The unique ‘floating hotel’, Floatel, that opened in 2007 has now been rechristened as Polo Floatel. The eco-friendly hotel with a maritime theme has undergone a facelift to keep up with updated facilities for an elevated guest experience. The 58-key floating hotel on river Hooghly offers beautifully done cabins with maps on the walls with a stunning view of Vidyasagar Setu on one side and the iconic Howrah Bridge on the other, while some of the suites even has an outdoor space that’s ideal if you have a plan of partying (picture above). “We are delighted to be re-launching the iconic Floatel, which has been revamped with love and imagination to become the definitive address for style seekers and the swish set. The all new re-imagined Polo Floatel preserves its maritime legacy and a sense of fun while providing the Polo Towers Experience that we are known for,” said Deval Tibrewalla, CEO, Hotel Polo Towers Group. The hotel offers a gamut of bespoke experiences like sunrise and sunset boat rides with tea and snacks on-board, guided walking tours showcasing the rich history and culture of Calcutta and romantic candle-lit dinners. From banqueting and conferencing spaces to The Bridge — Bistro Bar — the hotel has something for everyone. t2 got an exclusive walk-through and here’s what we liked...
More about it
What: Polo Floatel
Where: 9/10, Kolkata jetty, Strand Rd
Timings: Restaurant is open from noon to 10.30pm presently
Room rental: Rs 4,500 onwards
Meal for two: Rs 2,500 with alcohol
Call: + 91 86979 71678 for further details
If you have outdoor celebration in mind, you can book Compass — an open deck that can accommodate 200 people with a total space of 2,800sq ft. They will also have Promenade Deck, Concourse Lawns and Cosmos Deck that would accommodate around 300 and 125 guests respectively.
Hotel and banqueting spaces go hand-in-hand. The hotel provides banquet spaces that range in size from 210sq ft to 7,000sq ft area, tastefully designed with independent access and breakaway rooms, perfectly suited for corporate events and social gatherings.
The Bridge — Bistro and Bar is reminiscent of being on a cruise and being invited to the Captains Table to dine. This space also houses a vibrant deck outdoors that serves delicious food that focuses on The Hotel Polo Towers Group’s North East heritage, old-Calcutta favourites and the chef’s modern take on comfort food. Love shisha? They have that too!
t2 Picks
Like spicy? Go for Meghalaya Chilli Garlic Noodles that has a strong taste of garlic and is loaded with greens. Addition of egg and chicken are available.
Naga Chilli Cheese Toast is great as nibbles. Toasted bread is slathered with spicy chilli cheddar cheese and grilled.
Dig into this juicy and tender Naga Chilli Pork that has the crunchiness of bellpeppers and onions. Pair it with a pint of beer and you are sorted.
When you are chilling next to the Hooghly, how can you not enjoy Shorshe Ilish with steamed rice? We devoured this rich mustard gravy and the ilish with dim in it!
Healthy, delicious and crunchy sum up Stir Fried Asian Greens that has the goodness of soft tofu, toasted almonds and burnt garlic chips.
Grilled Tiger Prawns on a bed of Garlic Spaghetti in citrus lime butter is a wholesome meal and great for seafood lovers.
Pirates of the Ocean is a drink with white rum, jangiri syrup and hibiscus tea with a touch of cinnamon.
MAC lipstick — Ruby Woo is as good as your fave shade in red! This one has fresh watermelon juice, pomegranate, basil leaf and vodka.
Pictures: Rashbehari Das