Royal Orchid Brindavan Gardens

The food was average, and I’d choose to have lunch and dinner outside. Prices here felt too high for the taste, dinner took almost an hour to arrive, and breakfast wasn’t that great. The overall stay was good, but I wasn’t fully satisfied, and the price could come down for this level of service. The king size room was pretty good for a stay, with a bed and other accommodations, though the bathroom was small and the lighting rather dim. I’d rate the accommodation around three out of five.

The restaurant was the highlight of this visit. The food was excellent, they handled custom requests thoughtfully, and a beautiful live flute performance made the evening special. I’d come back to eat, but I won’t stay here again. I’ve visited every few months with friends and family over the years, and this used to be one of my favourite weekend getaways from Bangalore. I’ve even rated it above some five star places I’ve stayed. This time, though, feels like my last. I booked a Queen Room as usual, but got a cramped room with no balcony or view, much smaller than the rooms we’d had before. It seems balcony rooms now cost extra, but that wasn’t clearly explained when booking. As a regular guest, it felt like a downgrade. We arrived right at the 2 PM check-in time and then waited nearly an hour at reception with young children and infants. There was no proper update during the delay. In the past, I’ve arrived early and been checked in early. They also charged ₹750 for each of our 5-year-olds despite providing no extra bed, breakfast, or other amenities. Children that age weren’t charged on earlier stays, which seemed fair. This new fee felt unnecessary without anything extra in return. The team first offered complimentary breakfast to make up for the problems. I showed them my booking voucher, which already included breakfast, but they never came back with another offer. They simply dropped the matter. We were left with a late check-in, a downgraded room, extra child charges, and no effort to make things right. There was also confusion and inconsistent enforcement of the policy about serving alcohol in the lobby. It’s disappointing to see a property I preferred as guest centric becoming more transactional.

The luxury room I stayed in had a garden view, and from the balcony I could see Brindavan Gardens beautifully. The staff were courteous and made me feel at home. The in-house restaurant is called CK, and the elephant bar has a surreal view at sundown. It’s a well maintained heritage property run by Royal Orchid group, with a pool, fine dining, and a spa. If you want to experience Mysore’s rich heritage, this place is a must visit. Definitely consider it for a trip to Mysore, it’s amazing.

My only small issue was the shower. It took a little figuring out, but worked well once I got the hang of it. The AC was very good and almost completely quiet. The room had a large balcony with a perfect view of the park, and the top floors facing the garden have amazing views. Service and food were good. We tried lots of kitchen snacks and bites, and everything tasted great. The bar’s drink selection was satisfactory, and all the staff were quick to help. By far the best value hotel I’ve stayed in.