A slice of ‘Lyfe’ and luxury in the heart of Bhubaneswar

Odisha is a much-loved getaway for the people of West Bengal and the east. Kolkatans are often bound for the beaches and cities of the neighbouring state for a long weekend or quick getaway, or even for business travels. If you are looking at Odisha for a business trip or even a staycation, the three-month-new Lyfe Bhubaneswar in the capital city is the latest option to explore. On the bustling Janpath Road, right beside the Bhubaneswar Corporation Building, the cylindrical tower of Lyfe is sure to catch your eye even before you check in.

A swanky addition to the city, the hotel blends contemporary style, history and local culture in its architectural geography — glass panels, a minimalist ethos, and modern amenities accented with carvings and sculptures along with an offering of local flavours in their menu.

Part of The World Hotels and Resorts, the new luxury property aims to “cater to the growing demand of today’s business and leisure travellers in the smart city of Bhubaneswar,” said director and promoter Sonal Sahoo.

My Kolkata checked-in at this star hotel in Bhubaneswar and spent three days experiencing their hospitality, the food and all the nearby sights. Here’s what you can expect from this latest hotspot in the temple city of Bhubaneswar.

‘B-Leisure’, where business meets culture

It takes about 10 minutes to reach Lyfe from the airport, a definite uptick for the location for those travelling for business. After a traditional welcome with an uttoriyo and a drink of fresh coconut water, we checked into the 450-square-foot Studio Suite for the duration of our stay.

Biting into the customised welcome basket of fruits and Odia sweets — including the popular chhena poda and sandesh, we settled in to enjoy the panoramic view of the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the suite. The well-appointed room, done up in soothing grey and brown with a splash of deep teal hues has a king-sized bed, a lounging area for those Zoom calls, a study table, mini bar, coffee table and a smart TV.

If you are travelling for business, the unlimited WiFi is sure to be a boon. Lyfe also has a boardroom, which is a space equipped for business conclaves, conferences and meetings. The hotel also has three banquets — Amber, Jade, and Iris — and a smaller hosting venue, Opal, which can accommodate 75 guests. Amber has a retractable wall which further divides the space into Amber I and Amber II for more intimate gatherings.

At the end of a work day at Lyfe or a day travelling around town, the rooms are sure to help you relax with their minimalist decor, carpeted floors and well-thought-out colour scheme. Little things — bath salts for the bathtub, a walk-in closet, a kit of amenities at the dresser — add just the right touches that helped us unwind before heading out to sample everything else on offer.

Thali to Thai – sampling Lyfe’s Kitchen

Whether you’re gearing up for a day of work or exploration, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and Lyfe’s Kitchen, the hotel’s 24-hour multi-cuisine restaurant, serves up a breakfast buffet with the works. From hot-off-the-pan south Indian dosas and fluffy north Indian puris, to crisp English breakfast bacon alongside fibre-rich platters of fresh fruits and breakfast cereals, and an indulge zone brimming with cake slices, muffins, doughnuts, and more. If you, like us, enjoy a good breakfast buffet, this is one you will like.

The a la carte lunch menu has many options but we suggest going local, as recommended by executive chef Shailesh Shekhar. “At Lyfe, we look forward to redefining the dining experiences by celebrating local flavours. We focus on using hyperlocal ingredients in our food to retain its authentic taste and aroma,” shared the chef.

My Kolkata recommends their signature lamb seekh kebabs, which come with four chutneys. We also tried the Odia-style chicken curry and an indulgent 14-item Odia thali! We began with the Badi chura, an accompaniment of fried lentil dumplings, crushed and mixed with garlic. There was manso jhola, a flavourful and perfectly cooked mutton curry with potato, which reminded our Bengali palates of the Sunday mangsho’r jhol. The mutton paired well with the meetha kanika, a yellow rice pulao with dry fruits. There was also a rohu fish curry or Macha Besara. For the vegetarians, there was a mildly sweet and tangy dahi baigan — brinjal cooked in a yoghurt gravy, along with a chhena matar tarkari. The stand-out vegetarian dish for us was the umami-bomb chattu bara, a dish with fritters of locally grown mushrooms. Another pairing for the gravies was a chakuli, a rice flour flatbread very similar to a neer dosa. Finishing off the savouries was the quintessential Odia dalma, a dal cooked with veggies, and other accompaniments like papad, kachumber salad, and a tomato chutney. For dessert, there was the iconic chhena poda, kheer with rosogolla, and kakara pitha, a fried pithe with a filling of coconut.

