About this hotel
General information
The Imperial is one of New Delhi’s landmarks: a hotel from the 1930s set on an eight-acre estate in the heart of the capital. An avenue of 24 royal palms leads up to the porch, and the architecture blends Victorian touches, Art Deco and the restrained colonial-era style of New Delhi’s public buildings. Marble colonnades, pillared verandas, hand-knotted Persian carpets and shaded lawns give it the air of a grand old estate in the middle of the city.
The hotel’s particular pride is its collection of more than 5,000 works of art – aquatints, lithographs and paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries showing landscapes, palaces, mountain scenery and everyday life of the period. They hang in the public rooms, along the corridors and in the bedrooms, so a walk through the building feels like a tour of a private gallery. There are 235 rooms and suites, several restaurants and bars with a following of their own, a spa, a pool and a yoga studio.
Location
The hotel stands on Janpath in central New Delhi, about 30 minutes’ drive from Delhi’s international airport. For getting around the city or longer road journeys, a chauffeur-driven car from the hotel’s own fleet – a Mercedes limousine or a Mercedes Viano – can be booked in advance.
Spa
The Imperial Spa covers around 4,100 m² and draws on Ayurvedic tradition, combining traditional Indian therapies with international treatments. Its massage blends are built on nine house essential oils – among them narcissus, oud, mandarin and black pepper – mixed into base oils suited to every skin type. Ayurvedic rituals using botanicals such as moringa and Indian gooseberry are performed by therapists from Kerala. A sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi complete the facilities, and the spa is open from 8am to 10pm. Alongside is The Imperial Salon, with a ladies’ beauty salon and a separate London-style men’s area for haircuts and beard grooming.
Sports & leisure
The gym, with up-to-date equipment and trainers, is open from 6am to 9pm and around the clock on request. Yoga Sanctum is a studio of about 84 m² with wooden floors, exposed beams and a living green wall of around 37 m²; Hatha-based group classes run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, and private sessions with the hotel’s instructors can be arranged.
- guided tours of Delhi, from historic monuments and the Red Fort to Old Delhi’s spice market and the city’s weekly bazaars;
- a day trip to Agra and the Taj Mahal, the UNESCO-listed 17th-century white-marble mausoleum, about four hours each way by highway;
- off-the-beaten-track itineraries of lesser-known corners and shops, planned around each guest’s interests.
Restaurants & bars
The hotel’s restaurants and bars are a fixture of the capital’s dining scene, and most are open to non-residents as well.
- The Spice Route – Asian cooking from South-East Asia and Java to southern India, served across nine rooms of murals and old temple pillars that open onto a courtyard, with its own lounge bar for Asian cocktails;
- 1911 Restaurant – an Art Deco all-day brasserie with classic Indian dishes alongside European and Asian favourites, a veranda and a large terrace among the palms;
- San Gimignano – a small Italian restaurant known for handmade pasta, with a pergola terrace open on autumn evenings and mild winter afternoons;
- The Atrium – a skylit café for Indian teas, coffee and pâtisserie, with cake flights and an afternoon tea from Thursday to Sunday;
- Haute Pâtisserie – the hotel’s cake shop for gâteaux and desserts made in-house;
- 1911 Bar – an Art Deco bar with leather seating, a marble-and-wood counter and its own cocktail list;
- The Hardinge Bar – a low-lit bar tucked inside 1911 Bar, with classic cocktails, green leather and mahogany chairs;
- Patiala Peg – a bar known for its 120 ml measure of spirits.
Swimming
The outdoor pool, finished in mosaic tiles with ornate detailing, lies among the hotel’s gardens. There is space for sunbathing beside the water, with drinks and light snacks served poolside; the pool is open from 7am to 10pm.
Rooms
The hotel has 192 rooms and 43 suites, each with its own interior and many looking over the gardens. Guests in the Heritage Suite, Deco Suite, Luxury Suite and The Imperial Suite have access to The Imperial Lounge, with a business centre, small bites, evening cocktails and a library of books on India’s history and culture.
A marble bathroom, Forest Essentials toiletries, ozone-sanitised pillows, USB-C and USB charging points and a smart TV with streaming services.
Deco Room
An Art Deco room looking onto The Atrium, with a king-size bed, fine linen and a marble bathroom.
Imperial Room
A light-filled, high-ceilinged room with garden views and a marble bathroom, set up with either a king-size bed or twin beds.
Heritage Room
A spacious room for two with a separate work area, patterned marble floors and a walk-in wardrobe. It comes with either a king-size bed or twin beds.
Grand Heritage Room
An open-plan junior suite with garden views, a Hollywood-style king-size bed, a vanity table, Art Deco standing mirrors and a work area. Floors are marble or parquet; it sleeps up to three.
Heritage Suite
A suite with a bedroom and a separate living room with a teak desk, wood and marble floors, hand-woven carpets, antique mirrors and views of The Atrium. A dressing room, powder room and Italian marble bathroom with a tub; king-size bed, for up to three guests.
Deco Suite
An Art Deco suite where a sliding door separates the living area from the king-size bedroom, with views of the terrace garden, The Atrium or, in some suites, the pool. A bathroom with shower and tub and a powder room with a Hollywood-style mirror; for up to three guests.
Viceroy Suite
A suite that mixes vintage and contemporary pieces: a grand living room with ornate furniture and a bedroom with a four-poster king-size bed, both laid with hand-knotted carpets.
Luxury Suite
A suite with a four-poster king-size bed, a large living room, a rosewood and Burma teak desk and tall windows over the lawn. The Italian marble bathroom has steam, a Jacuzzi and twin vanities, with a walk-in wardrobe and a carpeted dressing room.
The Imperial Suite
An apartment-sized suite with a marble fireplace, antiques, period paintings and lithographs, Persian rugs and a dining room with a mahogany table; a veranda lounge with antique silver furniture leads to a study. A four-poster king-size bed, a bathroom with steam, sauna and Jacuzzi, a dressing room, a private kitchen and several separate butler entrances.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.