Hotel Shangri-La Regency

We stayed in the Attic Room, where the floor-to-ceiling windows looked straight onto the Kanchenjunga range at sunrise. It was magical. The rooms were clean and cozy, with a warm wooden feel that suited the mountain setting. Staff were very courteous, helped with our luggage, and shared local sightseeing tips. Breakfast was complimentary and delicious, served in the rooftop lounge with an incredible 180-degree mountain view. The hotel is a five-minute walk from Mall Road (Chowrasta), great for exploring town, while still tucked away enough to feel peaceful. A couple of things to keep in mind: there’s no elevator, which could be difficult for seniors on higher floors. They mainly serve breakfast, so you’ll need to go out for dinner. That wasn't a problem for us, with cafes like Sonam’s Kitchen or Keventers nearby. Great value for money in the heart of Darjeeling.

There was one awkward washroom issue: the bathing area has a single drain, but the rest of the washroom has none. If water spills outside the bath section, it stays on the floor, leaving your feet wet, which is especially uncomfortable in cold weather. Cleanliness also needs attention. The location is excellent, just a five-minute walk from Mall Road, so getting around was easy. Breakfast arrived on time each day and was quite good, and the service staff were polite and helpful. They don't provide lunch or dinner, but will lend crockery if you bring food from outside. A decent stay overall, though the washroom drainage needs improvement.

Breakfast is included in the rate, about ₹2000 per room. It's a fixed basic menu with limited choice, either Aloo Paratha or Puri Sabji for vegetarians, and Omelette with sausages as the non-vegetarian option. Enough for a simple breakfast, but not much variety. The rooms are good, ventilated, and comfortable, with clean, hygienic washrooms. There's a geyser, an electric kettle, and a bed heater, which is excellent in cold weather. Staff help with luggage at check-in and check-out. Rooms 502 & 503 share an interconnecting door, handy for families booking both; Room 503 has a pleasant mountain view. They're within walking distance of mall road. A few drawbacks: room service runs only from 8:00 AM - 10:30 PM because staff is limited, and service can be a little slow. There's no lift, which may inconvenience elderly guests, though staff can carry luggage. In both rooms 502 and 503, the washroom door lock could get stuck so it couldn't be opened from inside. If you book only one of those rooms, sound carries through the shared door. Comfortable overall, with good cold-weather amenities, and best suited to families and younger travelers. Elderly guests, or people wanting more breakfast choice or soundproof rooms, may want to consider those issues.

It's around a 5-8-minute walk to Mall road, and the hotel looks vintage and really beautiful. The rooms are nice, though a bit small, and the washroom was very small too. The heated bedsheet was great, and the complimentary breakfast was good. Service was just okay. They have their own innova for pickups and drops, and the driver is extremely good. The main drawbacks are no in-house restaurant and no lift. The dining hall is on the 4th floor, so getting to breakfast means taking the stairs, which is very inconvenient for anyone with knee or spine issues.