I don’t have to prove it. The Park looms large right in the centre of Connaught Place, now known as Rajiv Chowk on the Sansad Marg. The 5-star deluxe hotel of the Apeejay Surrendra Group has the most prestigious address – the honor of being on the road leading to the historic building housing the Parliament of the world’s largest democracy.
Accessibility is undoubtedly the plus point of The Park for any traveler who wishes to be well within the city for his business assignments or simply for a leisure tour of the city. The leisure traveler too enjoys the centralized location, he can simply walk out of the lobby into the streets, do a little window shopping and hop into one of the cafes to enjoy a sip of coffee.
The semi-circular building of The Park has dedicated the ground level to its eating joints. Enter the lobby and before you reach the reception, you are already pulled into the ‘Mist’ – the coffee shop that serves buffet day and night attracts a good number of tourists and the busy executive. Each morning a sumptuous breakfast to keep you fit the whole day, fruits from the far east, cheese from the west, dim sums, pancakes, the south Indian favorites. It has a good collection of liquors. One could definitely opt for a la carte menu too and try some tasty Italian dishes.
The other end of the lobby has the ‘Fire’. The fine Indian cuisine restaurant has an elaborate menu of dishes that titillate your taste buds. Mutton specialties from north India or the vegetarian south, all find place in the ‘Fire’ menu. The restaurant is lit with several small halogens hanging above from the ceiling, shining like stars.
Adjacent to the ‘Fire’ is ‘Agni’, said to be the most happening place in the area. The bar with a dance floor and a DJ churning the best evening music to turn the heat on are a favorite of many a night birds. They say if you had a tiring day, you need to come to the floor of ‘Agni’ with your partner and fire your soul with the best music and liquor. The evening at the ‘Agni’ is endless.
For those who wish to exercise their muscles the natural way, there is ‘Aqua’ , the swimming pool and that too against the backdrop of a bar. Gas heaters have been installed next to the pool to keep the guests warm. An elevator from the pool takes you to the gym and spa if you desire to go in for a session of fat burning or a massage.
Back to the guest floors, The Park has five categories of rooms and suites to suit every travelers needs. Starting off with luxury ones, there are the luxury premium, Residence, deluxe and the Presidential suites, the last two being top of the line.
All the rooms are well lit and bright. Space is not a constraint, also the wardrobes are of good size. The mini bars in the rooms are well stocked. The teamakers in each room come with good quality of tea from the gardens of Assam.
Ascend to the Residence floor on the 9th level and sit back across the table to see the sun set over the monumental Jantar Mantar while you sip your mocha. The view spreads out to the horizon where one can see many other landmarks of the city centre. A lounge, a boardroom and a business block clubbed with a small library.
All the luxury rooms on the Residence floors have been done with the doors and other furnishing in a unique double tone finish which gives a feeling of antique wood, but at the same time with fineness. Guests on luxury floors get a bottle of Indian wine complimentary in their rooms in addition to several other frills like free pick ups. Guests in these floors have the comfort of having their breakfast in the Residence lounge if they wish to, they need not go to the ground level.
One thing which does not appeal in any aesthetic way is the uniform that the stewards in MIST wear, maybe a more sober looking dress would have suited the ambience of the coffee shop.
