Ginger House Museum Hotel

This review is about the restaurant only, not the rooms. I ordered Kerala fish curry and appam while sipping a beer, and waited 45 minutes with no food and no one checking on the table or giving an update. I had to go to the counter to remind them. The order finally arrived after an hour. The appam was okay, but the fish curry was bland and atrocious. As a Keralite, I know my fish curry. I usually go to Seagull around the corner, but the Kochi Binealle walk brought me here. Never again. I also felt a western skin bias, as another reviewer had mentioned. The waiter was rude, and so was the management. If you want good views with average food and poor service, come here; otherwise, go elsewhere. Rs 1200 for one beer, three appam, and that terrible curry.

The Ginger Prawns Curry was the highlight for me, full of flavor and authentic. I really enjoyed dining at the Ginger House Museum Hotel. The antiques around the room and the peaceful waterfront view made for a setting unlike anywhere else. Highly recommended for a soulful meal in a historic place.

Jew Street is a great base, with shops, cafes, and places to see within walking distance. The water metro station is only a few minutes away, very clean and modern, and we used it to get to the shopping mall in Kochi city. We stayed four nights as a family and booked two rooms in a section that gave us privacy, since it was just our rooms there. The awkward part was having to pass through the restaurant whenever we came or went. The rooms were impressive and well furnished, but the shower tiles got very slippery when wet, which felt risky for anyone unsteady on their feet or elderly. The pool was okay, though there was only one umbrella and not much shade. There was no shower or toilet by the pool either, which was disappointing and meant we spent less time there.

Breakfast was a bright spot, with lots of tasty options, and the bed was comfortable. But the property feels neglected despite its potential. The carpet in my room was dirty and visibly stained, so I ended up wearing socks, which was annoying. The bathroom looked really nice, but the hot water wasn’t adequate. Towels were stained and grubby too. Both mornings, someone used the outdoor switch to turn on my bedroom light at 0620 and woke me up. The view was okay, though the area is very industrial, which I hadn’t realized before arriving. There’s no shade at all by the pool. Wine in the restaurant is really expensive, even more than at the famous nearby 5 star. For the money, there are much better options in Fort Kochi.