ITC Maratha Mumbai, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Mumbai has no shortage of five-star hotels near the airport, but the ITC Maratha stands apart from its neighbours in one important respect: food. This is a property that takes dining seriously in a way that few airport hotels anywhere in the world attempt. With eight restaurants — including Avartana, a two-time Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants frontrunner — the ITC Maratha has built a genuine reputation as a dining destination in its own right, quite apart from its role as a comfortable base for travellers connecting through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Add an impressive architectural statement inspired by the Maratha dynasty, strong service, and solid Marriott Bonvoy earning potential, and this is one of the more compelling luxury hotel options in Mumbai for points travellers.

Location and Getting There

The ITC Maratha sits on Sahar Airport Road in Andheri East, less than a kilometre from the international terminal — one of the closest full-service luxury hotels to the airport in Mumbai. The international terminal is a five-minute drive in normal conditions; the domestic terminal takes slightly longer. As with all airport-adjacent hotels in Mumbai, traffic can be unpredictable during peak hours, so it is worth building in time for early departures.

The hotel does not operate a scheduled airport shuttle, so guests should arrange a taxi, prepaid cab from the arrivals hall, or a ride-hailing app. Ola and DiDi both operate in Mumbai. Complimentary parking is available on-site for guests arriving by road.

For business travellers, the location is genuinely useful. The Bandra-Kurla Complex, Jio World Convention Centre, Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, and the Andheri and Worli business districts are all within easy reach. For leisure travellers, the honest caveat is that Andheri East is a functional rather than atmospheric part of Mumbai — central landmarks such as the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, and Colaba are a 30-to-40-minute drive away through the city’s notorious traffic.

Design and First Impressions

The ITC Maratha makes an immediate architectural statement. The building is inspired by Indo-Saracenic and indigenous Maharashtrian design, dominated by a striking domed roof that has become a recognisable landmark on the airport approach road. Inside, the hotel draws on the heritage of the Maratha dynasty: artefacts, colour palettes, and design details throughout the property reference Maharashtra’s cultural history, creating an atmosphere that feels grounded in place rather than generic international luxury.

The property covers 5.5 acres and feels spacious as a result. The atrium-centred Peshwa Pavilion restaurant, with its sun-bathed interior, gives the ground floor an airy quality that larger airport hotels often lack. Guest reviews consistently note the grandeur of the lobby and the sense that this is a hotel with genuine personality. One reviewer described the experience as being reminded of Hawa Mahal; another called it a stoic colonial retreat. The aesthetic is not to every taste, but it is distinctive and well-executed.

It is worth noting that some guests observe the decor in certain rooms reflects the hotel’s original late 1990s opening — while rooms are clean and comfortable, the design in older units can feel dated. This is a property that would benefit from a phased renovation programme, and it shows in places.

Rooms

The ITC Maratha offers 380 rooms across several categories. Standard Deluxe Rooms are well-sized by Mumbai standards, with sound-proofed windows — a practical benefit at an airport location — alongside a minibar, flat-screen television, laptop-compatible safe, tea and coffee facilities, and Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are finished to a good standard with separate shower and quality toiletries.

The ITC One tier is the club-level product, offering a more premium room category with access to the ITC One Lounge — equivalent to an executive lounge in other Marriott brands. Deluxe Suites run to 86 square metres, with Luxury Suites offering 102 square metres of space, both decorated with artefacts and colour schemes that reflect the Maratha theme.

The overarching guest feedback is that rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable, with beds and linens consistently praised. The main qualification is that decor in some rooms has not kept pace with the standard set by the common areas, and guests occasionally report minor maintenance issues in older units. Requesting a recently renovated room at booking is sensible.

Dining

The dining programme is the defining feature of a stay at the ITC Maratha, and it sets this property apart from virtually every other airport hotel in India. Eight restaurants and bars cover an exceptional range of cuisines, several of which hold award-winning status in their own right.

Avartana is the most significant recent addition — a progressive South Indian restaurant that has appeared twice on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The tasting menu format showcases peninsular Indian cuisine in a contemporary, multi-course format that is genuinely ambitious. It is one of the few reasons guests travel to this hotel specifically to eat rather than to stay.

