Review: Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad

It has the largest banqueting space in the city. Its design features are impressive. The rooms are spacious. And it offers a good selection of cuisines. It is young in its appeal. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Courtyard by Marriott is one of the best hotels the city has. Little wonder that it is a celebrities’ darling. We went for a review of the hotel a while ago but the memories of the hotel live on.

The property is the first by Marriott group in the city. Known for its chic and contemporary style, the hotel matches the expectations that Courtyard loyalists would have. Being a business hotel it takes care of all the required necessities of corporate travellers that the city gets in large numbers. And with that it offers plenty for leisure tourists as well as the local residents.

Interiors: Chic & Contemporary

There are several design elements in the hotel that catch your attention. Those which hold my mind are the use of colours and light. There’s a cocktail of colours spread all across the hotel. Local art and artifacts have been beautifully given a modern twist so that they blend with the hotel’s overall contemporary design. There’s enough room for natural light that brightens the major part of the lobby area.

While I shall talk about the food later, I recommend dinner at the vegetarian Indian restaurant, Shakahari because of the ambience and design features. The tone of the restaurant is pink while earthy red, brown, and black are noticeable in the furnishings and the teak wall paneling. One look at the ceiling and you are likely to imagine a star lit night with the effects created with lights.

Taking cue from the lobby area, I expect lights to create magic in the guest rooms too.

Needless to say, it exceeds my expectations. The creamy tones, in 164 rooms including 12 suites, make for a comfortable atmosphere in a room that’s spacious and well equipped with all the necessary amenities.

Food Options

The hotel has three eating out options – Shakahari, MoMo Café and MoMo 2 Go. Shakahari, as the name suggests is a pure vegetarian specialty restaurant open only for dinner. A must try are Dahi Pudine ke Kebab and Gulab ki Kheer. The other two are the signature restaurants at all Courtyard hotels. MoMo Café is relaxing all-day dining restaurant that offers a scrumptious buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to á-la-carte menu. Using fresh ingredients to create a menu of light, vibrant dishes, the food is tasteful yet simple. The latter is more of a ‘grab and go store’ where you can enjoy sandwiches, pastries, pies, light appetizers and a refreshing cup of coffee/tea through out the day. Much like in other Courtyard hotels, the Sunday brunch is quite popular and worth a visit.

The Facilities

There is a lot to do in this hotel. My favourite activity is swimming in the beautiful pool that they have or sitting in the seating area near the poolside. For the fitness freaks, there’s a gym from where you can overlook the buzzing lobby and a little bit of the city as you work out. Also, there’s O2 spa where you must stop by for at least a foot massage to unwind after a tiring day. In all, it is a great choice for both travellers and city dwellers looking to experience something new.

FACTFILE:

Ideal For: Business as well as leisure travellers

Address: Courtyard Ahmedabad Ramdev Nagar Cross Road, Satellite Road Ahmedabad, 380015 India

Phone: 91 79 66185000 Room Rates: Rs 5000 per night onwards (as mentioned on TripAdvisor)

Nearby Attractions: Sabarmati Ashram, Jama Masjid, Bhadra Fort & Teen Darwaja, Sidi Sayeed Mosque, Kankaria Lake and Nalsoravar