Taj Taal Kutir Kolkata in New Town is a luxe urban sanctuary with panoramic views of the lake. The property has a colonial look and feel with modern amenities, and houses 75 rooms across different categories. There are multiple F&B venues, top-class banqueting space and facilities, a lovely pool and the J Wellness Circle spa. “Taj with a strong presence in Calcutta for over three decades now extends its offering with Taj Taal Kutir in New Town. With this addition, IHCL is addressing the growing demand of emerging micro-markets in the city. Serving as the gateway to East India, Calcutta holds immense commercial and tourism potential and we remain committed to growing our presence in the region. We are delighted to once again partner with Harshavardhan Neotia and the Ambuja Neotia Group,” says Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and chief executive officer, IHCL.
For Harshavardhan Neotia, chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group, it is “an inspired heritage, that draws inspiration from old Calcutta clubs”. “We bid for the land near the water body, and the views are indeed promising. That apart, our sit-outs are the most unique feature as rarely do city hotels have this serene space where one can enjoy a drink, or have a conversation with their loved one outside their hotel room amidst the city’s noise. We’ve also created a water cascade around the pool near the rooms and sit-out that’s a definitive addition to the space’s serene feel,” he says.
t2 spends an afternoon checking out the property and getting a taste of the F&B offerings. Here’s an album.
A large number of rooms face the pool that is right in the centre of the property and overlooks the lake ahead. The ground floor rooms have sit-outs while the first-floor ones have a balcony to soak in the views.
With 75 keys, the hotel has rooms and suites across categories such as deluxe, premium and luxury. Suites are in the categories deluxe, luxury, grand luxury and presidential. High ceilings add to the vintage touch along with fine, dark woodwork in all the rooms. Black is central to the theme of the rooms and is present not just as accents on the floor, but also in the walls, closets as well as in bathrooms. Traditional glasswork and dokra art from neighbouring regions adorn the rooms along with in-house specialty chocolates for guests to enjoy. (In picture) A snapshot of the living room of the grand luxury suite.
Verandah, the all-day diner with 90 covers serves Indian, global and club-style cuisine. The menu philosophy is simple, comforting food at an affordable price, that positions the hotel as a great dining spot as well. The design scheme here too remains the same but with pops of bottle green on the chairs, and a special private dining area for celebrations and intimate dining. The Lakeview lounge is another 45-seater space to unwind that will focus on bespoke tea, coffee and high-tea experience.
Our favourite from the menu is this decadent Mushroom Cheese Toast that has creamy wild mushrooms and edamame on crisp sourdough with generous helpings of Parmesan.
Taj Taal Kutir Kolkata General Manager Sumit Singh Deol tells t2 why it is a "one-stop" for celebrations big and "intimate"
Sumit Singh Deol, general manager, Taj Taal Kutir Kolkata
How has Calcutta been treating you?
This is my first time in Calcutta and I now know why people call this a city with soul and joy. The warmth is palpable and people are passionate about their culture, food and their language. There is a heartwarming sense of belonging here. The city enchants you with its antiquity. Also, the foodie in me has been revived here… the food is par excellence.
What according to you is the positioning of the property?
Located beside the picturesque Eco Park Lake, Taj Taal Kutir Kolkata is a premium luxury hotel with 75 well-appointed rooms and suites themed around the colonial era and adorned with vintage-style furniture. The hotel also boasts of a 56,000sq ft. dedicated banqueting and convention centre. The unmatched view of the 100-acre lake and lush green lawns from The Grand View Terrace gives us an edge. It is all set to become the new hospitality address in Calcutta for redefining and recreating the finest experiences in bespoke luxury. Taj Taal Kutir will be your home with a quintessential feeling called Tajness.
What are the must-see spots at Taal Kutir?
Boasting panoramic views of the 100-acre lake and lush green lawns around, Taj Taal Kutir Kolkata offers various must-see and must-sit spots. One such spot that deserves a mention here is the upcoming Lake View Lounge’s alfresco area overlooking the pool and the lake. It’s a perfect spot to sip on a hot chocolate and immerse yourself in the stunning views. The Grand View Terrace at the convention centre is not only a gorgeous venue for creating memorable events but also offers an unobstructed and expansive view of the lake. The Verandah – all-day dining, overlooking the pool with jazz classics being played in the background is perfect for a dining experience, unlike any other place especially this side of Calcutta. Even our rooms - grand luxury and presidential suites with private seating areas boast of scenic views of the adjoining lake.
From an F&B perspective, what’s the food philosophy for the place?
Although each outlet here has a different food philosophy, but, in entirety, there is a very intricate focus on food and beverage at the hotel. The overall philosophy is towards invoking nostalgia through the culinary experience, we have taken the classic old-school route of keeping the food simple, wholesome, high on taste with quality ingredients. The menu at The Verandah is a very happy menu. There is something for everyone which takes you down the happy ‘food memories’ lane - whether it’s our Classic Butter Chicken, Colonial Mutton Curry, Mushroom & Edemame Toast or our signature Kulfi Falooda. The upcoming Lake View Lounge will focus on global comfort delights like Croque Monsieur, homemade scones to local favorites like jhaal muri.
What from your F&B experience have you got here?
Well, Calcutta is a perfect canvas to curate novel concepts and bespoke crafting in the F&B space. I have been fortunate to have worked in some of our marquee hotels and I am very excited to put my experience in the F&B space here along with my team and be part of this exciting demography. Coming from an F&B background, it becomes imperative by default that along with the overall functioning of the hotel the F&B continues to evolve and adapt to changes with agility. Strategising and implementing ideas with consistency is an endeavour which I shall continue to supervise, be it a classic cocktail recipe or a bespoke event.
What can we expect from the property in the future?
As I have mentioned the hotel will be driven by F&B majorly, Taj Taal Kutir Kolkata will continue to surprise with ‘Tajness’, bespoke experiences in culinary and beverage sphere. Curated events will be our hallmark. This shall be the one-stop for all grand celebrations to intimate happy gatherings weaved with the magic of ‘Tajness’.
What: Taj Taal Kutir Kolkata
Where: Eco Tourism Park Plot No.: 11E/65, Action Area II, Newtown
For more information, log on to: https://www.tajhotels.com/en-in/taj/taj-taal-kutir-kolkata/amp/