An 18th century English villa in the middle of the city center, sumptuously furnished with heavy, flowered sofas, mighty chandeliers and bright lampshades. Old marble floors in the foyer, white-painted wooden ceilings with a whole army of heavy fans hanging from them. But of course there are also signs of age: crumbling plaster, interesting cracks on the brownish discolored walls, which have only been patched here and there. The most beautiful decay, which contrasts with the elegant sight of the staff dressed in black or white when the coffee or beer is served with the utmost discretion. On the walls are numerous photos of prominent hotel guests and famous places in Calcutta from times gone by, newspaper cuttings and letters from guests. Breakfast and dinner are good, but it is also not far from this hotel to the well-known traditional restaurants on Park Street (Mocambo, Peter Cat, Trincas, Kwality etc.). For reasons of comfort, I recommend booking one of the deluxe double rooms, even if you are traveling alone.

There was nothing that I had not been prepared for on the basis of previous reviews.

Quirky old building. Big difference between the upstairs bedrooms and those on the ground floor. Fun location and food, pretty good. Drinks on the terrace fun. The location is very central for lots of things.

There was a significant electrical problem that electrified the taps and showers in the three rooms we were occupying. This was very alarming and dangerous. There was good comedic value in this. Over breakfast we got chatting to other guests who had experienced also electric electrified bathroom taps! We were staying in three rooms and room 12 is not recommended as it has no windows and a very small basic bathroom. It is also located off the main dining room and so was very noisy.

I liked the openness of the lounge because it was always cool and cosy after the hustle and bustle of the day. It was absolutely lovely to be able to step into this gorgeous house with its historical architecture and cosy setting, sit down and sip a cold delicious sweet lassi or have a nice masala chai with Elgin’s delicious homemade biscuits. What made the stay truly pleasant was also the fantastic service of the staff. They were incredible, very polite and attentive to our requests. Five star staff! We had our Bengali family over and had reserved an evening dinner. The service was perfect with the food served on time and at the same time. The menu is quite impressive and the quality of the food is top notch! Every dish we ordered irrespective of the menu type was beautifully plated and delicious! The breakfast was average. I was satisfied with the options but having been to many hotels of this standing, I guess I was expecting some more fruit or a change in the Indian options.

The only thing I was not too keen about was the bathroom which was a wet room. It’s very common in India to have wet bathrooms but my parents and children had the shower separated from the toilet area which was more comfortable compared to our bathroom which was completely wet after a shower. I didn’t want to change rooms because of that because everything else was perfect and it was a small inconvenience but if this could be fixed for future guests it would really improve the experience in room number 12.

We loved the old world charm of this beautiful hotel. You feel like you are stepping back into time. We know they will be doing some renovations and hope they keep the true feeling of the Fairlawn and that is what brings guests back. We loved the room size and hope to book again for February 2026. Location is great and convenient. Lots of activity around the hotel, but the hotel, for the most part, is set back from the road, and some rooms have double pane windows, which gives it a quiet feeling and stay. The restaurant staff was very pleasant. We loved Dev, one of the receptionists. He was outstanding and helped us a lot. Its common rooms are well set up and decorated in that lovely old manner. We love the terrace. My wife stayed there in 1992, and for her, walking through the gates was like coming home. This is one hotel that you just have to experience for yourself.

The only thing we can fault is that the restaurant's wait staff needs to be more fully trained to be more efficient and timely when serving the tables. The breakfast buffet needs to be watched more thoroughly and should always be stocked. If you come into the later part of the breakfast service, you should not have fewer choices available. At times we felt like we had to ask for basic table things like utensils, water glasses, napkins, salt and pepper, etc. This training can be achieved relatively easily and would enhance the guests' stay.

It’s a beautiful heritage hotel, loads of character, shabby chic, in the process of improvement since being taken over by the Elgin group. I stayed there in 1965 and it’s pretty much as it was then - Colonial splendour! The front desk staff were very cheerful, friendly and helpful, as were most of the other staff. The location is also good. I highly recommend this hotel, it’s a very special place.

We had a bit of a misunderstanding with one of the restaurant staff, his English wasn’t so good and when we pointed out that we didn’t get what we’d ordered, he argued the point! And even told us that the menu was incorrectly printed!!

Excellent food at a reasonable price meant we dined in the hotel most evenings. The terrace is particularly relaxing and pretty with lots of fairy lights and plants. The staff are fantastic and it's truly an oasis of calm in a loud and bustling area.

Clearly this is a heritage property with an ongoing renovation project so it’s not completely spick and span - for example, our shower was at times challenging in terms of water pressure and temperature. However, for us such minor issues are worth accepting for the fun of staying in this unusual and special hotel.

I literally like absolutely everything... This place is so special that you can hardly compare it with any other place in Kolkata. It has a "true soul" but, more than that, its "own soul" which is at some stage nearly impossible to explain... You need to go and breathe there ! Nevertheless, I will try: in addition of 2 centuries of History that are leaking out of each wall and each single step of the old stairs, the location is premium (like for the Oberoi Grand, you are in an oasis of peace in the middle of where everything is happening (New Market area). Also and that makes a huge difference, the staff is remarkable in kindness and caring, and the owner is such a remarkable and fantastic Lady.... Lastly, as a French frog ;-), I would not be complete if I was selfish and hiding the fact that the food is a delight night and day, and that they serve alcohol which is pretty cool also ! Lastly, one piece of advice to my peerd, being an international traveller myself, if you are addicted to 5* where everything is perfect, industrialized, streamlined and immediate, do not go there (until you are curious !), this is not what you will find at Elgin Fairlawn. The service and the "lacing" are somewhere else... Unique !

Quick reco ! Have iron and ironing board in self-service for travellers in distress or very crumpled :-)

This relic from a colonial past is an absolute jewel to behold! Expecting Kipling and some gin soaked adventurers to emerge from the drawing room at any moment. The rooms are a great size and very comfortable. The staff were fantastic. There's a small bar out the back of the dining room and you can have your g&t on the verandah. It's an oasis in a fantastic location, close to indian museum, New Market and walking distance to Victoria Memorial. It's a bit faded in parts which adds to the atmosphere.

Downstairs room had some rising damp but moved upstairs and room was fantastic.

Heritage as they claim so lot of history behind the property nicely projected. Location of the property is equally good if someone likes shopping from local markets and not like mall. Food is absolutely top notch, chicken biryani is something to die for. Staffs are friendly and always available to help to the extent they can

Only that rooms views (depending which room u get) has local market view from where you might get some market noises but you can put your headphone or put some music and you will not be bothered

Staying in this beautifully preserved historical building was like stepping back in time, surrounded by elegance and charm. The spacious rooms, tastefully furnished, offered comfort and tranquility. The location is excellent, with delightful restaurants within walking distance. The breakfast was a pleasure to savor each morning. My gratitude extends especially to Debasish, whose politeness and thoughtfulness reflect the highest standards of hospitality. A truly refined experience.