The Leela Palace Bengaluru opened in 2001 as the group's third hotel, built new in Indo-Saracenic dress — pink sandstone, copper domes, marble columns, drawing on Vijayanagara and Dravidian forms.
It stands on about seven acres on HAL Old Airport Road in Kodihalli, behind a gated forecourt. Rooms look inward across the lawns and a lotus-planted lagoon rather than onto the road, which in Bengaluru is the entire difference between a good night and a bad one.
Why We Place Guests Here
- Bengaluru is usually a gateway rather than a destination on our journeys, and this is the one hotel that makes the night an event.
- The kitchens are serious — Jamavar for Indian, Le Cirque for Franco-Italian, and ZLB 23, a speakeasy that has placed on Asia's 50 Best Bars.
- Seven acres of garden inside Bengaluru buys quiet that the city cannot otherwise sell.
The Table
- Jamavar — signature Indian
- Le Cirque Signature — Franco-Italian
- Zen — pan-Asian
- Citrus — all-day
- ZLB 23 — speakeasy
- The Library Bar
The Elevated India Signature
A late table at ZLB 23, found the way a speakeasy should be found.
Questions, Answered
Is The Leela Palace Bengaluru a real palace?
No — it was purpose-built as a hotel, opening in 2001, in Indo-Saracenic style drawing on Vijayanagara and Dravidian architecture. The craftsmanship is genuine; the history is not.
What is ZLB 23?
The hotel's hidden speakeasy, which has appeared on Asia's 50 Best Bars lists. It is entered through the hotel and worth booking.
Journeys That Take You There
Explore the destination guide: Bengaluru, Karnataka ↗
Photography: Photograph courtesy The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts