The Den Bengaluru. Discover A Stylish Break In India's Silicon City

Bindu Gopal Rao discovers The Den Bengaluru, LXR Hotels & Resorts as a property that makes the case for business and leisure travel seamlessly.

Located in Whitefield, which was originally meant to be a pensioner’s paradise and is now the thriving IT hub of the city, The Den Bengaluru, LXR Hotels & Resorts, has just joined Hilton’s luxury portfolio as its first LXR property in India and Southeast Asia. In fact, this is only the 19th LXR in this region, which is a testament to how it views luxury through a distinctly contemporary, local lens.

The Setting

With The Den joining LXR Hotels & Resorts’ handpicked collection of independent properties around the world, the focus is on bringing personal discovery, restorative experiences and locally rooted hospitality to Whitefield. And this is what you see across several touch points in the property. While keeping its contemporary chic vibe in place, I notice wooden elephant heads, horse figurines, and a wall of colourful murals inspired by temple architecture near the lift lobby.

And through the property this interplay between local and contemporary adds a nice characteristic to the property. The neighbourhood’s layered character comes to the forefront through thoughtfully designed spaces, curated local experiences, and a spirit of discovery that extends beyond the hotel. And tying all of this is ‘The Pause in the Pulse’, an idea that brings together the pace of Bengaluru with more considered moments of pause, discovery and connection that you can explore thoughtfully here.

The Rooms

The 226-room includes guest rooms, studios and suites. I stayed in the King Corner Room on the executive floor (above the 16th level) that has an area of 34 sq. m. with a mini bar, espresso machine, smart TV, writing desk, lounge chair, and more. What I loved is that the corner view is pretty, and I could spot the metro trains from the room. In-room toiletries are from Pure Earth and are completely organic and safe to use.

During my stay I had fresh fruits replenished every day and a selection of Indian and international desserts in my room. The highlight is the intuitive technology with soothing interiors and even a sleep well kit and pillow menu that ensures a good night’s sleep.

The Dining

The property has four dining venues, including Layla, a rooftop restaurant with Indian and Mediterranean influences. The Creek is the all-day dining multi-cuisine destination that also has a buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Deli has speciality coffee and artisanal pastries, and The Cold Press is a dedicated wellness-focused counter that has cold-pressed juices, smoothies and healthy bites.

But what is really interesting is that the property has launched a couple of interesting experiences. When I was here, I was lucky to be part of the inaugural edition of The Atelier Series. This was an evening of Karnataka wines, curated pairings and dinner at Layla. What made the event interesting is that the sommeliers who curated it made it interesting because the wine tasting was paired with music. With headphones on and listening to different genres of music – a set of three wines were tasted and notes made. The post-tasting conversation revealed some interesting insights and a twist that is best experienced firsthand.

Another interesting concept is called Table of Stories, which is all about food and storytelling. When I was here, I experienced a 13-course meal that had dishes for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. I experienced a specially curated plated reinterpretation of Karnataka’s beloved Beegara Oota (a meal that is typically associated with weddings when the groom’s family lays out a feast for the bride’s side). Reimagined and presented as an intimate sit-down dinner, each course brought to life a story from the region’s rich culinary heritage, celebrating its traditions, flavours and food culture.

Do More

At the heart of the hotel’s wellness offering is The Sanctuary, a spa that offers a selection of treatments, including contemporary wellness practices and traditional healing Ayurvedic philosophies. Health watchers can workout at The Studio, the fitness centre or unwind by The Poolside that has an outdoor pool.

Recreational spaces include The Playhouse, which features digital tabletop games and a pool table, and The Cave, an immersive screening experience designed to encourage informal socialising. For meetings, weddings, and celebrations, the hotel offers more than 21,000 square feet of flexible event space across seven venues, ranging from a ballroom and auditorium to meeting rooms and an open-air amphitheatre.

What I loved was Whitefield Unscripted, an interesting insight into discovering the local character of the neighbourhood. We explored a local bakery and an old church, as well as a local farm that grows organic vegetables, on our tour here. “We believe there is an interesting story here around the changing language of luxury travel, how today’s luxury experience is moving beyond traditional markers of opulence towards a stronger sense of place, discovery, design and connection with the city,” says Vinesh Gupta, general manager, The Den Bengaluru, LXR Hotels & Resorts.

And as I enjoyed my lunch that day savouring the dishes made using the produce from the same farm, it made me realise that this is a property that has its heart in the right place. Experience it for yourself and bookmark this one for your next visit to Bengaluru.