Peshawri is a long-established landmark, serving North-West Frontier cuisine — robust, tandoor-led cooking with a focus on kebabs, breads, and slow-cooked dishes. It draws guests from across Mumbai and is consistently rated among the city’s best restaurants in its category. The dal and the raan (slow-roasted leg of lamb) are regularly cited as highlights.

Dumpukht recreates the 200-year-old culinary legacy of the Awadhi Nawabs — rich, slow-cooked dum cooking from Lucknow. Biryani and nihari are the signature dishes and the restaurant has a strong following among guests who know Awadhi cuisine well.

Yi Jing serves inventive Chinese cuisine with a focus on Sichuan and Hunan provinces, described by guests as among the better Chinese restaurants in Mumbai.

Peshwa Pavilion is the all-day dining restaurant, set in the hotel’s sun-lit atrium and serving Indian and international buffet alongside cook-to-order options. Breakfast here is particularly well regarded — a wide spread with strong Indian and continental options. Bombay High is a lively bar with live music and cocktails. Catherine’s is a Victorian-style conservatory tea lounge overlooking the Royal Gardens. Fabelle is the hotel’s chocolate boutique.

Dining prices are high by Mumbai standards — as is typical for hotel restaurants of this tier — but the quality broadly justifies the positioning, particularly at Avartana, Peshawri, and Dumpukht.

Facilities

The outdoor pool and sundeck are well maintained and provide a pleasant respite from Mumbai’s heat.

Kaya Kalp, the hotel’s full-service spa, is rooted in traditional Ayurvedic philosophy and offers a broad treatment menu including signature therapies, couples massage, body wraps, and steam and sauna facilities. It is consistently well reviewed and represents one of the more serious spa offerings at an airport hotel in India.

The gym is functional, though some guests note the equipment is on the smaller side relative to the hotel’s overall scale. Business facilities include a well-appointed business centre and extensive event and banqueting space — the hotel’s ballroom and Royal Gardens make it a popular venue for corporate events and weddings in the Andheri area. A shopping arcade operates on-site.

Service

Service is one of the ITC Maratha’s consistent strengths. Guest reviews across platforms describe staff as warm, attentive, and professionally trained, with the concierge team drawing particular praise for proactive assistance and genuine local knowledge. The hotel has a loyal base of repeat business travellers who cite staff relationships as a key reason for returning. Front desk recognition of frequent guests is noted positively. Occasional inconsistency at individual touchpoints appears in reviews — as is the case with any large hotel — but the overall picture is strongly positive.

Marriott Bonvoy — Earning and Elite Benefits

Club ITC — the Hotel’s Own Programme

ITC Hotels operates its own loyalty currency called Green Points through the Club ITC programme. Green Points earn at a rate of approximately 25% of spend on eligible charges and can be redeemed at face value (1 Green Point = ₹1) for hotel charges including room rates, dining, and spa. For UK travellers, the most practical use of Green Points is conversion to Marriott Bonvoy points at a ratio of 2 Green Points to 3 Bonvoy points — a useful top-up to your Bonvoy balance, though transfers are capped at 10,000 Green Points per quarter. Booking via Marriott.com earns Bonvoy points but not Green Points; booking direct with ITC earns Green Points but not Bonvoy points. Most UK travellers will find Marriott Bonvoy the more valuable currency to prioritise.

Who Should Stay Here?

The ITC Maratha works best for three types of guest. First, business travellers with meetings in Andheri, BKC, or the convention district who want a hotel that combines proximity to the airport with a genuine luxury experience — including dining that goes well beyond standard hotel fare. Second, Marriott Bonvoy members looking to earn or redeem points in Mumbai, where Luxury Collection and higher-tier Marriott properties give this hotel a strong position in the loyalty ecosystem. Third, food-focused travellers who want to use a Mumbai airport stay as an opportunity to dine at Avartana, Peshawri, or Dumpukht — restaurants that would justify a trip in their own right.

It is a less natural choice for leisure travellers seeking easy access to central Mumbai. The distance to South Mumbai’s landmarks and the unpredictability of the city’s traffic means that basing yourself in Andheri East for sightseeing involves meaningful journey times. For those whose itinerary centres on the airport or the business districts of the north and west of the city, however, the location is ideal.