This five-star hotel, the Vivanta by Taj President Mumbai (a bit of a mouthful), was recently refurbished by Japanese interior designer Noriyoshi Muramatsu (responsible for the interiors of Zuma in London, Hong Kong and Istanbul) and has super-sized rooms with wooden flooring, bathrooms with power showers and windows that look out over the city or harbour.

Close to downtown Colaba the Vivanta by Taj President Mumbai makes for a decent, discreet stay – the helpful staff will happily arrange everything from a simple taxi to a dinner for ten at one of Mumbai’s top restaurants. Many of Mumbai’s smartest movers and shakers consider this hotel to offer the best service in the city – and they’re not wrong. The buffet breakfast is good, the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, Thai Pavilion, deserves to be tried, and its ritzy bar WINK pulls in the glamour-pusses.

There’s also a cute pool with nice wooden loungers to relax on – a must in early summer when Mumbai really sizzles.