Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur

Character and identity

Set in an 18th-century palace on a quiet street in Jaipur's Civil Lines, this 100-room property trades on the real thing: Indo-Saracenic architecture, polished marble, vaulting ceilings, and 18 acres of manicured Mughal-style gardens that wrap the building. The location sits slightly apart from the tourist crush but within easy reach of the forts, palaces and bazaars. Four restaurants, a bar and a bakery cover the dining, led by Cinnamon, which works through the princely cuisines of Rajputana, Awadh, Hyderabad and Kashmir. Evenings bring folk dance and puppetry in the gardens. Service runs in a royal register, attentive and personalised, down to a mattress firmness of your choosing.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you're paying for is the genuine article: an actual former palace, not a hotel dressed up to look like one, with gardens and Rajasthani craftsmanship to match. Book a Deluxe Room with garden views for the sense of escape, or stretch to one of the six themed suites if you want the full royal treatment. Make a Cinnamon dinner part of the plan.