Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Privacy Policy for details.
10 Luxury Heritage Hotels to Stay in Kochi, India
Kochi AKA Cochin, boasts a rich history and is home to several historic buildings.
From Jewish homes and Kochi Hindu Kings’ palaces to Dutch bungalows and British estates, many of these structures have been converted into art galleries or heritage stays in Kochi.
So, if you’re a luxury traveller looking to experience Kochi’s grandeur in historical style, you’ll be delighted with the options available here.
In this Kochi heritage hotels guide, we bring you the 10 best heritage and luxury places to stay in Kochi for you to stay as a traveller.
Staying in one of these heritage hotels is truly one of the coolest things to do in Kochi. Well, luxury comes at a cost.
You might wonder how budget flashpackers can recommend luxury resorts and heritage hotels in Fort Kochi while we stayed in budget homestay?
Well, I am an architect, and many of these heritage hotel restoration and conservation projects were significant in the architecture community when they were done.
And we went on a heritage walking tour where we learnt a lot on the ancient structures converted into heritage hotels in Fort Kochi.
1. The Postcard Mandalay Hall
Location : Jew Town, beside Paradesi Synagogue, Fort Kochi.
Price per night : 30000 Rs onwards /night/room
Fancy staying in a luxury hotel housed in one of the few remaining Jewish homes from the 1500s in Fort Kochi near the synagogue that calls its rooms galleries? Then stay at Postcard Mandalay Hall.
The original structure, with its mustard-toned rustic walls and tropical central courtyard, has been adaptively reused, making both the outside and inside very much mustard.
It’s hard to guess it’s one of the finest luxury places to stay in Kochi when you see its humble appearance from Synagogue Lane.
The ground floor has a boutique store and restaurant, and the first-floor luxury rooms, or ‘galleries,’ feature custom art installations from famous artists. There are only five rooms in The Postcard Mandalay Hall and each of them have a separate theme.
At the end of the hotel, it opens to a courtyard with a small pool, and upper-floor balconies overlook it. The walls have beautiful graffiti that reflects the heritage of Fort Kochi.
As usual, we couldn’t afford the rooms, but we did have evening snacks in their restaurant named Aah. Ela ada, pazhampori, and filter coffee were amazing. Plus, the ambiance was even more charming.
Book a room The Postcard Mandalay Hall at Fort Kochi now for a unique boutique heritage hotel experience in Kochi.
2. Old Harbour Hotel
Location : Tower Rd near Vasco Da Gama Square, Fort Kochi
Price per night : 24000 Rs onwards /night/room
Do you want to stay in the oldest hotel in Kochi? Then book your stay at Old Harbour Hotel, located on Tower Road, right next to the famous Princess Street.
Old Harbour was built in 1808 by a tea broker company. It later became the residence for tea broking firm officials until it was converted into a hotel. So Old Harbour hotel is one of most Historic accommodations Kochi.
When you walk the historical streets of Fort Kochi, Old Harbour with just ground plus one floor sits quietly without much ornamentation.
It’s hard to guess that this property is one of the finest Boutique heritage hotels in Kochi with a swimming pool inside.
The plain facade with windows and doors featuring segmental arches reflects Dutch style. The courtyard setup and other parts of the building exhibit Portuguese influence.
Staying at Old Harbour Hotel, a 300-year-old building, lets you experience both Dutch and Portuguese architectural styles. Don’t let the outside fool you.
There are only 13 rooms in Old Harbour Hotel. It’s super popular among foreign travellers for its cleanliness, comfort, and restaurant, so they get sold out super fast.
Another great thing about staying at Old Harbour Hotel is that if you don’t want to spend on their expensive food, you can simply walk 100 metres to Vasco da Gama Square at night for delicious street food.
Book a suite at Old Harbour hotel at Fort Kochi now for a “Dutch and Portuguese Mansion” experience
3. Brunton Boatyard – CGH Earth
Location : Fort Kochi.
Price per night : 25,000 Rs onwards /night/room for two
When you arrive from Ernakulam and take the Junkar ferry to Fort Kochi, you’ll see the beautiful white, three-storey heritage building of Brunton Boatyard proudly overlooking the bay at Fort Kochi Jetty.
