It’s hard to say what the best thing about House of MG is – the stunning spacious bedrooms, the indoor pool that’s so refreshing on a hot day, or if you are a foodie then it would have to be the phenomenal Gujarati Thali served at the rooftop terraced restaurant. There’s just too many great things about House of MG Ahmedabad to pick just one.
Situated in the heart of Ahmedabad, opposite the Sidi Saiyad Mosque with its beautifully carved windows, House of MG has that wow-factor from the moment you arrive. Once the home of a wealthy textile merchant and his family, the property has been elegantly converted into a stylish boutique hotel. The Baroque-influenced building features marble floors and tiles, stained glass windows, and courtyards and hallways throughout the property. The rooms are stunning. They are large, with marble floors and dark wooden furniture. There are plenty of splashes of colour in the rooms in the textiles such as curtains and cushions, which boast examples of the pretty prints and designs famous in the region, as well as coloured rugs. The suite we stayed in had a gorgeous swinging seat suspended from the ceiling and a massive bathroom.
The hotel contains a compact gym, spa and the beautiful lotus pool – an indoor swimming pool beneath a fabulous ceiling painted in rich emerald green and pink lotus flowers. It also has a small gift store near the main reception.
Perhaps the biggest highlight of the hotel though is the two restaurants that attract guests, as well as diners who aren’t staying at the hotel and locals alike. There’s a more casual South India café style restaurant serving snacks, light meals and drinks downstairs and the rooftop terrace restaurant – Agashiye. Dining at Agashiye is an amazing experience – the food is great and the atmosphere gorgeous. The meal starts with a welcome drink under a tented canopy before a thali meal is served on the terrace underneath the stars. The thali – a style of Indian meal made up of multiple dishes and as much as you can eat – showcases fine Gujarati food. The dishes are pure vegetarian, with no onion or garlic, and some almost taste sweet. There’s a lot of ghee and some unique regional styles of Indian breads! The waiters are proud of the food – and they should be – and the restaurant has an open kitchen that allows you to see where the food is coming from. Even if you aren’t staying at House of MG heritage – trying the thali when you are in Ahmedabad is a must.
It’s hard to say what we loved most – the thalis, the pool or the rooms – but we are already eager to go back and stay again! A stay at the House of MG can be included as part of our 10 day Foundations of Gujarat itinerary or be incorporated into a customized tour that includes Ahmedabad and Gujarat.