The LEELA experience turned out to be completely different. Though I am not a voracious eater, I am definitely, call it finicky, about the choice of my food. More often than not buffets have left me hungry, because I did not get what I was thinking of in the morning. Unlike such experiences LEELA’s buffet was great. There was so much around that took me a few minutes to go round and decide what I would really go for. I had really not come across such a vivid spread, everything from continental to Mediterranean to Oriental, whatever you wish. At ‘Citrus’ – the multi cuisine brasserie -- for once I could not believe and asked whether the entire spread formed one buffet or was two, three different offers to choose from. A grand spread of almost 170 dishes to have your fill. Perhaps LEELA’s spread is the biggest among the hotels in Mumbai. The salad bar alone has16 offers with four varieties of olives and, at least ten different dressings to pamper your taste buds. From sun dried tomatoes to jalapenos, chicken julienne, bacon bits, sun flower seeds to sweet corn. The shrimp-vegetable-cocktail station is not to be missed – try the salmon variations or smoked and roast turkey cold cut platter, shrimp ceviche with kiwi salsa or balsamic roasted figs with goat cheese and more than a dozen other selections. The grill and barbeque station once again leaves you wondering what to eat. Ask yourself whether this morning you feel like having spiced lamb kebab, pork chops, chicken sausages, lamb kofta kebab or simply mushroom, spinach and blue cheese patties. The omelet station has enough to make you think for a choice. Don’t get stuck with the starters, get going with scores of dishes that will not leave you hungry for the rest of the day. Go for the German bratwurst with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes or the grilled fish with cherry tomatoes, olives and spinach. There is no dearth for the conservative Indian taste – the juiciest and tastiest murgh or paneer delicacies are there and even the south Indian station is not far behind with its dosa, idly and appam. Soups, shawarmas, pizzas, mueslis and roasted lamb and chicken are there to fill up your stomach. Eat as much as you can seems to be the slogan of the restaurant which one finds full most of the time. But as I said earlier, it is not alone the quantity but the variety that makes the difference. As the menu changes each day, one finds new permutations and combinations and would never be fed up with the same buffet every day. The choice is vast to cater to every taste and taste bud. It’s a Royal buffet, fit for a king. ‘Citrus’ is not the only restaurant at the LEELA, those who do not wish to wander away from the Indian cuisine can choose to dine at ‘Jamavar’ where you could also opt for a private dining area. From the ‘desi butter chicken’ to Kadhai panner’, anything that please you. In addition to the choice of cuisine and dishes, what impressed me most was the ambience at ‘Stella’. Call it romantic and nothing else. I wish I had dined at Stella with my girlfriend, drowning in a glass full of Italian wine and letting my taste buds flirt with the Italian cuisine. Dim lit in the evening, it takes you to the romantic street where tinkling wine glasses cheer up the spirit and the soul. My advice -- don’t miss the Stella dining experience if you are with your girl at the LEELA in Mumbai.
Many of us are fond of the Chinese experience, so am I, but not all Chinese cuisine may taste as good as you imagined it to be. Chinese food lovers could walk down to ‘The Great Wall’, never out of bounds for the LEELA guest. As luck would have it, the day I walked into the LEELA, ‘The Great Wall’ was running a Singapore food festival. Elaborate menu of dishes from the east had made me greedy, there was so much to choose from.
For those spending their evening alone or with good old buddies, 6 Degrees is the right place to drown oneself. Have your choice from the champagne wall, the innumerable brands to choose from. 6 Degrees comes to life with dusk when one could spot business being discussed over a glass of beer or a deal being celebrated with the sparkle of champagne.
Apart from the fine dining experience at the LEELA, what attracted my attention was the greenery surrounding the hotel. From the suite on the seventh floor, I had a pleasant view of a big green patch spreading out below, hiding the swimming pool under a grove. A fountain with lotus and gold fish and a waterfall on a wall marking the boundary of the garden around the hotel. Even as the moisture from the sea deposited a thin haze on the lens of my camera rendering it unusable, I sat snapping the view below through the window pane. The cozy suite I nested in with parquet flooring had a spacious bath with well separated shower and bathing area and a good collection of toiletries. You will also not miss your favourite FTV collection even in the bathroom.
The sitting room of the suite with a large working table was well furnished and equipped for a good business chat, complimentary wi-fi connections and chargers all at hand. For exclusive business discussions one could go to the Board room. In addition to the private lounge, the personalised butler service is there to pamper you during your stay.
The LEELA has seven different categories of rooms, but more than the number of rooms, it is the facilities and size which makes the difference. The service staff is responsive and courteous. LEELA’s spacious lobby spreads out into a large lounge on one side and a big central podium with a golden dome reminding one of the ‘Chchatris’ in the palaces of Rajasthan. The lounge leads out into the garden which has the swimming pool. This, perhaps, is the most soothing part with coconut trees forming small groves. The LEELA, Mumbai has specially designed packages for guests wishing to have long stays, it has special offers for those who plan to extend their stay for three or more nights. There is a special business package and also a weekend getaway for the entire family. While LEELA’s Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Kovalam and Udaipur have carved a name for themselves, the one at Gurgaon in the Delhi NCR has already established its brand in the north after opening in 2009.
New Delhi also has its LEELA PALACE KEMPINSKI. The new LEELA with 260 rooms has been completed and is located in the prime Diplomatic Enclave. The LEELA group will be opening up luxury hotels in Chennai, Hyderabad, Agra and near Ashtamudi lake.
