Abode Bombay Hotel, Mumbai
Abode Bombay is a gem in the historic Colaba district of Mumbai. Housed in a beautifully restored colonial-era heritage building that once served as the private residence of entrepreneur David Sassoon, the hotel opened in 2013 with a mission to offer a socially responsible alternative to large, anonymous hotel chains.
The design is a masterclass in local craftsmanship and sustainability. You’ll find interiors filled with reclaimed Burma teak floors, Art Deco antiques sourced from local markets, and silk pillow cushions crafted from vintage saris. Many of the staff members are part of local social initiatives, reflecting the hotel’s commitment to community, and even their massage therapists are often graduates from a local school for the blind.
The rooms are cozy and characterful, featuring a mix of vintage furniture and modern comforts like organic linens. For a touch of luxury, some suites even offer freestanding, 1920s-style rolltop bathtubs. The central library acts as a welcoming lounge and café, perfect for sipping masala chai while browsing through books on Indian culture.
Location-wise, you are right in the thick of things. The iconic Gateway of India is just a five-minute walk away, and you are surrounded by legendary spots like the Regal Cinema and Café Mondegar. Whether you want to explore the bustling Colaba Causeway or visit the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya museum nearby, Abode puts you at the heart of Mumbai’s vibrant street life and colonial history.
Expert reviews
“Abode Bombay is a quirky hotel up the road from the Gateway of India, with 20 chic rooms with lots of Old World charm (but modern conveniences too: guests are loaned local cellphones to use during their stay). The delicious breakfast buffet features local favorites — spinach pakoras, pav bhaji, corn poha — along with made-to-order masala omelettes and egg bhurji.”
Featured in New York Times’ 36 Hours in Mumbai.
“A terrific 20-room boutique hotel, stylishly designed with colonial-style and art deco furniture, reclaimed teak flooring and original artwork; the luxury rooms have glorious free-standing bath tubs.”
“The only boutique-style option in Mumbai, Abode, is located in the heart of Colaba, within strolling distance of the city’s historic sites and great restaurants. Manned by a small team who know you by name, this feels like a real home in the fabulous chaos of India’s most vibrant city.”
What guests liked
- Boutique style
- Friendly staff
- Excellent Wifi
- Great location
- Comfortable beds
Location
Recent guest reviews
26 April 2026
Comfortable, Safe and relaxing
Great Staff, especially Nilesh was so helpful
I wish the room had more windows
24 April 2026
A safe oasis in the center of Mumbai
Had a wonderful stay here. Staff is exceptionally friendly, location is in the heart of Mumbai and the room was very comfortable and with so much attention to details. I liked the “basic” room as it was quiet, tucked away on the first floor. Felt very safe as a solo female traveler. Also the hotel supports lots of social projects and is plastic free, which is very special in India.
23 April 2026
Cool Stay, Excellent Base For Exploring Mumbai.
Very stylish hotel, great staff with a very friendly welcome even though we checked in very early. The location was perfect for seeing South Mumbai tourist attractions. Breakfast was fresh and tasty and the iced coffee from the café was delicious! Really liked the lobby area which we used to eat take out food and have a few drinks in evening. The best part of this hotel is the amazing curated tours that are hosted by their own team, we were very well looked after and Vasu and Rajim who were fantastic story tellers and so passionate and knowledgeable about their crazy beautiful city.
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22 April 2026
Great stay and great breakfast.
Staff was great, they upgraded my stay for minimal charges. Great breakfast and good coffee.
Low ceilings.
20 April 2026
Excellent, couldn’t fault it!
Well located, quiet, clean and the staff were great.
Nothing
19 April 2026
Charming colonial stay in great location with excellent breakfast
This was our first accommodation in India, which made the stay feel especially exciting. The colonial-style aesthetics give the place a lot of character, and the overall atmosphere is very charming. The staff were consistently attentive and helpful, and even assisted with exchanging money at a good rate, which was very convenient.
The room itself was cosy and comfortable and, although it didn’t have windows, it still felt pleasant. The location is excellent, very close to the Gate of India, making it easy to explore.
A real highlight was the food. The breakfast was amazing, with a great mix of local and Western options, and they also serve excellent coffee and pastries.
The shower setup creates a lot of steam, which makes the whole room quite humid, especially since there are no windows. We also didn’t have a private toilet (only a shower), which we didn’t mind but could be inconvenient for some guests.
Additionally, the ceiling has some low concrete protrusions. Even though they are cushioned, I’m tall and still bumped into them several times, which became a bit annoying.
19 April 2026
A stylishly designed hotel in a prime location with an excellent breakfast
The location is absolutely perfect — just a short walk from the India Gateway, which made sightseeing very convenient. The breakfast buffet was wonderful, with a great variety of indian and continental options to start the day. The interior design is stylish and gives the hotel a modern, welcoming atmosphere.
The room itself was comfortable, but noticeably small for the price point. The window was tiny, letting in very little natural light, which made the room feel somewhat cramped and a bit gloomy during the day.
17 April 2026
It was a pleasant experience.
I like everything from ambience to service. People are very helpful and friendly. Value for money. Wonderful experience.
There nothing to unlike about this property.
14 April 2026
Very comfortable stay, very helpful team, located near most landmarks
Excellently located, in the heart of Colaba. Ideal if you want to explore Mumbai and are on a short visit. The new metro line connects the airport to South Mumbai, so it is easy to access now.
11 April 2026
An unexpected highlight of Indian accommodation. Would recommend. Loved the brekkie.
Loved the ethos of establishment and consideration for people and envirinment.
