Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal

The two restaurants, their food, and their staff were very good, but elsewhere we often found employees unfriendly and indifferent. We also received repeated requests after the stay to review the hotel, with strong pressure to give it a 9 or 10 out of 10. That makes me question whether the overall scores reflect what guests actually experience. At check-in, an unfriendly, arrogant staff member made us wait for our keys even after the process was essentially done, then checked in people who were behind us and handed them their keys. I had to ask twice before we got ours. No one explained Wi-Fi, the restaurants, or breakfast times and location, and nobody offered to help with our luggage, which even much smaller, cheaper Bangalore hotels usually do. We’d expected a top-class hotel with excellent service and facilities, but the stay fell short from the start. The terrace pool shown in the online photos was around 21°C, while the air was about 30°C, making it unsuitable for swimming with our children. The view was disappointing too: instead of what the outdated website images suggest, it looks over an active construction site for another hotel. We tried to book the restaurant we’d seen advertised online with outdoor seating, but were told a corporate booking meant it wasn’t available, so we ate indoors. We also tried the first-floor restaurant by the bar. Both places served good food to a high standard. Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal felt overpriced, and its online photos were misleading and out of date. There are better, more affordable places to stay in Bangalore, so I wouldn’t recommend this one.

Getting in and out of this area means dealing with bad traffic, and the terrace views are only okay. The pool edge could also be safer. One odd thing in the room: even rinsing my hands without soap left them feeling soapy, maybe because of the water treatment. Be careful with the tap water, I wouldn’t rinse my mouth with it. The staff were a 10/10, and the hotel had a nice atmosphere, comfortable rooms, good food, and quick service for things like laundry. At the Mango Mania buffet, mango sushi was excellent; the pumpkin soup and Paneer angara were delicious. Grilled pineapple was good, though it can be spicy. The fitness center has enough cardio machines, but needs more equipment for upper-body and leg workouts. There’s one all-in-one machine, which isn’t enough at busy times, plus the usual dumbbells and gear. Please clean the air vents too, since airflow isn’t sufficient. My scores: atmosphere 8/10, food 8.5/10, location 9/10, staff 10/10, comfort 8/10. I keep asking this in hotel reviews: why do receptionists have to stand through their whole shift? Please give them a desk and chair.

The view from the 9th floor was lovely, with the lake, palm trees, city, and a beautiful sunset. The room itself was a bit small and dusty, perhaps because of the road construction. The bed also felt too high for me. I appreciated having an iron in the room, but the coffee sachets weren’t replenished until the third day. The lobby waiting area could use more chairs, since we often had to stand while waiting for our vehicle. The buffet offered plenty of choice. The chaat and fish dishes were delicious, while the rest was mediocre. Staff were courteous, especially Mr. Christopher at the helpdesk, who was very helpful. The hotel is close to pheonix mall of asia, a high-end mall, and element mall, which has more mid-to-low-range options.

The pool on the roof is well maintained and has an infinity view toward the city. I only wish it were on the lake side for a better outlook. Across the road, the lake is a nice bonus if you want a view. Rooms are a decent size for a longer stay, with the usual business or leisure amenities, including a standard work desk. The TVs and STBs could use an upgrade to smart models that support OTTs, but that didn’t spoil the stay. The food was tasty, and service was good. Most staff were polite and tried to meet requests. At the standard price point, the location, amenities, food, and service made this a worthwhile, balanced stay. Rates across the area can rise sometimes, so it’s better to book at the right time and price.