The Corner Courtyard - the confluence of legacy and modernity in the heart of Kolkata
The Corner Courtyard is a lovely boutique hotel located in south Kolkata and has been developed by the restoration of an old Kolkata Haveli over years of vision, love and hard work. I was recently invited by them to review the property and came back highly impressed. Here is my review of The Corner Courtyard. Enjoy :)
A long long time back, 1904 to be precise, a house located in a corner in the erstwhile capital of India, Kolkata, was last inhabited. For over a century it remained as it is, fighting against all odds to retain it’s past glory, yet slowly crumbling with time. It was this lovely house in the corner which was restored a century later and became a top-notch boutique hotel in Kolkata.
Though equipped with everything contemporary now, the hotel also retains a connection to it’s regal past and tells the tale of colonial Calcutta (as it was known then) through it’s silent walls, it’s simple white facade and it’s gorgeous green windows. I spent a long weekend there, and I came back completely charmed by the secrets that the property beholds, and the stories it tells.
This wasn’t my first time in the city, and certainly won’t be the last, yet I had never quite managed to explore it well so far. I had always come here for work, which meant only a few hours in the evenings for short walks. Some of these walks were memorable, especially since I was always all by myself and without an agenda. However, I was finally coming to the city to explore it like a traveller, but thankfully again without a plan or an agenda.
I had planned to spend most of time in Kolkata capturing the different moods of the city. However, as luck would have it, I was down with sore throat and mild fever, and spent many more hours at the hotel than originally planned. Maybe because of this, the place felt even more like a home, and not really a hotel. Though authentic to the old house and the legacy of Kolkata, the property has enough quirkiness to keep you engaged for quite sometime. The walls at the restaurant especially are super cool and deserve more than a glance, and they also make for some cool selfie backgrounds :)
The property also has a bar on the terrace, but unfortunately I couldn’t ever go there. However, my friend Amrita who lives in the city raves about it, so I am guessing that the place is really good too. Days in Kolkata are usually warm, no matter what the season, but evening breeze brings in the much needed coolness, and I think that’s the best time to enjoy a glass of cocktail in the terrace. Add to that some Kolkata style conversations, and your evening would be simply prefect.
The room we stayed in is called Charcoal, and was charming to the core. Here is how it’s described on the hotel:
The monochromes of Satyajit Ray’s cinema have memories that are beyond the colour spectrum. His cinema was as classical in style as it was rich in moods. The black and white on the celluloid merged and converged to tell simple yet layered stories. In the modern cacophony of colours experience the toned melodies of expressions, emotions and memories in a pristine cinematic memoir. Lose yourself into the idyllic cinematic past where the classic black and white were enough to colour your world. You are the protagonists here. and the show is yours to steal.
The rest of the six rooms are Indigo, Crimson, Vermilion, Viridian, Ivory and Cadmium. You can read more about these rooms here - The Corner Courtyard.
- For reservations and more information on rooms call them at +91 9903999567/ 0597.
- Or you can email to them - thecornercourtyard.stay [at] gmail [dot] com
- Or you can contact them on Facebook as well
All these online platforms can also be used for making a booking:
- Booking.com
- Agoda
- Goibibo
- Makemytrip
- Travelguru
- Airbnb
Cost of Rooms:
Single Occupancy: Rs.5355 (tax inclusive with complementary breakfast and WiFi access)
Double Occupancy: Rs.6545 (tax inclusive with complementary breakfast and WiFi access)
Address:
The Corner Courtyard
92 B Sarat Bose Road
Kolkata 700026
West Bengal, india
How to reach The Corner Courtyard?
It's easily reachable from the airport by cab; I used Uber and the location on google was spot-on. On an average day, the ride will take 30-45 minutes easily. Here is a map for reference.
Other details:
- There is free WiFi available for all guests
- Breakfast is included in the room-fare; its decent but fairly limited
- There is no elevator and all guest rooms are located on 1st and 2nd floor, while ground floor is for the reception and restaurant. For some this could be a challenge.
Facebook:
Twitter:
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Disclaimer: As already mentioned, I was invited to the property for a review. However, all views expressed are unbiased and based on my personal experiences.
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| The wall of mirrors at The Corner Courtyard |
A long long time back, 1904 to be precise, a house located in a corner in the erstwhile capital of India, Kolkata, was last inhabited. For over a century it remained as it is, fighting against all odds to retain it’s past glory, yet slowly crumbling with time. It was this lovely house in the corner which was restored a century later and became a top-notch boutique hotel in Kolkata.
Though equipped with everything contemporary now, the hotel also retains a connection to it’s regal past and tells the tale of colonial Calcutta (as it was known then) through it’s silent walls, it’s simple white facade and it’s gorgeous green windows. I spent a long weekend there, and I came back completely charmed by the secrets that the property beholds, and the stories it tells.
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| The Corner Courtyard from outside |
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| The Corner Courtyard form inside |
This wasn’t my first time in the city, and certainly won’t be the last, yet I had never quite managed to explore it well so far. I had always come here for work, which meant only a few hours in the evenings for short walks. Some of these walks were memorable, especially since I was always all by myself and without an agenda. However, I was finally coming to the city to explore it like a traveller, but thankfully again without a plan or an agenda.
