Originally Posted by
mumum17
Granted that the Imperial needs work. But the Oberoi, still the champ imo and the best hotel restaurant. The "elite" locals or "well-heeled crowd" locally (and there are many) usually try and have functions at the "Best" hotels in town. It adds to the fuel for "being talked around town". Again, I'm not saying the Lodi is not very good, but it's not the best imo. Everyone has a differing taste: I prefer grande and majestic when in a vibrant city like Delhi. Others, prefer the more boutique feel. Either way, service and execution is paramount.
Regardless, this is one city where there are many excellent choices (Leela is another one). With Oberoi closing for renovations, my suggestion would be Oberoi in Gurgaon. It will cover all your bases (like airport), and more, for the one day you will be there.
I used to repeatedly be at the home of the DLF founder (before he died and the son-in-law ruled the roost even at home) -- as it was the closest non-hotel swimming pool for me to use when privately resident in Delhi -- but the family that owns the Oberoi hotels had been much closer family friends. Yet I have to acknowledge that the Oberoi in Delhi had had its best days in a league of its own years ago, even as they did very well with the F&B offering in more recent years. That a hotel is more attractive for some social gatherings doesn't necessarily make the hotel the most attractive on a resident guest service level or even physical plant level.
The Imperial was the one of these three where resident hotel guests could most count on being treated as if just their room rate. Being treated as if just their rate at the Lodhi and the Oberoi? Not so much.
Two of these three cater more to locals and their larger parties, and it's not the Lodhi.