Sea Palace Hotel

The rooms feel old and the food is just okay. The location is great, close to Gateway of India, and you get a nice sea breeze if you choose a sea-facing room.

For an affordable place near central Mumbai, the location is handy and the air conditioning works fine. The doorman was very nice and welcoming, though the other staff were grumpy and stared at us constantly. The hygiene was so bad we had to clean most of the room with Dettol wipes. It was dusty enough that I had to wear a face mask to sleep, and there was lots of hair all over the desk and beds. The rooms were filthy, the bathroom was gross, and the pillows and blankets were stained and dirty. Some windows and doors were stiff and wouldn’t close properly.

When I checked out, I accidentally left my watch and rings in the room. The receptionist kept them safe until I came back, and I was especially grateful because the watch was a precious gift from someone I love. I also appreciated the advice about getting around and places to visit. I stayed here last year for the Tata Lit Fest. Gateway is within walking distance, and there were decent breakfast and dinner options. My room had huge windows and high ceilings, so it felt bright and spacious, which helped since I get claustrophobic easily. The food tasted good, but room service charged more than the menu price. I’ll definitely visit again.

The food was very average, and the staff at the rooftop restaurant were arrogant and didn’t seem interested in serving us. Not recommended at all. I won’t visit again.