Urban Guest House by OYO Rooms

There was no breakfast, and nothing else they promised when taking payment was provided. The AC in my room didn't work, and even after I complained to the manager and the housekeeping guy and asked to change rooms, they refused. There was no hot water in the morning either. Don't choose this place. Bloody frauds.

I've stayed at the Hyatt in Dehli and Mumbai and JW Marriot in Kolkata, and these boys still impressed me. They're friendly, helpful, and frank, and the place feels just like HOME. The rooms are very good, and the food is good too. Breakfast is VERY GOOD, and the lighting is FANTASTIC.

The hotel is actually called Urban Guest House and sits off the main road, so for directions you can set Urban Kitchen in the Joka area as your destination and walk from there. If you're new to Kolkata, there aren't any restaurants in front of the hotel, so you may have to order from the in-house restaurant. Its food is good but expensive. I paid Rs. 830 after using an OYO coupon, and found the place clean, with modern furniture and bathrooms and helpful staff. The drive from Howrah Station took 1:40 hr by Ola. I expected Joka to be lively with IIM Calcutta nearby, but was surprised by its narrow lanes. A cab driver later told me Joka is almost outside Kolkata, which explains the old city look and narrow bylanes. If you want to see New Kolkata or India Shining Kolkata, book in Salt Lake City or Newtown.

This is a budget place close to IIM Kolkata, which is the main draw if you have work there. IIM is within walking distance, and I can't imagine many people looking for accommodation in Joka otherwise. The rooms and bathrooms were clean, with towels and bedsheets changed daily. The common area was okay for spending time with acquaintances. Breakfast is included if you're fine with Aloo, Bhaaji, or you can order from outside. Urban Kitchen nearby is a GREAT restaurant with ultimate delicacies. One odd thing: they asked for full advance payment in cash for an OYO booking. Overall, it was okay.