Brunton Boatyard

Stunningly re-imagined from the remains of Cochin’s nineteenth-century shipbuilding yards, Brunton Boatyard is an evocative tribute to the grand colonial Dutch and Portuguese buildings of old Cochin. It’s a place with polished service and a civilised hush, and its 22 air-conditioned rooms, each a haven of refined good taste, come with four-poster beds, antique teak furniture, spacious bathrooms and, best of all, a balcony overlooking the Arabian Sea where you can happily idle away an hour or two watching the trading ships pass by.

Brunton Boatyard’s public areas include a huge high-ceilinged lobby area, bar, billiards room and shady colonnades ideal for a restorative cup of tea or a long cocktail. Outside a waterfront swimming pool provides the perfect opportunity to snooze away the hot afternoons, while the small spa offers a range of expert Ayurvedic treatments. There are three restaurants at Brunton Boatyard, including its signature History Restaurant, which will take you on a fantastic culinary journey through the melting pot of Cochin’s history, fusing Indian, Jewish, Portuguese and Dutch techniques and ingredients, and if you are interested in learning more, daily cookery demonstrations are held on the hotel’s open-air roof terrace.

The position of Brunton Boatyard makes it ideal for discovering Cochin, and it’s easy to get around by foot, taxi, rickshaw or one of the bicycles that the hotel will lend you. Shop for antiques and spices in Jewtown, photograph the historic churches and synagogues, wander by the Chinese cantilever fishing nets, or take in a traditional kathakali dance and see the ancient Hindu deities vividly brought to life. After a day spent exploring, return to Brunton Boatyard and wander down to the private jetty to enjoy the golden hour spotting harbour dolphins aboard the hotel’s private launch.