The presence of so many French ex-pats in Delhi has always seemed to me like a fascinating fold in the social fabric of India’s capital city. This small community of a few thousand people appears close-knit and passionately intent on bringing a little of their homeland to bear on their surroundings which, as with most things French, is no bad thing.
The entrepreneurial element in the French community is worthy of admiration and beautifully exemplified in 4 of our loveliest Delhi hotels, all of which hit a high 9 on the ‘boutique hotels in Delhi’ scale.
Amarya group: These guys don’t splash the cash but they certainly make a mark with what they’ve got: snazzy interiors, great food and coffee, low-key but cool locations, plus they’ve put together an excellent, efficient team at each property.
Amarya Villa is a 9 room, discreet boutique hotel in Safdarjung Enclave, a great residential neighbourhood in south Delhi. The obvious ‘getting around’ issues are rendered irrelevant by the ubiquitous auto-rickshaws, taxis and the nearby Delhi metro; plus when the service and food is this good, why would you want to be in the manic centre of town anyway?
Matt and Deepti’s crepes and coffee binge really kicked off in Delhi when they stayed at Amarya Haveli.
*Editor’s note: Amarya Haveli has since closed due to landlord shenanigans*.
In yet another south Delhi residential location, this time in Haus Khas Enclave, a well-to-do neighbourhood by Green Park.
There are 2 metro stations nearby so access to the old city is not an issue. Again it’s not just the pure ‘boutique’ feel of the place but the fact that the service is just so damn good. The big hotels uptown really can’t match this.
The Rose, in trendy Hauz Khas Village, is a credit to owners Francois and Pio who have renovated a faceless building and made it way more than the sum of its parts.
It’s an art-space, it’s a meeting place, it’s a restaurant and it’s a boutique hotel – with 11 rooms upstairs, all of which are bright and fresh.
The food downstairs is superb while the service is minimal but refined. Stay here and you can easily get to a metro and in to tourist-Delhi, but don’t miss out on the chance to wander round the vibrant neighbourhood on your doorstep.
The recently renovated Scarlette (formerly Colaba House) is an absolute gem of a guesthouse, though ‘mini-boutique hotel’ would be a more apt description were it not for there only being 4 guest rooms here (so book well in advance!!). The location is Safdarjung Enclave; safe, chilled and in South Delhi.
New owner Pauline Bijvoet does that natural-French-style thing that we can only envy: every curio, colour or furnishing so effortlessly tasteful or chic.
The kitchen is run with love by Bengali cook Mamta, who serves up both European and Indian dishes, and had our reviewer Deepti gushing over her chocolate cake and lemon tart.