forest Essentials amenities. What immediately hits you as you enter the stunning room is the fresh pops of jewel-toned colour in sapphire-blue, ruby-red, and a soft citrine-yellow.
Deluxe Room at The Oberoi New Delhi
Luxury Room at The Oberoi New Delhi
The Premier Room features many of the same touches, upholstery and décor as the Deluxe Room and the Luxury Room, though is larger at 550 sq ft (55.5 sq mt.) and boasts a sitting area. The difference between the Premier Room and the Premier Plus Room is that the latter includes complimentary access to the Resident’s Lounge, offering tea, coffee and snacks as well as beers, wines and spirits.
Premier Room at The Oberoi New Delhi
The Oberoi Suite comes in next at a spacious 725 sq ft. (73 sq mt.). It encompasses a grand master bedroom, a separate living room, and the option to interconnect with a Premier Room (ideal for families travelling with small children).
Oberoi Suite at The Oberoi New Delhi
The Deluxe Suite is more spacious still, at a whopping 1,400 sq ft. (141 sq mt.). It enjoys a living area with a powder room, a pantry, a king-size bed and an Italian marble bathroom. From the private balcony, you can take in a sweeping view of the Delhi Golf Course or Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Luxury Suite takes all of the Deluxe Suite and raises you a private dining room and 1,800 sq ft. of space (182 sq mt.)
Last but certainly not least, the presidential Kohinoor Suite is an enormous 3,500 sq ft. (353 sq mt.) and exemplifies luxury. Unashamedly opulent, the suite has previously hosted Nicolas Sarkozy, Giorgio Armani, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The master bedroom possesses a private sitting area and study, followed by a therapy room, a personal gym, and an unmatched view of New Delhi.
Bedroom in the Kohinoor Suite at The Oberoi New Delhi
When you’re not luxuriating in your room, enjoying a G&T on the rooftop or savouring a gourmet meal, guests at The Oberoi New Delhi are treated to two swimming pools (one’s outdoor, the other is indoor). There’s also an infra-red sauna, and a serene, Zen-like spa with a menu offering traditional Ayurveda, Aromatherapy, Eastern, Western, and signature Oberoi treatments and massages.
The outdoor swimming pool at The Oberoi New Delhi
All in all, The Oberoi New Delhi is a fabulous place to kick-start your private, tailor-made tour of Rajasthan. Being in the heart of India’s capital city, you’re within easy reach of the sights and key shopping areas. You’re not too far from the airport, either; it’s just a thirty-minute drive.
If you’d like to include a stay at The Oberoi New Delhi on your upcoming holiday to India, please get in touch. We’re well equipped to create a truly personalised itinerary based on your ideas, schedule and budget, and as a Preferred Partner of The Oberoi Group we have access to special offers and complimentary upgrades. For further inspiration, why not take a quick look at our insider’s guide to Oberoi hotels in India? To extend your Oberoi experience beyond Delhi, we recommend this luxury Rajasthan tour with Oberoi hotels. It takes you from Delhi to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, on to Ranthambhore to spot wild Bengal tigers in the jungle, then to the Pink City of Jaipur, and, lastly, the romantic lake-side city of Udaipur.
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