Top business hotel: Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel

Bangalore, the capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, is the nation’s Silicon Valley: it’s home to an ever-growing tech and start-up scene. And that means a slate of high-class hotels is cropping up to cater to angel investors, tech titans – and those exploring the riches of South India.

Location 

It may be a next-gen tech hub, but Bangalore’s traffic languishes behind. Meaning that unless you want to spend hours in a jam, you’re best off near the centre. The Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel lies in the city’s CBD, next to the Bangalore Turf Club, which gives the hotel its name. Gourmands can also rest assured: there’s a branch of famed South Indian joint MTR around the corner.

The Rooms

The Bangalore Turf Club doesn’t just lend its name to the hotel; it also inspired its design. Racing and all things equine features heavily throughout the hotel and its 276 rooms, several of which offer views out over the race course, and the ponies being put through their paces.

Facilities 

One of the few purpose-built hotels in the city, the Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel divides itself between accommodation and facilities – a separate building houses an extensive fitness centre, spa and rooftop swimming pool, as well as 10 event spaces. Downstairs, the Lush restaurant serves international classics, including a remarkable eggs Benedict topped with tempered mustard seeds and curry leaves, and a touch of gunpowder spice. Outside, an enclosed lawn can host up to 600 people. And if you’re running late for a pitch, the grab-and-go counter at Cinnamon cafe by the lobby has some of the city’s finest sandwiches.