Abode Bombay
Mumbai

Billed as Bombay’s first true luxury boutique hotel, Abode Bombay is a heartfelt tribute to the city’s soul; design-focused, locally inspired and utterly charming. Housed in a beautifully restored 1910 building with an original wooden and iron façade, Abode began life as a private residence before being run as a modest guesthouse by a local family. In 2013, it was reinvented with vision and flair, becoming a thoughtful, story-rich hotel that honours both the nostalgia of old Bombay and the bold energy of modern-day Mumbai.

The interiors are a tactile blend of materials and memory; salvaged teak floors, handmade art deco tiles and vintage saris repurposed into soft furnishings. Each of the 20 rooms is individually styled, featuring restored antique furniture, plush cotton bedding and curated works by local artists. Some rooms feature soaring double-height windows and freestanding bathtubs, particularly the Superior Luxury Rooms, which are the best in the house, letting in the golden South Mumbai light and views over Colaba’s rooftops.

The location couldn’t be better. Set in a leafy, quiet lane in the heart of Colaba, Abode is just a five minutes walk from the Gateway of India and a short stroll from Mumbai’s most vibrant art galleries, boutiques and cafés. It feels tucked away, yet right in the thick of it, a calm and restorative hideout amid the city's swirl.

Days here start with a homemade breakfast served in the café (think masala omelettes, fresh juices, banana bread) and guests can while away the evenings with a good book from the hotel’s small library or nibble on Bombay-inspired snacks in the airy, lounge-like lobby. There’s also a small spa room for in-house massages, ideal after a day exploring the city’s colonial architecture or browsing the stalls of Colaba Causeway.

Abode is not about glitz or grandeur, instead, it’s an elegant expression of place, full of character and community. It offers a boutique stay that is both deeply personal and effortlessly stylish, a place where authentic Indian hospitality meets understated luxury, and where every design detail tells a local story. For the curious, culturally minded traveller, there’s nowhere in Mumbai quite like it.

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson