BACKGROUND There are nine JW Marriott hotels in India, with two in Mumbai itself. JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu opened in January 2002 and since then has been one of the most iconic venues of the city.
what’s it like? It’s a structure you can’t miss if you’re passing through the suburb of Juhu. My Uber drove through a winding pathway lined with greenery and dropped me at the five-floor property’s entrance. Its basement is dedicated to its ballroom. A quick security check followed and I walked into the roomy lobby that has a lot of lounging space spread across. The sound of the playing piano filled my ears as I finished the check-in procedure and walked towards the elevators on the left. Bombay Baking Company, its coffee-shop, is on the right along with a few other F&B outlets while straight and then down the spiral stairs is its all-day dining restaurant — Lotus Café. The recently renovated lobby looks rich with golden hues and marble flooring.
WHERE IS IT? By Juhu Beach, on Juhu Tara Road. There’s a Starbucks right across the road along with a number of restaurants and bars. The international airport is half an hour away without traffic.
ROOM FACILITIES I was staying in a Grand Ocean suite (71 sqm) that opened to a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea from its French windows that sprawl across the living room, bedroom and the bathroom. On the left of the living room is a dining table and a separate toilet. The lounge area faces the television (31-inch) and the desk that’s beside the window. The minibar is camouflaged beside the television. I used the power sockets here to charge my devices and also to play music through an iPod doc. Closets are placed on the pathway to the bedroom. There is also a Bose radio and sound system in the bedroom. Four phones are placed in the suite and the wifi is free. It was nice to sit by the window early morning and enjoy coffee with an uninterrupted view of the sea. The white marble bathroom exemplifies luxury with its bathtub beside the window and a separate shower area. Since I was staying in this level of accommodation, I could access the Executive lounge that offers complimentary evening cocktails and canapés, non-alcoholic beverages and chargeable business services. Some of the other accommodation categories are Deluxe room, Deluxe Ocean View room, Premier Club room, Executive Juhu Beach suite and the Royal Lotus suite.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS A full-range breakfast is served at Lotus Café however I chose to experience its recently launched breakfast menu at Bombay Baking Company. I devoured their blueberry pancake along with freshly squeezed orange juice and a double shot espresso. My lunch was a light kati roll at Lotus Café as dinner was supposed to be quite lavish at Dashanzi, its pan-Asian restaurant. The restaurant boasts of an expansive beverages menu with speciality gins from around the world. For dinner, we started with edamame and truffle, mushroom crystal and kaffir lime pesto and shiitake mushroom and lotus root dim sum. The Hamachi and Shake sashimi was impeccable. I also had dinner the previous night at its Italian restaurant — Mezzo Mezzo — where I relished the home-made potato gnocchi with black truffle with the Little James Basket Press (French red wine) by Saint Cosme.
MEETING FACILITIES There are 13 event rooms that sprawl across 1,790 sqm. The Grand Sangam Ballroom can accommodate 1,000 people while Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati can fit 200 delegates each.
LEISURE FACILITIES There’s an outdoor infinity and a saltwater pool along with a children’s pool. The fitness centre has Jacuzzi, steam and sauna facilities along with VibroGym equipment. I tried the Quan Signature Therapy at Quan Spa that deeply relaxed my muscles and joints, resulting in a peaceful night’s sleep.
VERDICT It remains a classic with corporate and leisure travellers with its host of F&B, luxury and business facilities.
PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in Deluxe Guest room in mid-January started at ₹12,250.
CONTACT JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, Juhu Tara Road, Mumbai 400049; tel: 022 6693 3000; marriott.com
