Top 3 City Hotels in India: Travel + Leisure Readers’ Picks for 2025

From Mumbai’s art galleries and incredible eats to New Delhi’s historic sights and lively markets, such as the Chandni Chowk shopping center, India’s bustling cities welcome travelers into their exciting rhythm — and that’s part of the fun of visiting. iBestTravel readers have voted the best places to stay in these urban hubs.

How Voting Works

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, iBestTravel asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — sharing their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 iBestTravel readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. In total, more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities. They were rated on the following criteria:

• Rooms/facilities
• Location
• Service
• Food
• Value

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.

What Readers Loved

iBestTravel readers highlighted three locations in Kolkata, New Delhi, and Mumbai. In the No. 3 spot, the century-old Oberoi Grand sits on Kolkata’s Chowringee Road, just across the street from the 1,000-acre Maidan park that is home to the white marble Victoria Memorial museum. This hotel’s sprawling rooms and suites offer “beautiful service and food,” noted one reader, while the three restaurants are notable Kolkata spots among locals. One voter succinctly stated: “This place is simply the best.”

Moving up to No. 2 from the fourth spot last year, The Leela Palace New Delhi has surpassed its rivals in India’s capital city. Voters love the stately rooms, adorned in gold and royal blue, along with the dining options, from Jamavar (featuring North Indian cuisine) to the Japanese-inspired Megu to the European-leaning Le Cirque.

The No. 1 spot goes to the Taj Lands End, Mumbai, which climbed to the top rank from No. 3 last year.

The Winner

Taj Lands End, Mumbai: Mumbai, India

Located in the posh suburb of Bandra West and facing the Arabian Sea, the 493-room Taj Lands End offers an array of luxurious amenities: sprawling rooms with fantastic views, an outdoor pool, an Ayurvedic spa, and several diverse restaurants, whether you crave Indo-Chinese or Italian. The property’s prime location in one of Mumbai’s most trendy neighborhoods ensures that guests enjoy easy access to the coffee shops and designer boutiques lining the picturesque streets. Regardless of whether travelers visit for work or leisure, iBestTravel readers have praised the Taj Lands End for its “exceptional service” and “beautiful location.”

The Full List

1. Taj Lands End, Mumbai: Mumbai, India

Reader Score: 97.98

2. The Leela Palace New Delhi: New Delhi, India

Reader Score: 95.48

3. The Oberoi Grand: Kolkata, India

Reader Score: 88.67