Taj Bengal

Vines drape the balconies in a way that softens what is otherwise a very large building doing its best to swallow the sky. This full-service luxury hotel sits in Alipore, the leafy, historically posh district that once housed the Viceroy and now holds the zoo, the racetrack, and the National Library. Inside, Bengali artwork lines the walls, eight restaurants cover most of the globe, and heads of state keep the staff practiced. Standard rooms lean traditional; suites go slightly more contemporary.