A virtual walkthrough of the new Taj City Centre New Town

Taj City Centre is a 147-room property that officially opened its doors on May 7, 2022. It is located adjacent to the City Centre New Town mall. It is the second Taj property in Kolkata, and a partnership between IHCL and Ambuja Neotia Group. Previously, the hotel was under the Swissotel brand from 2010 to 2020. Under the new partnership, the five-star property has been given a fresh look, new management and incorporates the tenets of ‘Tajness’.

My Kolkata takes you through the property.

Ambuja Neotia Group chairman Harshavardhan Neotia and IHCL managing director and CEO Puneet Chhatwal have partnered for the new hotel. The addition of this property takes the number of hotels owned by IHCL under different brands in Kolkata to six, including SeleQtions branded Raajkutir

The Indian Hotels Company Limited

Rooms

There are 137 rooms and 10 suites. What’s making the most buzz is the Jacuzzi Room, a room with its own private open-air jacuzzi that’s unique to the city. It is expected to open by the end of June. “Subtle elements of Bengal have been woven into the design from the artwork to the room carpets, which are a graphic representation of the Kolkata map,” says Sourav Ghoshal, general manager, Taj City Centre. Rattan back chairs and banker’s lamps are an ode to reviving the art of writing letters.

A jacuzzi room

Karo Christine Kumar

The Emperor Lounge

Located at the lobby level, the lounge offers tea, coffee, beverages, spirits, light bites and snacks. Nibble on Thai Chicken Quiche, Gruyere Cheese Olive Muffin and sample desserts like Tiramisu and Mango Oatmeal Cheesecake.

The Emperor Lounge

Karo Christine Kumar

Shamiana restaurant

The flagship all-day dining / coffee shop brand from The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, has travelled to Dubai and Ahmedabad before arriving in Kolkata. The 124-cover restaurant is nice and bright with a skylight roof (which is new), and a built-in bar. “A self-serving buffet and a la carte menu has predominantly local, Indian and international food as well as ‘travelling Shamiana’ items,” says executive chef Subrata Debnath. He recommends trying Asparagus Roesti, Orecchiette Pasta, Blackened Salmon and Kosha Mangsho with Dhakai Porota.

Food at the Shamiana restaurant

Karo Christine Kumar

The bar at Shamiana

The bar menu covered all price points from a luxurious ‘Diamonds are Forever Martini’ that’s priced Rs 30,000 (yes, it comes with a diamond ring!) to pocket-friendly shareable cocktails for Rs 1,500 that are prepared live at your table and can serve 3-4 people.

The bar has pocket-friendly shareable cocktails

Karo Christine Kumar

A knife-edge swimming pool

Dive into the pool and watch a flight take off! The knife-edge pool overlooks the airport and is as stunning as it was before, except this time it comes with the Taj stamp of service.

The knife-edge pool

Karo Christine Kumar

Gym

A state-of-the-art gym with cardio machines and membership plans is part of the wellness centre at Taj City Centre.

The gym

Karo Christine Kumar

Jiva Spa

The signature spa brand by Taj will make its debut in the city in the first week of June. The two single and one couple spa rooms will offer Ayurvedic treatments.

The signature spa brand by Taj will debut soon

Karo Christine Kumar

Artwork in the hotel

Art is an integral part of Kolkata and finds its place across the property – be it the 200-plus paintings from “promising artists of Bengal” or the terracotta walls by artist Tamal Bhattacharya. There are metal artforms like the Pegasus made from cycle parts, a wall by Suvaprasanna (from Swissotel days), dancing dolls of Bengal, carpets impressioned with the face of the Royal Bengal tiger and more. “This is a transit hotel, so we expect a lot of international travellers. Art is one way to give them an introduction to Bengal’s rich art and culture,” says Ghoshal.

Banquet halls

There are six banquet halls that can cater to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) needs.

Coming soon...

• Jiva Spa, which will make its debut in the city in the first week of June
• Jacuzzi room, a room with a private open-air jacuzzi, and unique to the city, will also open end-June
• Wykiki, Asian delights in a semi-alfresco setting, will open “in a month or so”