VINTAGE WOW 

Rich, royal and classic. An old-world four-poster bed with luxurious drapes welcomes you to one of the nine suites. The beauty of living in this heritage room is the 14.15ft high ceiling and a strong British colonial hangover. Shades of maroon, gold and beige complement the wooden flooring. The fan looks vintage but is a new buy. “Since this is a heritage building, the basic layout of the property remains unchanged,” said Dinesh Kumar, the new general manager of The Astor, at 15 Shakespeare Sarani. 

CHIC STAY 

The executive rooms wear a contemporary look. Modern-looking furniture and paintings adorn the walls in this very urban setting. 

Remember the huge couches that used to be near the entrance to Plush (in the lobby of The Astor)?
They have made way for high-backed Victorian chairs, which fit in with the vintage theme and make the lobby more spacious. 

TWIN TREAT 

The base category room looks anything but basic. It’s similar to the executive rooms. The difference lies in the size of the rooms and the twin beds.

#THROWBACK THURSDAY

A Parsee man called Aga Beg was the first owner of the building that was built 110 years ago. In 1963, it was taken on rent by Mr & Mrs Suresh Kumar. The Astor Hotel was established in 1978. In 1981, it acquired a bar licence and a year later, chef Avtar Singh made its kebabs famous in the neighbourhood and beyond. The property was bought by DS Puri in 1999. The nightclub Cloud 9 opened in 2003 and it was relaunched as Plush in 2009. 

Today the hotel houses 34 rooms — 9 suites, 9 executive and 16 deluxe rooms. Prices start at Rs 5,000-plus and go up to Rs 8,000-plus for a suite. (Includes buffet breakfast and Wi-Fi.) 

The grand old stairway is as old as the building. The frames on the wall — pictures of old Calcutta captured by painters — have been added. “They take you back to that era,” said Dinesh Kumar.

If you’ve ever tripped on the undulating floor beneath the old carpets, be rest assured the floor under the brand new red carpeting is now even. 

Text: Pramita Ghosh
Pictures: B. Halder
What is your earliest memory of The Astor? Tell t2@abp.in