Delhi, India
5-star deluxe, central location
Dating from the twilight of the British Raj, the Imperial was intended to be among the world’s very grandest hotels – a position it has retained ever since its gala opening in 1931. From the minute you pull up to its whitewashed, colonial-Art-Deco façade, fronted by trademark towering palms, the impression is one of old-world elegance. Pale cream walls offset by Burmese teak dominate the interior, where staff in gold epaulettes breeze over floors of gleaming Italian marble, beneath sparkling chandeliers.
The rooms are plush without being showy and the courtyard pool a welcome haven from the brouhaha of the nearby shopping district. You could well find yourself spending a lot of time in the coffee shop overlooking the hotel garden – one of the great spots in India for people watching.
