It’s been open three years and already Abode Bombay has rocketed to the top of the listings on TripAdvisor. With just 20 rooms, the attention to detail is impeccable. Vintage furnishings, kitschy artwork, and thoughtful touches like free biscuits and USB sticks packed with movies make Abode’s unique brand of hospitality stand out from the pack. Breakfast is complimentary and varied, offering French press coffee, chai, cold cereal, fruit and yogurt, eggs to order, and a rotating mix of sweet and savory Indian dishes. WiFi is refreshingly fast for India, though slower in the upstairs quarters. The shower has good pressure and stays hot—another India rarity for the price range.Mattresses and bedding are ridiculously comfy; the turndown service includes fresh flowers and rose jelly sweets. Staffers are friendly, helpful, and full of good local recommendations.

The location in Colaba—just around the corner from the storied Taj Mahal Palace Hotel—deserves a special shout-out, too. It is walkable to some of Mumbai’s best restaurants (The Table, Bademiya), bars (Woodside Inn), shops (Bombay Electric), and galleries, not to mention the historic Gateway to India and picturesque harborfront.

Basic rooms with en-suite showers and sinks but shared toilets start around INR 4,000 ($60 USD). Taller travelers should avoid these rooms, as they have low-hanging beams and ceilings. At the other end of the spectrum, Superior Luxury rooms start at INR 10,500 ($156 USD) and boast double-height windows with terrific city views, handmade Art Deco tile flooring, cotton robes and handmade slippers, walk-in rain showers, and stylish free-standing bath tubs.

Lansdowne House, First Fl., M.B. Marg, Apollo Bunder, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharastra, India; +91-808-023-4066.