Hotel Cliffton

The bathroom was the point where I knew I had to leave. It had rust, stained tiles, and looked unhygienic. I was in Mumbai for medical reasons, and when my doctor saw it, he immediately told me to change hotels because it wasn't safe for recovery. There were also bed bugs and cockroaches in the room, enough to leave me constantly uncomfortable and paranoid. I booked the biggest “Executive Room,” but it was shockingly small. The online photos are completely misleading, and I even went to reception to check they hadn't given me the wrong room. The layout made little sense: a sofa with no table, and a work table with no chair. Everything felt old, cramped, and poorly maintained. They claim to be 4-star, but the place doesn't meet basic expectations for a decent 3-star hotel. Service was another problem. Room service took ages, and when I asked basic questions, staff kept saying, “Sir, we are new, we don’t know.” They seemed untrained, and that's not something guests should have to deal with. The whole place felt badly managed. This was one of my most frustrating hotel stays in Mumbai. It's overpriced, unhygienic, and misleading. I regret staying here and would never recommend it, especially to anyone who needs a clean, comfortable place for medical reasons.

The reception team made the best impression. They were friendly and helpful, and sorted an early check-in for me without a fuss. The location is good, and at three grand a night, the hotel feels about right for the price. The building front is decent and the lobby is small but works. My room was cramped, though that's Mumbai, I guess. One of the three lifts was pretty gross, while the other two were fine. The food was mixed. The Thai green curry was a letdown, tasted more like spinach saag and had hardly any fish. Staff didn't do much to sort it out. At the breakfast buffet, the masala dosas and sambar were fine, but the idly and upma were dry, and the parathas were cold, crinkled, and not great. The chicken nihari, though, was outstanding. It's a solid little hotel, nothing mind-blowing. I'd probably stay again, but they could improve the food and the lifts.

The staff were kind and helpful, and the rooms were clean. Some rooms had air purifiers, and hygiene seemed well maintained. Getting to the location can be a bit challenging, though the nearby metro station is very convenient and fares are reasonable. A good option for bachelors.

Dinner was awful. The food looked spoiled, and the staff behaved poorly and unprofessionally. Room service was bad too, and the bathroom shower was broken. The area felt rough and unpleasant. I had a very bad experience at Clifton Hotel.