A Boutique Hotel In Kochi That Delivers A Cuddle-Worthy Experience

A lot of hotels are good at spoiling the customers, and we like that. But very few are capable of cuddling you, during your stay, and that is what we LOVE.

The difference between spoiling and cuddling is in the amount of personal thinking put in the details, and in the personal touch added to them. So, if any big five-star hotel can spoil its customers, only a more intimate, boutique accommodation can reach the level of exclusivity that cuddles require. And one of my favorite places to get cuddles from is Malabar House, in Fort Kochi, Kerala

With a history dating back to 1755, when Jan Herman Clausing, a Dutchman, purchased the property, Malabar House is an important part of Fort Kochi’s historical fabric and has been home to spice and tea traders before being acquired by current owners Joerg and his wife Txuku.

After purchasing Malabar House, the couple began a renovation process that transformed the large white Indo-European bungalow, then in decay, into the first boutique hotel of Fort Kochi. The renovation was conducted with the goal of conserving the best of the heritage, using only traditional expertise to maximise the sustainability of the construction.

The result of the work, which took about two years, is a perfect combination of traditional appearance and modern sustainable solutions. Each one of the 11 suites and deluxe rooms is unique, elegant and with a strong identity.

The hotel is also home to a fine Indian art collection, which ranges from antiques to contemporary art pieces.

Jeorg and Txuku love Malabar House because, as they say, that’s where the world comes to meet them, every day. This curiosity for the rest of the world—the same that brought the couple to Fort Kochi—makes them the best hosts you could possibly imagine. You can totally feel their personal touch all over the place. I found a delicious plate of fresh fruit waiting for me in my room, and an elegant soft cotton kimono for me to wear in the room, or while hanging out at the pool. Even the shampoo and the soaps are special: their fragrance has been accurately chosen, and when you come out of your shower you never end up smelling like hotel soap. They made sure that their beauty centre offered me the only authentic Kalari ayurvedic massage in Fort Kochi, performed by experts with a background in the ancient kalarippayattu martial art.

Sure, you get this kind of treatment in most of the luxury hotels. The difference at Malabar House is, though, that I had the distinct feeling that everything was thought and done especially for my own personal comfort.

And, even if you are not a guest of the hotel, you can still enjoy the atmosphere and the quality of Malabar House by dining at Malabar Junction, the hotel’s restaurant. The menu, personally curated by Txuku, combines local tastes from Kerala with Mediterranean cuisine. Pasta is hand-made, and the combination of flavors is to die for. The “Fisherman’s Dream”, marinated red snapper served with a delicious secret sauce, has quickly become my dream as well. One of the best I had in a while, actually.

The restaurant has an in-house baker who makes bread under the close surveillance of Jeorg, constantly making sure that the taste is perfect—not too sweet, not too salty. As a result, you don’t have to be nearly as shameless as I am to devour the whole bread basket before the food arrives.

This story by Annalisa Merelli was originally published on TheIndiaTube.com.

Malabar House

Location1/268 - 1/269 Parade Road
Fort Kochi
Kerala

Phone048 4221 6666

Websitewww.malabarhouse.com