Our Luxurious Staycation at The Waverly Hotel and Residences
Staycation at The Waverly Part I
[You may access Part II here]
Happy 10th wedding anniversary to us! My husband and I have been looking forward to celebrating a decade of togetherness, and those of you who follow me on Instagram or Twitter already know that August is anniversary month for us. We wanted to spend more time celebrating than travelling, so we planned a quick getaway with both of us settling for a staycation {a vacation where you stay close to your home location}.
When we were invited by the lovely Kapila Sengupta, Marketing & Communications Head at VR Bengaluru, to celebrate our anniversary at the splendid Waverly Hotel and Residences, we were totally delighted and our plans of a staycation had begun to unravel with this invitation. Today’s post will be a combination of a staycation review of The Waverly {Part I} and how we celebrated this mega special occasion.
We reached the hotel on a sunny Saturday morning {after a particularly hectic week of work} to be welcomed with a warm smile and a warm greeting from the valet. We briefly waited at the lobby for the speediest of hotel check-ins ~ setting the tone for a weekend filled with impeccable customer service ~ before we were guided to our room. On our way to the room, I noticed how every floor was designed with keen attention to detail. From paisley prints to cheery stripes, the wallpaper augmented the beauty of the hotel transporting guests to an entirely different era. The rooms were also designed to achieve a similar effect.
The Lobby at The Waverly Hotel and Residences.
Each floor is done up in a striking wallpaper.
As I stepped into our suite, I instantly knew that Vikram and I were going to enjoy our stay at The Waverly Hotel and Residences. The luxurious Loft is built in contemporary British style with elegance dripping out of every inch of the 650 square feet space. The magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows featured an unobstructed 270-degree picturesque view of the city skyline, while the inviting lounging & relaxing areas and an intimate dining table setting for two, had an element of timeless elegance. All of this seemed to be consistent with The Waverly’s definition of the essence of luxury, evident from its contemporary furnishings and state-of-the-art technology.
If I were to describe the hotel itself as “luxurious”’ or “full of splendour”, I would in no way be doing it any justice at all. Baked in tradition and a feeling of opulence of yesteryear, words could not begin to describe the nostalgia that emanates from every corner of the place.
The room came with a platter of fruits {a veritable feast consisting of kiwi, dragon fruit, apple, pear, grapes, and plums} and decadent chocolates!
Each suite at The Waverly is equipped for comfort with HD flat-screen televisions, a media panel, and a work area with complimentary high-speed internet. The spacious marble bathroom with his-and-her sink vanities, along with a shower stall that uses a rain shower feature, is complemented by the rich Burma teak flooring making an immediate statement and adding to the exquisiteness of the loft. In a nutshell, The Waverly Hotel and Residences experience can be summed up as old-world charm in a modern setting.
The Sky Deck
We were in for a wonderful surprise when we were told about a {late} breakfast that had been organised by the Waverly staff {at the Sky Deck}. The sumptuous array of comfort food gave us just the start we needed for the weekend; croissants, yogurts, fruit, waffles, and pancakes along with a splendid selection of desserts and pastries were accompanied with Champagne to lighten our mood and turn our breakfast into a romantic and delectable meal.
F&B Manager Michael with Sous Chef Sajjad Alam
The delectable spread: Eggs Florentine, Waffles, Chilla with Coriander and mint chutney, Fruit Platter, Almond Honey Cake, Choco Walnut Cake, Marble Cake, Croissants and Choco Cupcakes.
Our fabulously talented photographer, Samarth has captured these moments quite beautifully, and in true Bollywood style!
Overview
Guests at the Waverly can choose to dine at the Alt, which is their signature Alfresco rooftop lounge bar at the Sky Deck, offering an excellent view of the city {where we were to dine later that evening} or they can step into TWA/The Whitefield Arms, which offers a quintessential British experience {where we had brunch the next day}. Both the F&B outlets serve a multitude of cuisines throughout the day from animated live kitchens and have been designed to have a lasting effect on the guests when it comes to their dining experience… The contemporary ambience and the palatable cuisine would have you craving for more!
Opportunely connected to the Black Box {VR Bengaluru ~ an integrated lifestyle destination}, The Waverly Hotel and Residences features a separate entrance leading directly to the fitness centre {The Tribe} and the spa {L’Occitane}. Then you have the ability to splurge in some retail therapy at VR’s premium shopping centre with the likes of Superdry, Dune London, H&M, and Marks & Spencer being yours for the taking. For movie addicts or families looking for some entertainment, the PVR is also located within the vicinity. Vikram and I enjoyed exploring the high-end stores at VR Bengaluru between our late breakfast and early dinner.
Alt
The pool at the Sky Deck accompanies a poolside bar where eclectic cocktails with local fusion food are on offer.
With the memories of an opulent breakfast etched too clearly in our minds, our experience at the Sky Deck had heightened our expectations when it came to dinner {we chose to dine at Alt}. As the cool night wind gently hummed a sweet symphony, we took a seat at the mesmerising open-air restaurant, gradually losing ourselves to the endearing beauty of the place. The expert chefs at Alt had insightfully curated an appetising menu. We started with Grilled Prawns and olives and then went on to enjoy Halibut Yakitori, which is a delectable Miso glazed halibut grilled in a skewer and served with honey-lemon shichimi dip. We were soon presented with Peruvian Ceviche which consists of fresh tuna in a lemon juice with onion, cilantro, and green apple ~ which was very delicious. This was followed by Moroccan Lamb with Chimichurri Rice featuring French cut chops in Harissa, cashew, and brown onions, finished on the griddle with a Moroccan spice glaze. The Sticky Toffee Pudding comprising rich cake soaked with a sticky sauce topped with vanilla ice cream, satiated our sweet tooth before we decided to call it a day and retire to our room in true staycation style; enjoying the gorgeous views from our room window and indulging in some weekend celebration bubbly.
{Sunday at the Waverly was equally fabulous, but more on that in my next post}
The secret to planning a memorable staycation is to give yourself consent to get away from it all, even if you are not really getting that far away. By setting aside your cell phone and e-mail, seeking out new adventures in familiar places, and treating your experience with the same excitement you would any other trip, you are guaranteed to have an amazing time, and perhaps appease your wanderlust for just a little longer.
To conclude: The staff at the hotel had thoughtfully ensured that attention was paid to every detail throughout our stay at The Waverly Hotel and Residences. From the beautiful fresh flowers arranged exquisitely to the complimentary newspaper, and spaces that were brightly lit with natural lighting ~ we found every bit of it to be lovely. Also, we had proximity to anything we would want to do, and being able to grab a delicious bite to eat and drink right in the hotel was a bonus. For anyone looking to take a staycation, I would highly recommend The Waverly Hotel and Residences as your go-to!
Address: Whitefield Main Road, Bengaluru 560048. Phone: 080 33544000
Disclaimer: This review was done on an invitation from The Waverly Hotel and Residences. Due judgment and care have been applied by the author to remain objective and unbiased in the review.