Dinner at Lyfe’s Kitchen is a multi-cuisine affair with Indo-Chinese, Thai, north Indian and continental food. The showstopper at the dinner buffet was definitely the dessert table. The elaborate spread had everything from mousse, gâteaux to cheesecakes, besides local picks. If you are a dessert lover, our picks are the blueberry cheesecake, chhena poda, and of course, their rosogollas!

For those little meals in-between meals for a quick catch up over coffee, head to the in-house Cafe Deli, a quaint space also frequented by city residents. Open from 6am to 11pm, the cafe serves hot and cold beverages and a selection of nibbles including sandwiches, muffins and the blueberry cheesecake from the kitchen menu.

Another feather in the culinary cap of Lyfe is their Thai food restaurant Sweet Basil. Headed by expat chef Sara Panisara from Phuket, Sweet Basil aims to serve authentic Thai food to Bhubaneswar. The menu on offer will have classic Thai options like Tom Yum Goong, Tom Yum Pak, stir fires and more. My Kolkata got a chance to drop in for a taste and a chat with the chef. Stay tuned for more details soon.

The night-Lyfe and more

Evenings and leisure time at Lyfe Bhubaneswar comes with a host of choices from cocktails to a relaxing swim or spa time.

The in-house bar, Mojo, stirs up bubbly cocktails and finger food. Headed by Kolkata boy, mixologist Subhasish Saha, they have some creative potions on offer with cocktail guns! Kolkatan Arka Bagchi and Prabir Roy from Midnapore are also behind the bar and always on their toes to stir up your favourite concoctions. If you can’t decide on a tipple, we say go with their recommendations like we did, and you won’t be disappointed. Definitely try the Kaffir Lime Highball with Bombay Sapphire gin, and the Whiskey Sour. Bite into the Avocado mini toasts and grilled shrimps on the side, or some chicken kebabs of your choice. The hotel is also coming up with a rooftop restobar!

If you are in the mood to spend a lazy day indoors, check out the infinity pool that overlooks the cityscape. Enjoy a leisurely swim with a view, and get some vitamin D on the sun loungers. You can also slip into the water after a quick workout at the gym or a relaxing spa session at the in-hotel Spa, which is well-equipped with five massage rooms — no waiting in long queues! Rejuvenate yourself with a relaxing massage with essential oils and leave behind your stress.

Those who enjoy some quiet time with a book or a cuppa, spend some time at Alfresco. Right beside Lyfe’s Kitchen, the open-air gazebo outdoors, with shaded tables and comfy chairs surrounded by greenery and a wall fountain makes for a great spot to unwind.

Exploring the life outside Lyfe

Many of the state’s iconic tourist spots are a short drive away from Lyfe. If you are looking to explore, here are a few options to check out:

Nandankanan Zoological Park: About 16km/30 mins by road, is one of India’s oldest zoological parks and a protected space for the endangered Indian pangolins

Udaygiri Khandagiri Caves: These ancient caves are about 9.7km/ 20 minutes away by road. Carved out during the reign of Kharavela for Jain monks, this is a venerable spot for Jain and Buddhist travellers.

Lingaraj Temple: It will take you around 15 minutes to reach the Lingaraj Temple, which is 6km away. This revered Shiva temple is one of the oldest in Bhubaneswar.

Regional Museum of Natural History: Only 3.3km/10 minutes away, the museum has exhibits on flora, fauna and geology of eastern India.

If you are up for a long drive, or making plans for a day-trip, you can also visit these spots:

Konark Sun Temple: The 13th-century Konark Sun Temple, also known as the black pagoda because of its architecture, is 64km/about 2 hours away by road. While heading to Konark, you can stop at the Puri-Konark marine drive and enjoy the pristine beach.

Jagannath Temple: The famous Jagannath temple is located 62km away and takes around 2 hours from the Janpath Road location.

Raghurajpur Artist Village: About 49 km/ a one-hour drive away, at the Raghurajpur village, you will get to see artisans at work making patachitras. You can bring back souvenirs for your loved ones from this heritage crafts village.

If you want to bring back some chhena poda for family and friends, head straight to Bengal Sweets near the hotel on Arya Samaj Road, Shaheed Nagar.

Lyfe Bhubaneswar at a glance

Launch date: December 18, 2023

Distance from airport: 5.7km, about 10 minutes by road

Keys: 110 including, divided into standard rooms, deluxe rooms, and 12 studio suites. A presidential suite is also underway.

Culinary delights: Lyfe Kitchen (24-hour multi-cuisine restaurant), Cafe Deli, and Sweet Basil (Thai)

Room rates: Approx. Rs 5,500 for a standard double room (rates are dynamic)

Meet the family: Lyfe is owned by World Hotels and Resorts, the hospitality wing of The World group

Website: www.lyfehotels.com