Old Harbour Hotel
Cochin, Kerala
This inviting heritage property is over 200 years old. In fact, it’s the oldest hotel building in Kerala. An eclectic mash up of Dutch and Portuguese styles, it stands proud as a landmark in the old fort area of Kochi. It doesn’t really need anyone to beat its drum, as it has been extensively championed by past guests as well as the boutique travel press, but we gladly add our voice to the euphony of praise.
The whole property is a creaking celebration of the past, and has been painstakingly preserved. Spacious rooms with four poster beds maintain the heritage ambience. A lush tropical garden, a glistening pool and artfully situated lotus pond make the grounds a tranquil place to be, so make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy the hotel itself too.
Location
Right in the centre of the heritage area of Fort Kochi, down a tree lined avenue and close to the iconic Chinese fishing nets, this hotel is a little pocket of tranquility with a strong sense of place.
A little more detail
Some rooms set within the gardens
Excellent quality restaurant
Large outdoor pool
Yoga
From a client…
Old Harbour Hotel’s attention to detail is fantastic. Over here we spend our days perusing old antique shops, so it was lovely to have a giant showcase to mull over.
Image gallery
Why we love it
Discover what to expect from staying at Old Harbour Hotel
Antique classic
We’re very fond of this characterful hotel. There’s something about it that just makes you feel instantly at home - a sentiment shared by many of our well travelled clients. High vaulted ceilings, dramatic arches, epic pillars and a dedication to enduring aesthetics create a heady ambiance. Due to its history, India has a lot of these kinds of properties, but the Old Harbour Hotel is among the finest.
Artist’s dream
India is exceptionally talented at restoring these places, and this hotel is a real lesson in the art. No expense has been spared in making the very focused vision of native Kochi hotelier, Edgar Pinto, and local German architect, Karl Damschen (who has made a career from renovating heritage properties in India) a reality.
Excellent value
At the Old Harbour, you get all the history and ambience without compromise. The food is excellent, the service is attentive, and the rooms maintain their period charm alongside all modern conveniences. It isn't glittering luxury but it is utter loveliness, and rather affordable too.
What can you do there?
The hotel doesn’t have an extensive menu of activities and experiences, but it does offer pre-breakfast rooftop yoga to get you energised for the day. The immediate area around the hotel is interesting and full of places to eat and drink or just immerse. When not exploring the sleepy city of Kochi, there is a strong argument for simply settling down at the hotel to relax, read and swim.