Maybe just entrance to property was bit unattractive.. but had been warned. 🙃
5 April 2026
Great central location near collaba, fantastic staff
Very good aesthetic and vibe with very welcoming staff who accommodated everything we needed from birthday surprises to airport transfers
31 March 2026
The staff deserve an award!!!!!
The staff were absolutley amazing and so so helpful......top notch staff...made you feel safe, welcome and gave you loads of advice when needed e.g. how much you should not pay for taxi etc
30 March 2026
The heart of Mumbai!
The staff were so friendly and kind. They could not do more for you. It’s a beautiful building and everything you want to eat, visit, see and shop in Mumbai is within 2 minutes walking. What a gorgeous hotel! 10/10! Thank you
Nothing
30 March 2026
An excellent night in the heart of Colaba at a place that is original and quirky - far better than a chain hotel.
Enjoyed the ambience, the service, the location and the decor.
Bit noisy..
29 March 2026
Great location Colaba
Great breakfast and nice old style (Victorian) vibe to the decor and architectural style.
Room was spacious but had a slightly awkward layout due to the shape of the building. Still worked out well for us though.
24 March 2026
I hope to return to Abode
Excellent style. A real haven in the city. The staff were as warm and friendly as family
19 March 2026
Great breakfast, wonderful staff and top location
We had a great stay at Abode in Mumbai.
The hotel has a really lovely feel—traditional with a modern Mumbai touch. It’s very well presented, and the bed was extremely comfortable. The breakfast was excellent, with a good variety and really good quality food.
The staff were amazing throughout our stay. A special mention to Asha, who checked us in and looked after us most mornings at breakfast—she was fantastic and made us feel really welcome.
The location is excellent, right in the heart of the tourist area. It felt very safe to walk around, with plenty to see and do nearby.
We stayed in a room with a shared bathroom, which I was initially a bit unsure about. However, it worked out absolutely fine—the toilets were large, clean, and there was more than one, so there was never any waiting.
The only minor downside was that our room didn’t have a window. We were aware of this when booking, but it did feel a little enclosed at times.
13 March 2026
Not your average hotel – stylish, central, super friendly, and with a breakfast worth waking up for.
We had a wonderful stay at this hotel. The design and overall style are truly unique and very tasteful – it’s definitely something special and not a typical hotel experience.
The location is very central, making it easy to explore the city. The staff was extremely friendly and welcoming throughout our stay.
The breakfast was excellent and quite unique, with a great selection of high-quality and creative options. It was a great way to start the day.
Overall, the hotel offers very good value for money. We would definitely book it again and can highly recommend it to anyone looking for a hotel with character and a special atmosphere.
13 March 2026
Brief, but we enjoyed it
Fantastic location with very friendly staff. Close to great bars and restaurants and local sites. Right in the heart of the old city. We loved it here
11 March 2026
Gorgeous hotel and great location.
Gorgeous hotel and great location.
9 March 2026
Location was perfect. Staff were amazingly helpful & friendly
Location was perfect. Staff were amazingly helpful & friendly
7 March 2026
Enjoyed my stay greatly
Casual relaxed vibe. Friendly polite and professional staff. Nice dining and lounge area. Location is perfect next to waterfront.
Can be noisy from outside traffic. Shared toilet and low ceilings. Hotel very transparent about this in advance.
6 March 2026
Great location, excellent staff, will visit again.
I loved the location of the property. It was right in the heart of Colaba, extremely convenient. I loved the aesthetic of the place, very nice. Above everything the staff was extremely hospitable and welcoming. Excellent staff. Will definitely stay again next time I'm there.
4 March 2026
Best choice in Colaba !
A lovely boutique hotel, well situated in Colaba. A great attention has been placed on each detail to make your sojourn pleasant. The rooms and the common area are tastefully decorated with antique furniture, collected over the years by the owner, a worldly gentleman. The general atmosphere seems to be a reflection from another era. Sadhana, the front desk manager, was very helpful and eager to make me feel at home from the moment I stepped in. The staff at breakfast is equally friendly and take great gare to anticipate and satisfy your needs. A little gem in a bustling city, nearby the Gateway of India.
3 March 2026
A hidden gem that takes you away from the chaos of Mumbai into an oasis of calm
The Abode delivered on it promise re. location, food, staff and wow factor. Don't be fooled by the modest somewhat industrial entrance as it leads into a beautiful roomy boutique hotel that feels luxurious. Room and Showers were amazing.
the Abode did warn us about the Mumbai noise and they were right but no worse than New York and reminds you that you are traveling and in one of the worlds most exciting cities.
1 March 2026
Fantastic little hotel
Location, staff, breakfast, clean
Price
19 February 2026
Great location, contemporary, ethical, boho hotel, will definitely choose again
Ethical and cool hotel
Hotel facilities
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Family rooms
- - Safety deposit box
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Shared lounge/TV area
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Currency exchange
- - Tour desk
- - Private check-in/check-out
Business facilities
- - Business centre
- - Fax/photocopying
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Trouser press (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Activities
- - Walking tours (additional charge)
- - Bike tours (additional charge)
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - CCTV in common areas
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Access to health care professionals
- - Thermometers for guests provided by property
- - Face masks for guests available

More photos

27 April 2026
It's exactly the type of boutique stay I was looking for in Mumbai which arr hard to come by.
My room LITERALLY opened into the cafeteria style breakfast area/reception desk which was somewhat weird, but the room itself was everything I was paying for. Funky, hip designed large room with all the architectural old goodness and I was looking for. It faced the street which is the CRAZY noisy chaos I expect from Mumbai. I did use the ear plugs, but if you are looking for a quiet retreat this is not for you. If you want to meet interesting people and stay in a cool building and location, it's perfect.