We Indulge In A ‘5 Senses Weekend Staycation’ At Sofitel Mumbai BKC


Over time Sofitel BKC has gained the status of one of the more popular luxury properties in Mumbai. Earlier this year, the hotel marked 5 successful years in the metropolis, and rolled out the ‘5 Senses Weekend Staycation package’ to celebrate it.

For the uninitiated, Sofitel Hotels & Resorts is a French luxury hotel chain, and noted for marrying French ‘art de vivre’ to the distinguishing features of its host nation. In India, or more specifically Mumbai, that means emphasis on chic albeit India-accented design; an impressive, central address; heart-warming hospitality; and regional cooking served with European flair. This year, however, it has come to mean more. On Sofitel Mumbai BKC’s fifth anniversary in India, the hotel has created a ‘5 Senses Weekend Staycation’ that offers more than just a unique guest experience and quite literally tantalizes all of one’s senses.

A shiny BMW awaited at my residence.

In our case, the engagement was set for a Saturday. And commenced rather luxuriously with a pick up from our home in a BMW 5 series, chosen, understandably, as a nod to their fifth anniversary.


Arriving at the hotel, we were quite taken in by the stunning vintage car residing at the entrance, and leading up to what is easily one of the more understated yet elegant lobbies the Indian hotel industry has seen – lined on one side with glass-paneled wall and decked with equally striking chandeliers. A quick check-in, and we were escorted to our room. On the 11th floor, and flecked in purple satin, the luxury room comes with lavish hardwood timber flooring, a large bathroom with an oversized tub and separate shower, and Sofitel’s trademark MyBed, which is an all-feather bed. I especially loved the duvet; once under, getting out was a task.

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View from our room.

The hotel facade from the pool.

All settled in, and fearing getting too settled in, we decided to take a short walk, during which we hit up a nearby Starbucks. It’s hard not to saunter in to a café or an eatery bustling with weekend revelry, while in BKC; the commerce hub is increasingly becoming the locale of choice for F&B businesses, with the likes of Manu Chandra’s Toast & Tonic and even The Gateway Brewing Company’s new taproom moving in. Once back, we decided we’d spend some time in the L-shaped pool and build our appetite for a big dinner. For which, we’d settled on the Pondicherry Café buffet from among Sofitel’s luxury dining options.


Dinner was begun by raising a toast with a Moet bubbly. We made the most of Pondicherry Café’s massive spread that spans Indian, Chinese, Japanese, as well as continental cuisines, and ended with a Hazelnut chocolate mousse that left a mark on our palates. Once a filling dinner had been had we spent some time at their newly opened Kitchen Garden – a new space outside the restaurant, which has sitting areas and is lined with little pots growing fresh herbs and vegetables. Everything here is grown naturally and organically without the use of pesticides and the produce reportedly contributes to 20% of the kitchen requirement; a great initiative if you ask us!

Just Yum!

If you’re a party of 10 or under, give their PDR (Private Dining Area) a whirl – an exclusive central area for 10 guests lies enclosed in a glass structure “inspired by the raw mysterious form of uncut diamonds.” That night, when we returned to the room, we marvelled at how it felt nearly sound proof. They had left us a nice chocolate there, generously sized too, from their patisserie on ground level. If that weren’t impressive enough, the sheer comfort of our MyBed was everything we could’ve hoped for, and we let it hug us into the deepest slumber. Next morning, we revisited Pondicherry Café for breakfast and once again, found ourselves faced with a huge, mouthwatering spread.

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The gorgeous and quaint spa lobby.

As part of the package my wife and I, both, had a spa treatment each from a selected list of treatments. I went for the scalp massage and she went for an Aromachologie Relaxing massage. Lasting thirty minutes, both were relaxing and invigorating, and gave us a taste of the extensive treatments on offer there. Next, we both went in for makeovers at the Savio John Pereira Salon. While I was content with a shampoo and hair styling for my short and simple do, my wife decided to go for a new look. And came out looking pleased with her SJP experience. Following that, we checked out and were driven back to our home in the 5 series.

VERDICT
Overall, this was a very good opportunity for one to experience the property, and spend some quality time in luxury and pampering. The experience is very well priced and offers a lovely opportunity for Mumbaikars to take a well-deserved break right within the city.

Au Revoir, Sofitel.

Designed for leisure travellers, Mumbai residents and in-bound guests, who stand to discover an oasis of luxury in the heart of Mumbai, the offer is priced at INR 15,555 and available through weekends till the end of 2017.

Where: Sofitel Mumbai BKC
C 57, Bandra Kurla Complex,
Bandra East, Mumbai – 400051
Phone: 022 6117 5000

Note – The critic was invited by Sofitel Mumbai BKC. But all the opinions expressed herewith are his own.

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