Built in 1895 during British-era as a shipyard to build wooden boats, this historic plot that was home to a renowned boatyard is now a Kochi luxury heritage resort.
As an architect, I can bet it’s one of the most well-restored heritage buildings in places like Kochi and Ahmedabad.
The renowned Sthapathi architects renovated it, and this project was the talk of the architecture community for all the right reasons.
If only I had enough funds to sponsor ourselves, we would definitely have stayed at Brunton Boatyard to experience the old-world charm by the bay.
Guests love the hotel’s spa, restaurant overlooking the port, and cosy decor with wooden ceilings that reflect ancient times. Many guests talk about how friendly and helpful the staff are.
Book your stay at the luxury hotel Brunton Boatyard in Fort Kochi now for a heritage experience.
4. Taj Malabar Resort & Spa
Location : Willingdon Island, Cochin
Price per night : 15000 Rs onwards /night/room
Do you want to stay in a 5-star luxury resort in Kochi that used to be a hostel for passengers by the port authorities?
It’s hard to imagine how a 1935 hostel is now one of the most luxurious resorts in Fort Kochi, but the Taj Malabar Resort is proof.
Trust me, it is one of the most unique-looking resorts in Kochi.
The white tall tower with red-tiled roofing, and smaller cottages beside an infinity pool, dominate the silhouette of Willingdon Island.
Well, the Taj group of hotels is known for their excellent staff service, and most guests who stay at Taj Malabar Resort and Spa love the same thing here.
Guests also rave about the beautiful scenery from their rooms, thanks to the resort’s location at the edge of Willingdon Island, offering stunning backwater views.
However, I must say that I’m not a big fan of their food, based on my experiences at other Taj hotels across India. My friends who stayed at Taj Malabar in Cochin shared a similar opinion?the food is average, but the scenery is fantastic
Book a luxury room at Taj Malabar Resort and Spa for an endless view of Lake Vembanad from your balcony.
5. Ginger House Museum Hotel
Location : Mattancherry, Fort Kochi.
Price per night : 20000 Rs onwards /night/room
Do you want to stay in a place that feels like a museum and also offers a view of the bay? Then choose Ginger House Museum Hotel in Jew Town, Mattancherry – India’s first and probably only museum hotel.
Mattancherry is all about palaces and spices. The structure, built in the 1820s, used to be a warehouse to store ginger!
Now, Ginger House is an excellent luxury hotel in Fort Kochi with only 8 rooms and plenty of ancient Indian artefacts, including sculptures, paintings, and even a long traditional “Snake boat” of Kerala in one of the houses.
As usual, we couldn’t stay in one of the 8 rooms that reflect traditional Kerala decor in King style. But we did afford one dinner.
Along with the usual continental food catering to foreigners, they had local dishes like Puttu with Kadala which were super delicious! So, we could explore a bit of the museum part, and it was amazing.
Guests who stay here love Ginger House Museum Hotel for the ambiance, especially the suites with sea views.
Book a room at Ginger House Museum Hotel at Fort Kochi now for a “Staying inside a Museum” experience
6. Forte Kochi
Location : Princess Street, Fort Kochi.
Price per night: 20000 Rs onwards /night/room
If you want to stay in the heart of Fort Kochi and experience bygone era luxury, the beautiful Forte Kochi is the perfect choice.
The history of Forte Kochi is fascinating. Built by the Dutch in the 1860s, it was once a palatial home for one of the wealthiest Jews in the town.
Truly it is one of the best Colonial-era hotels of Kochi
The British later added their touches, resulting in a mix of traditional Kerala woodwork, Dutch-style balconies, and British courtyards and flooring.
The bright mustard yellow colour, Belgian tiles, wooden furniture, and antiques on the walls add to its charm. Forte Kochi have only 26 rooms, so book in advance!
Although I couldn’t afford a night’s stay, I did enjoy a wonderful dinner at the famous Jetty Restaurant. Their Kulukki Sherbat and Kerala-style Ambode were excellent.
