Le Sutra

Rooms

The rooms at Le Sutra are spread across 3 floors, each themed according to the 3 gunas of Hindu philosophy - Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. Gunas are a person's personality traits and these have been translated by the hotel’s designers into every feature of the room, from colour palette to painting. And each room has a unique carved wooden chair; perhaps a swan or a yoga pose.

Every room tells a story and art is everywhere, from the inlaid flooring to the door handles, even the bathroom mirrors. And look out for surprise design features such as a pair of brightly coloured fibreglass parrots on the tree outside your window.

Tamas is associated with opulence and excessiveness, so the rooms on this floor are elaborate. Maya (illusion) is the only single; a heavily mirrored room with a low sunken bed. Vaasna (sensuality) is designed for romance with erotic art and a see-through bathroom.

The Rajas floor is centred on action and passion, and the rooms here are more 'Indian' with their colourful kitsch. Kathak, named for the classical Indian dance form, is decorated in rich blues and reds, and has a lovely window seat. Shrinagar (adornment) has a funky mirror installation representing self love.

Sattva implies austerity and the rooms on this floor are my favourite, for their relative minimalism. Shuddhi (purity) is a haven of cool whites and blues, with a fascinating floor inlay that represents an ancient water purification system. The Nirvan (ultimate consciousness) room comes with a stunning frescoed wall depicting Buddha’s journey to self actualisation.

Contemporary bathrooms are more basic in design, but still swanky with hairdryers and toiletries from all-natural Indian brand Khadi. Bathtubs are found in Maya, Vaasna, Taal and Ashoka; other rooms are shower only.

All rooms have plasma TVs, cupboards and minibars (sadly with no alcohol, although it can be ordered in). The beds are queensized and comfortable. A pillow menu was promised but none was made available.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Urban legend (happily perpetuated by the hotel’s owners) has it that any couple who comes to Out of the Blue on their first dinner date, ends up getting married. But that’s not the only reason the restaurant attached to Le Sutra is so popular. With its alfresco dining and the happy marriage of Indian and western flavours, it is packed most nights. Famous for its Indianised fondues and well-priced cocktails, the atmosphere is always convivial.

Breakfast (included) is also served at the restaurant. It is a simple affair, with fresh fruit, cereal, breads, cold cuts and a small à la carte menu of omelettes and French toast. The all-day room service menu is identical to that of Out of the Blue so if you’d prefer to eat in your room, order away.

If you feel like something more extravagant, try Olive next door. Its Ibiza-style setting and Mediterranean fare has always drawn in the crowds and Thursday nights are when the neighbourhood’s best lookers come out to play. Adjoining Out of the Blue is Deliciae, an all-day semi-outdoor dessert cafe where any time of day you will find groups of men and women grabbing a quick coffee or a pick-me-up tiramisu. Also available is standard bakery fare like breads, cakes and buns.

For a little local flavour, the choices are almost confusing. Street food is available aplenty down the road on the Carter Road Promenade, which also houses a creperie, frozen yoghurt bar and several coffee shops. But if you want something special try Pali Village café, a charming bistro that’s a 10-minute taxi away. Escobar, a terrace bar and restaurant (it has a 77-foot bar) is also a 10-minute taxi, as is Salt Water café, an all-day delicatessen.

Features include:

• Bar
• Coffee maker
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Pop into Angdai Day Spa on the first floor for a quick pick-me-up; it specialises in body massages, foot and hand care, including manicures and pedicures
  
  
• Order a yoga teacher in. There’s a gallery on the rooftop where you can practice your suryanamaskaras (headstands)
  
  
• Get the concierge to supply you with a list of the neighbourhood’s best restaurants and bars. Consult the TimeOut magazine in your room for current entertainment options, including plays and concerts
  
  
• Head downtown to South Mumbai, with its highly visible British influence. Check out the Victoria Terminus station, an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic architecture. Stroll through the Prince of Wales Museum then up to The Gateway of India. Go bargain hunting in the street shops on high-energy Colaba Causeway and end the day with a cold beer at the ever-popular (and raucous) Café Leopold
  
  
• For an authentic flavour of the city, get a more personalised introduction. For heritage walks around Bandra, or across town in the older parts of South Mumbai, contact Beyond Bombay or Bombay Heritage Walks
  
  
• Hop on a boat and head to Elephanta Caves across the harbour from the Gateway of India. They date back to at least the 8th century and contain some of the most striking collections of rock art in India. Our advice is to take the air-conditioned boat, the price of which includes an English-speaking guide
  
  
• Jet-lagged? Curl up in bed with a movie. The concierge has DVDs available

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Yoga

Kids

Le Sutra doesn’t profess to be child friendly and it isn’t. There are no cots or extra beds, this is definitely a hotel for adults.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Le Sutra is in the Mumbai coastal suburb of Khar, which is adjacent to cosmopolitan and sought-after Bandra, known as 'Queen of the Suburbs'.

By Air
Fly into Mumbai's international or domestic airport. The hotel is about 12km (30 minutes) from the former, and 8km (15-20 minutes) from the latter by road. Click on the links below for a list of airlines which serve the airport.

From the Airport
You can take a Cool Cab (which should cost around INR400 from the domestic and INR500 from the international airports). Direct them to the Cafe Coffee Day on Carter Road and Khar Union Park. The hotel can also organise a transfer, see Rates.

By Train
Bandra and Khar railway stations (2 and 0.5km away respectively) are well connected to local train services, if you'd prefer to travel by rail. Take a tuk-tuk from the local station, about 2km away, a 10-minute ride.

By Car
Car hire around Mumbai is recommended as public transport can get quite tricky for an outsider to manoeuvre. The hotel can organise that for you. Taxis and autorickshaws (tuk tuks) are in abundance. However, always ask for the meter card to check the price quoted by the taxi or auto driver.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Mumbai and getting around