Gilded royal palaces, ancient practices and a vivid and diverse landscape has retained India’s mysticism for centuries. But alongside its rich history and traditions, technology and innovation set one Indian city apart. We checked into Shangri-La Bengaluru to find out more.
In the late 20th century Bangalore – officially Bengaluru and the largest city in the state of Karnataka – was established as India’s tech innovation capital when several multinational companies set up operations. It’s now India’s top exporter of software – accounting for 38 per cent of the country’s IT exports, and draws a forward-thinking crowd from all over the world to live, work, stay and play.
In turn, this has reshaped the city and imprinted on it a unique identity that is innovative, young and stylish.
Like the city itself, at Shangri-La Bengaluru the old meets new; its global outlook on dining sees Indian cuisine take centre stage, alongside Italian, Japanese and Cantonese, and its spa offers age-old Ayurvedic treatments as well as anti-aging, immune-boosting and sports massage.
The Vibe
Bangalore’s cool vibe is to be expected in a city where the largest percentage of the population is between 20 to 29 years old. Cafés and coffee shops dot the landscape and bookshops (which are everywhere) are often several stories high. On any given Sunday, Bengaluruians can be seen leafing through pre-loved books piled high from floor to ceiling. And, if weekdays are for working on the next big thing in tech, then evenings are for play. Bars and pubs in the city draw big crowds, a burgeoning local wine culture has created a social scene unlike elsewhere in India, and 80 microbreweries lead the way for fresh takes on craft beer.
Shangri-La Bengaluru caters for this crowd, at it’s trendy roof-top spot, Hype, where a DJ and innovative cocktails pull in the city’s young and fashionable. Yet, the hotel remains a classy spot and, eight years after opening, is still a firm favourite with both Indian and international well-to-do guests.
The Rooms
With 397 rooms and suites, Shangri-La Bengaluru sits on Palace Road, close to Bangalore Palace. In Panorama View rooms, floor-to-ceiling glass windows make great use of the hotel’s elevated position to offer sweeping views across the city, and from them you can see for miles, including landmarks such as the Palace, Vidhana Soudha and Bangalore Golf Course.
With separate living spaces, 300-thread count sheets, plush robes and slippers, marble bathroom and walk-in rain showers as standard, it’s easy to see why Shangri-La Bengaluru attracts the rich and famous crowd. Keen attention to detail such as a rose petal foot bath placed in the room at the end of a long day is a gentle reminder of why Shangri-La’s guest experience remains one of the best in the world.
The Food + Drink
With no less than seven restaurants offering Italian, Japanese and Indian cuisine, some of the best of Bangalore’s food is found within Shangri-La – which has tailored its offering to match the expectations of its clientele. The open kitchen at elegant Japanese restaurant, Yataii, crafts magnificent sushi made of local and imported fresh ingredients, and serves them with sake or paired wines. The serene ambience and impeccable service here makes it ideal for long lunches with friends.
Tokyo Sunday Brunch at Yataii
Italian restaurant Caprese, with 360-degree views of Bangalore, from the 18th floor, stays true to its roots and serves hand-made pasta, traditional pizza and classic Italian desserts such as tiramisu and panna cotta.
Signature restaurant, Shang Palace, renowned for its authentic Chinese cuisine, further elevates the hotel’s dining scene. Cantonese roasted duck, truffle oil dumplings and dim sum maintain the consistency in both quality and service of sister Shang Palace restaurants across the world.
Dim Sum at Shang Palace
The highlight of a Shangri-La Bengaluru culinary journey, however, is Ssaffron; a joyful celebration of regional Indian cookery. Here, the flavours, colours and textures of India are set within an opulent space serving everything from street food favourites such as pani puri (bite-sized, deep-fried dough balls stuffed with flavourful potato, onion and chickpeas and topped with a spicy, watery, sauce) to an elegant dum biryani (slow-cooked, on a low flame) and smoking desserts carried on the shoulders of waiters, which add drama to your evening.
Ssaffron restaurant
To mix and mingle until the small hours head straight up to Hype – Shangri-La’s split-level rooftop bar. Whet your appetite with a light menu that offers Korean charcoal burgers, hoisin chicken bao and roasted miso chicken alongside poppadom crusted paneer, seaweed infused beer battered fish and chips, and kaffir lime fish tikka. Even with all of this, it’s the cocktails that hit the mark. Hype concoctions include the Yellow Rainbow made of Tanqueray, lychee juice, turmeric syrup, yellow pepper puree, elderflower and lime juice and the Bangalore Bramble of Tanqueray gin, lime juice, pomegranate and tamarind syrup. Or, for an altogether more elegant cocktail opt for Hype Godfather crafted with Jim Beam, amaretto and orange bitters or the Elegant Lady which combines Whiskey with rosemary and passionfruit. With an all white interior, circular bar and relaxed seating, Hype overlooks the city on all sides and we couldn’t recommend a better place to watch the sun go down. Happy Hour is popular here and the bar fills up quickly. Be sure to arrive early.
The Little Extras
CHI, The Spa
Chi, The Spa, Shangri-La hotels’ signature global wellness space, prioritises personal peace and well-being. Indian therapies include Ayurvedic traditional and detoxifying massages as well as head massages using healing oils. In addition, immune boosting treatments, aroma massage and sports massage make this experience unmissable after a long day of exploring the city. The wellness centre also boasts a swimming pool, sauna and steam room allowing for long afternoons of rest and recuperation.
The To-Do List
Bangalore’s tech culture and young population has driven the demand in other industries. There are more than 500 pubs in the city and microbreweries are booming. Candles Brewhouse stands out for its rooftop overlooking Bellary Road. Here, long wooden tables, peach couches and white Roman statues make up the interior and a live DJ entertains the crowd – and there’s always a long line of Bengalurians queueing patiently to get in.
Lunch at a vineyard may not be the most obvious thing to do, but Bengaluru continues to innovate and SDU Winery, India’s first female-owned winery is well worth a visit. Of the 100,000 bottles produced annually here, hardly any make it out of the wider Karnataka region; such is the demand for local wine that all of it sells within the city. Book a wine tasting tour or request an intimate lunch, served on a terrace overlooking the vineyard, and learn how the methods and techniques used create the perfect grapes for producing award-winning wine.
Just north of the city is Bangalore Palace and its faded grandeur is worth a trip. A popular spot for domestic tourists who travel to see its architecture, stately rooms and gardens; expect long queues that, thankfully, move fast. Set on 454 acres, the palace offers a glimpse away from the modern, and back towards India’s imperial past. Inside, intricately carved pillars, staircases and balconies wrap around a lush green courtyard. Spaces open for public viewing include reception rooms, dining halls and bedrooms, all of which make for a fascinating insight into life in the royal palace – and into an era in sharp contrast to today’s modern city scene.
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