On specific days, they serve Sadya meals on banana leaves, which I loved as a vegetarian. Plus, their buffet breakfast that includes traditional Kerala food like Appam and Stew is super popular among guests
Book a suite at Forte Kochi now to enjoy the palatial luxury with great food, and experience one of the finest traditional hotels Kochi has to offer.
7. Koder House
Location : Tower Rd near Vasco Da Gama Square, Fort Kochi
Price per night: 15000 Rs onwards /night/room
Fancy staying in a 200+ year-old Jewish house with views of Lake Vembanad and Chinese fishing nets in Fort Kochi? Then you must stay at Koder’s House.
Built in 1808, it used to be the residence of a wealthy Jew in Kochi. History states that Samuel Koder, a Jewish trader from Iraq, lived here until 1948.
He was a powerful and famous person, and many important Jewish figures, presidents, and prime ministers visited here. Even today, Malabar Jews gather here for their Hanukkah celebrations every year!
The six suites of this 4-star boutique hotel are a priority choice for travellers during Christmas and New Year. Guests love to stay at Koder’s House for its homely yet luxurious ambiance including a pool.
Book a suite at Koder House to soak in Jewish culture near Fort Kochi port for stunning landscape views of lakes and Chinese nets, as part of your Kochi cultural stays experience.
8. Maliekal Heritance Cherai Beach Cochin
Location : Cherial Beach, Vypin Island, Cochin.
Price per night: 15000 Rs onwards /night/room
Dream of luxury in front of Kochi’s famous Cherai Beach and also be closer to the backwaters? Maliekal Heritance Beach & Lake Resort should be your pick.
It’s one of the latest additions to Kochi luxury heritage resorts, having opened in 2023. I first heard about Maliekal Heritance Beach & Lake Resort when Gary Mehigan tasted their local food on his show “India’s Mega Festivals.”
Until 2023, Cherai Beach was primarily known for budget travellers and homestays.
However, now Cherai is home to one of the most luxurious five-star resorts in Kochi – Maliekal Heritance Cherai Beach and it is the only Beach view Luxury hotels in Fort Kochi I recommend.
I was super impressed with how this new 5-star resort in Kochi was built in such traditional, authentic Kerala-style architecture.
All the cottages are made of wood and face the beach. Their restaurant, “Waves,” which serves both continental and local Kerala food, is becoming more popular every day.
Book a cottage with open deck balcony at Maliekal Heritance Cherai Beach Cochin for a luxury stay by the beach and backwaters.
9. Dutch Bungalow
Location : Napier Street, Fort Kochi
Price per night: 7500 Rs onwards /night/room
Looking for a charming Dutch place to stay in Fort Kochi? Check out Abad Dutch Bungalow, a 375-year-old heritage hotel built in 1668 by the Dutch East India Company.
The interior style of Abad Dutch Bungalow blends rustic charm and elegance. The rooms feature traditional wooden furniture with intricate designs, complementing the classic Dutch architecture.
Use of warm, earthy tones and wooden beams adds to the cosy feel?no wonder guests say that Dutch Bungalow is the cosiest of all Fort Kochi historic hotels.
As usual, we tasted a meal at the Dutch Bungalow’s poolside restaurant, Food Mill. My spouse Ashrith, who loves chicken, swears that Food Mill makes the best Kairali Chicken.
Book a room at Dutch Bungalow for quintessential Dutch living experience in the heart of KOchi without breaking a lot on your bank balance.
10. Bolgatty Palace and Island Resort
Location : Willingdon Island
Price per night: 5000 Rs onwards /night/room
Want to stay in the largest palace built by the Dutch outside the Netherlands? Choose Bolgatty Palace.
Built in 1744 by a Dutch merchant, Bolgatty Palace was leased to the British in 1909 by the King of Kochi. After India’s independence, Kerala Tourism transformed it into a luxury 5-star resort in 1976.
The restoration is well done?you’re literally staying on water. The surrounding golf course and greenery offer fantastic sunsets and fewer tourists, which guests love.
The only drawback is its distance from other attractions, and some guests feel it needs better maintenance.
Book a room at Bolgatty Palace and Island Resort for a Dutch Palace experience on a budget.
Did we help you find a beautiful heritage hotel in Kochi India that suits your taste and budget? Let us know in the comment section below.
