The Best Hotels to Book for Foodies in Kolkata

Park Street is known locally as the street that never sleeps, and with all the clubs, bars and book stores, you can’t say it doesn’t deserve the title. There are plenty of restaurants, too, which has led to a second nickname: Food Street. If you stay at The Park you’ll have easy access to one of the city’s best restaurants, the in-house Zen, which serves Pan-Asian cuisine – the sashimi platter is a particular highlight, or stay for Sunday brunch for unlimited wine, sushi and dim sum. It’s one of several upscale offerings at The Park, including pool-side Champagne pavilions, pan-Indian dining, a cocktail den and a sexy nightclub, Tantra.

This five-star hotel in the ritzy Alipore neighbourhood features excellent views of the city skyline, and is a five-minute walk from Alipore zoo, India’s oldest zoological park. The choice of onsite restaurants includes Sonargaon, which happens to be one of the city’s most popular North Indian restaurants; Souk for Mediterranean cuisine; and Chinoiserie for one of the best fine-dining Chinese experiences in the city. The hotel’s Cal 27 bistro is open 24 hours, so it’s an excellent spot for a classy midday brunch or a late-night meal after an evening on the town. If you’ve got a better idea than a midnight shrimp nasi goreng, we’d like to hear about it.

The tranquil atmosphere of The Oberoi Grand makes it a top choice for a more chilled-out stay, paired with some seriously epic restaurant choices. Baan Thai, The Oberoi’s Thai restaurant is among the finest in the city while Threesixtythree, the on-site multi-cuisine restaurant, brings the fusion. In addition, the hotel offers packages for guests curious about traditional Bengali spices and cooking. After all that eating, stop by at The Oberoi Spa for a massage, or request a personalised yoga session and channel your inner Dhalsim. To get even more relaxed, head to The Bar and get a Bengali-style cocktail. As you’re in Kolkata, it’s only right to order a Kolkata Club – gin, dry vermouth, grenadine, egg white and tonic.

Another luxury hotel with fantastic culinary offerings, ITC Sonar has lush gardens, peaceful water ponds and Pala Dynasty-inspired sculptures that mean there’s a photo opportunity around every corner. The Northern Indian curries at the hotel restaurant, Peshawri, are pretty photogenic too, so save some space on your camera and in your stomach. When it’s time for dessert, head over to Fabelle Chocolate Boutique, and stock up on luxury chocolate bars. And if you can’t choose between cuisines, head to the ever-popular Eden Pavilion for some memorable fusion and multi-cuisine dining.

The gym at The Kenilworth features the latest equipment and a team of specialists who can provide dedicated training programmes tailored around your needs. You can then undo all this hard work by hitting up the nearby restaurants and stuffing your face. Mae Kong on Theatre Road serves delicious dumplings, pork belly and pad Thai noodles, but if you want a Kolkata take on British meals, visit The Big Ben, the hotel bar. There’s a bakery on site, too, for fresh-baked pastries the morning after.

This stylish hotel is a short walk from both the DLF Galleria, as well as a 15-minute taxi ride from Aquatica Water Park and Salt Lake Stadium, which hosts the Mohun Bagan and East Bengal football teams. It’s close to Windsor Bakery, so stop by and sample the cakes, sweets and pastries. If you’re not in the mood for something sweet, head to Spice It, and watch the chefs prepare classic curries before your eyes.

Aaheli, the award-winning onsite restaurant at The Peerless Inn, serves proper Bengali food. In fact, it’s so authentic that its name literally means authentic. Each dish is prepared using freshly ground spices, and guests are encouraged to use their hands to eat. Aaheli is known for the quality and quantity of its portion sizes, so bring an appetite. After your meal, be sure to try a gulab jamun, a sweet dessert of soft dough balls soaked in cardamom-infused syrup.

The sleek and stylish Sonnet is located in Bidhannagar, otherwise known as Salt Lake, Kolkata’s business district. Guests can stop by the Rajwada, an authentic Rajasthani restaurant overlooking the pool, or sample some cocktails at Unwine. If you’re prepared to explore past the hotel grounds, Pabrai’s Fresh & Naturelle Ice Creams is just a five-minute walk away. You could be boring and get a scoop of chocolate or vanilla, or you could try authentic Bengali flavours like Calcutta Paan and Nolen Gur.