I had the pleasure of staying at the Soho House Mumbai during my recent travels to the financial hub of India. For those unfamiliar with the concept of these estates dotted about the cosmopolitans of the world, Soho House was founded in London in 1995 for people working in creative industries. Each House is designed for the city and neighbourhood it is located in, but all share the same ethos; “to create a comfortable home away from home for a community of like-minded creative people, wherever they are.”
Soho House Mumbai gives you a taste of this coastal cosmopolitan in India, as it is located at the shore of the famous Juhu Beach. It is surrounded by the animated cityscape on one side and the vast stretch of the Arabian Sea on the other. The 11-storey building houses six types of 38 bedrooms, welcoming single travellers and larger groups. I was travelling with a friend and had booked the Medium Sea View Room – and what a beauty it is! Approximately 45 square metres of space is elegantly decorated with vintage furniture, a nod to English colonial India, and features a king-size bed. However, my favourite bit has to be the elegantly long balcony that overlooks Juhu Beach and the limitless sea. The coffee table seating with vintage chairs by the balcony made it a perfect spot to sip a cup of coffee, catch on work, cosy up with a book or just unwind after a long day in the bustle of Mumbai city.
There is a plethora of dining options at the Soho House, starting with in-room service ‘The House’ that is open to members and hotel guests only, and caters to all needs and moods at any and every hour. It offers classics found in Soho Houses across the world, as well as favourites from the local Indian cuisine. Breakfast for me, however, was an enjoyable meal every morning at ‘The Allis’, which offers quite a variety with options of Continental, English or Indian style breakfasts, and an array of energising beverages, coffees and teas to choose from. It is a relaxed space to socialise and entertain guests from outside, a concept borrowed from the original concept at Soho House Chicago. Soho House Mumbai’s speciality restaurant ‘Cecconi’s’ is located at the lobby level and is open to non-members as well. The restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine in a modern setting, in an indoor dining room, or the al-fresco outdoor seating facing the sea. It is truly a sophisticated place to impress your guests or your date.
The rooftop of this sophisticated edifice features an outdoor swimming pool and also offers a wide selection of food and beverage options. It is the perfect setting to sip on cocktails on balmy summer evenings, whilst one enjoys panoramic views of the cityside on the East and the Arabian Sea on the West.
The hotel’s gymnasium is equipped with the latest gear and machines, and also offers users time with personal trainers. Other features of Soho House Mumbai include ‘The Eva Room’ to host private and intimate events. It is also where Soho House hosts memorable events for its members on a number of occasions, with a myriad of events being hosted on a weekly basis. The structure also boasts a luxurious 32-seat cinema, with daily screenings for guests or private hire, for the ultimate cinematic experience, a unique offering in the capital of Bollywood. Both these spaces are open to members and non-members.
Soho House Mumbai is definitely one of the more happening places in the suburbs of Mumbai, with the crème-de-la-crème of the city visiting often. If you’re lucky enough, you may even spot your favourite Bollywood star sipping a glass of wine and enjoying a pleasant evening here. The charm of Soho House is brought about by its exclusivity and that there are very few to match it’s reputed hospitality and personalized service in Mumbai. And it is perhaps for this reason that photography here is restricted, to safeguard the privacy of its guests. Soho House offers a number of membership-plans that one can avail of, and after my visit, I think I may just take one up myself and explore more of these estates across the globe.