I had planned to spend most of time in Kolkata capturing the different moods of the city. However, as luck would have it, I was down with sore throat and mild fever, and spent many more hours at the hotel than originally planned. Maybe because of this, the place felt even more like a home, and not really a hotel. Though authentic to the old house and the legacy of Kolkata, the property has enough quirkiness to keep you engaged for quite sometime. The walls at the restaurant especially are super cool and deserve more than a glance, and they also make for some cool selfie backgrounds :)
Food at The Corner Courtyard
I was expecting good food at the hotel for sure, but I was simply blown away by it! In fact, I loved the food so much that I would even rate that higher than the experience of stay there. So if you are in Kolkata and love European cuisine, this is totally the place for you. There are numerous non-vegetarian food options available, but there was enough vegetarian food to keep me content during my stay there. |
| This is what I ate! |
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| This is what she ate! |
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| Not the menu, but looking through a book on Kolkata... |
The property also has a bar on the terrace, but unfortunately I couldn’t ever go there. However, my friend Amrita who lives in the city raves about it, so I am guessing that the place is really good too. Days in Kolkata are usually warm, no matter what the season, but evening breeze brings in the much needed coolness, and I think that’s the best time to enjoy a glass of cocktail in the terrace. Add to that some Kolkata style conversations, and your evening would be simply prefect.
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| The seating on the terrace - the day was cloudy and lovely! |
The rooms at The Corner Courtyard
Located in the heart of South Kolkata near the Lansdown junction, The Corner Courtyard recently opened it's doors to Customers on October 13, 2013. There are a total of seven unique rooms, and each one of them provide a unique living experience, building on the connection of the house with the colonial era. The furniture in each room is antique and is beautifully restored over years of hard work, and it shows. The name as well as the themes of each room is based on the colors of Kolkata. |
| Charcoal - the room! |
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| Satyajit Ray on the wall for some cinematic inspiration :) |
The room we stayed in is called Charcoal, and was charming to the core. Here is how it’s described on the hotel:
The monochromes of Satyajit Ray’s cinema have memories that are beyond the colour spectrum. His cinema was as classical in style as it was rich in moods. The black and white on the celluloid merged and converged to tell simple yet layered stories. In the modern cacophony of colours experience the toned melodies of expressions, emotions and memories in a pristine cinematic memoir. Lose yourself into the idyllic cinematic past where the classic black and white were enough to colour your world. You are the protagonists here. and the show is yours to steal.
The rest of the six rooms are Indigo, Crimson, Vermilion, Viridian, Ivory and Cadmium. You can read more about these rooms here - The Corner Courtyard.
All that other stuff!
What about other stuff? Well, I loved the art on the wall and the hidden corners if the house so much that it deserves a special mention in this review. They are not just a visual treat, but also provide a glimpse to the legacy of Kolkata. If you have time you must pick one of the many lovely books on Kolkata from the book-shelf, order a cup of hot coffee from the patisserie, sit by the window and enjoy a surreal afternoon. Even if there is no one around, the walls will give you company; trust me, they almost speak, if only you are willing to listen. Such is Kolkata…everything speaks, and conversations simply flow… |
| The Wall of locks |
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| Images from the house that it used to be... |
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| Canon by Canon! |
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| More books - just outside my room :) |
Practical details
How to make a booking?- For reservations and more information on rooms call them at +91 9903999567/ 0597.
- Or you can email to them - thecornercourtyard.stay [at] gmail [dot] com
- Or you can contact them on Facebook as well
All these online platforms can also be used for making a booking:
- Booking.com
- Agoda
- Goibibo
- Makemytrip
- Travelguru
- Airbnb
Cost of Rooms:
Single Occupancy: Rs.5355 (tax inclusive with complementary breakfast and WiFi access)
Double Occupancy: Rs.6545 (tax inclusive with complementary breakfast and WiFi access)
Address:
The Corner Courtyard
92 B Sarat Bose Road
Kolkata 700026
West Bengal, india
How to reach The Corner Courtyard?
It's easily reachable from the airport by cab; I used Uber and the location on google was spot-on. On an average day, the ride will take 30-45 minutes easily. Here is a map for reference.
Other details:
- There is free WiFi available for all guests
- Breakfast is included in the room-fare; its decent but fairly limited
- There is no elevator and all guest rooms are located on 1st and 2nd floor, while ground floor is for the reception and restaurant. For some this could be a challenge.
Do share :)
If you enjoyed the post, feel free to share it :)Facebook:
Twitter:
The Corner Courtyard - the exquisite boutique hotel in Kolkata #India - https://t.co/6WwkEdaYYe #Kolkata #WestBengal @CornerCourtyard pic.twitter.com/WUgG0rXHVn— Siddhartha Joshi (@sid_travel) September 23, 2016
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Disclaimer: As already mentioned, I was invited to the property for a review. However, all views expressed are unbiased and based on my personal experiences.
Nice to read, Beautiful pics.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rupam :)
DeleteYou were in Kolkata and you didnt ping me. Nice review although i had some bad experiences with the food there. Next time in Kolkata please call me
ReplyDeleteSure next time I shall ping you (I have promised so many friend in Kolkata already) :) For us food was especially good, and we loved it! The breakfast, however, was sparse and just about basic.
DeleteLovely place and great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Rashmi :)
DeleteAbsolutely stunning place! Love everything about it. That wall of locks is spectacular!
ReplyDeleteNext time you should go on a walk with Calcutta photo tours - think you will love it!
I actually did go on a walk with them, and loved every bit of it :)
Delete