Introduction The House of MG is an atmospheric boutique hotel in the upcoming Indian metropolis of Ahmedabad. It is set in a fabulously restored mansion dating to the early 20th century, and is renowned for its unique aesthetic and design. Booking As we were travelling for work, we booked a couple of rooms with the hotel directly. It was quite effortless, I am lead to believe. Transfers The House of MG offers complimentary transfers between Ahmedabad Airport and the hotel in a comfortably MUV, with complimentary water, cold towels, and wi-fi. The drive is less than half-an-hour outside peak hours, and takes you past some interesting sights. Check In This took longer than I'd have liked. The front desk took their time in processing and assigning, forgot to offer us a welcome drink, and then slotted us into damp basement courtyard rooms which we promptly asked to be shifted out of. In all, it took over one and a half hours to finally get into a room we were happy with. Check-in was thus far from efficient, but at least the staff was polite. Location House of MG is essentially a restored mansion that still belongs to the city's leading industrialist family, the Mangaldas - Girdhardas (hence the MG) clan. It sits at the geographic heart of Ahmedabad, right next to the old city. For tourists, its a brilliant location - there is a lot of sightseeing within walking distance, and the hotel curates complimentary walking tours for guests. Its a very atmospheric setting, IMO, giving guests a comfortable yet direct glimpse of life in India's historic urban areas.For work, the hotel works reasonably well, given the fact that getting around Ahmedabad is far less time-consuming than in bigger cities. Still, if you'd like to be right next to the city's new business districts, then you'd probably want to stay elsewhere. Design Singular and stellar. The sensitive and tasteful restoration has resulted in a hotel that looks like no other, with each and every corner turning out to be a beautiful one with a special tale to tell. The hotel does an excellent job of translating local history into a contemporary physical setting, and this alone is a solid reason for booking a stay here. Think vintage floor tiles, four poster beds, quirky furniture, fountain filled courtyards, dramatic frescos, and so on and so forth. Room My double room was located in the courtyard off the main reception, and was huge and well appointed. Excellent furniture inlcuded designer recliners and footstools, a period four poster bed and cabinetry, lots of quirky interior flourishes, multiple split air conditioners, and a beautiful stone floor bathroom. As far as city hotels go, I thought it to be superlative - spacious, well designed, and far better equipped than I'd hoped for. Service Service needs work here. While staff is friendly and nice, they need training to ensure that their service standards are up to scratch. Apart from my challenging check-in, staff just generally remains in reaction mode, hardly ever anticipating guest needs. For instance, the towel rack in my bath went a bit wobbly and started drooping. On asking staff to check, the rack was simply removed and the towels kept on a stool next to the shower. No replacement - rack or room - was offered.Another instance was the staff's oversight about room service. In-room information material indicates that room service is not available, but the restaurant can deliver boxed meals anywhere else in the city. When I pointed out the absurdity of this on check-out, I was casually told that room service was in fact offered now, and that I should have asked about it earlier. Ouch.Again, its not as much of an attitude issue as a training issue. Staff is always pleasant and courteous, but clearly not properly instructed. Which is a real pity, considering how pretty the hotel is and the kind of value it offers to guests who choose to stay here. Dining There are two restaurants en-site, and room service which I was cruelly kept in the dark about. The Green Room, near the entrance, is an al fresco space (with some indoor seating) that offers freshly prepared street eats, and the complimentary morning breakfast. Its a quirky menu that comes well prepared, but serving portions are a bit stingy, especially when its street food on offer (which you get for a fraction of the price steps outside the hotel's gate).Agashiye is a rooftop restaurant that specialises in all-you-can-eat Gujarati thalis (meal platters), and is as pretty a place to see as it is lipsmackingly delicious to eat. This is a must-do in the city, and is a recognised power-eating hub. Its well worth the hype.Its important to point out here that options for non-vegetarians are limited here (non-existent at Agashiye), and you'll likely have to venture out to counter that. That said, the old city and its legendary establishments are right next door, while the swankier new town eateries are short taxi rides away. Facilities There is a beautiful but exceptionally overpriced boutique (it would work better if labelled an antiques auction house, IMO) on the property, along with a small fitness centre and a stunning indoor pool. There are also excellent heritage walks on offer (the hotel has in fact pioneered these in the city), and a good tie up with a sister boutique and eatery in the heart of the old city. For a hotel of its size, the range of facilities are reasonably good, and their quality top notch. Overall Apart from service issues, House of MG offers a great place to stay in - full of character and quirkiness - at an excellent price point. I'd recommend a stay here simply because this is a property like no other. Service criticisms were received in a positive light, and I hope they will be far less prominent on my next visit.