Asia's first luxury hotel, The Lalit Great Eastern is a heritage landmark located in the main business and shopping district of Kolkata. Restored and renovated over a period of seven years, the hotel holds the distinction of being the longest continuously operating hotel for 165 years. Built in 1841 as Auckland Hotel, it has been referred to as the 'Jewel of the East' and the 'Best Hotel East of the Suez'. Over the years, the hotel has been the favourite haunt of royalty and celebrities from across the world. The Lalit Great Eastern, now restored to its original glory, is an amalgamation of the styles of 3 different eras of history - Victorian, Edwardian and Contemporary, reflected in Heritage Block 1, Heritage Block 2 and the New Block respectively. The original Heritage Block radiates the charm of the British Colonial Era, while the Modern Block incorporates a contemporary look and feel. These blocks have been seamlessly connected despite their distinct character and decor.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Art Deco Style
Languages Spoken
English, Hindi
Location
1 2 & 3 Old Court House Street, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700069 India
The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata
4,942 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Nestled in the heart of the city, The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata garners praise for its stellar location close to key attractions and shopping areas, and is steeped in historical significance. Guests have called out the attentive and courteous staff, despite occasional service hiccups. The spacious rooms are generally well-received, though opinions on sunlight exposure and room allocation vary.
While the hotel's cleanliness is a highlight for many, some have pointed out minor issues. The ambiance, enriched with live music and a blend of heritage and contemporary luxury, contributes to a unique experience, although reviews on value and amenity consistency show room for improvement.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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We reached the property at around 11pm-12 am. We had requested for twin bed and King Size bed adjoining rooms or opposite rooms which was obliged and were allotted in the renovated section of the hotel however the corner most rooms having twin beds is smaller than all the other rooms including the washrooms. Our stay was from 24th-27th March and thereafter we shifted to another hotel. The Cleanliness and Ambience of the hotel is good. They have a pub/club restaurant whose entrance is from the outside. The breakfast is a lavish display wherein I would like to mention Food Servers Sukanya and Ayush who were active and quite caring towards the guests. The restaurant is made with toughened fibrous glass hence a scenic view is visible during breakfast. The food prepared by Chef Soumadeep was remarkable. Thereafter we would leave for our tourist attractions. The taxis are allowed to enter the porch wherein the tall handsome darbans take care that the guests get into the right vehicle and it is safe for the guests. Hence for cleanliness I’ll rate it 4/5 and the food is 4/5 and the attentiveness of the restaurant staff is 4/5 however the front desk staff were bit tardy. Overall i’ll say it is 4/5 property.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:The food servers and Chef better wear proper hats.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kamal Raza, General Manager at The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata
Responded 24 Jun 2024
Dear Guest, Namaskar Thank you for choosing The LaLit Great Eastern Kolkata for your recent stay. We appreciate the time you've taken to share the highlights of your experience and the kind remarks about our team members Ms. Sukanya and Mr. Ayush. Your special mention about Chef Soumadeep's remarkable food preparation has been shared with him and the team, and they are absolutely delighted. It is, however, regrettable to hear of your dissatisfaction with the front desk, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. Rest assured, it is a matter of serious concern, and we have looked into the situation to prevent such issues from recurring in the future. We are thrilled to have left you with such a positive impression and we appreciate your ratings of cleanliness, food, and attentiveness of the staff. It's feedback like yours that motivates us to strive harder in providing quality service to our guests. Till we meet again for another superb stay at The LaLit Great Eastern Kolkata. Best Regards, Kamal Raza Resident Manager The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata kamal.raza@thelalit.com
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We had a very pleasant stay at the Lalit last week. It’s an old hotel and loved the historic ambience. Fortunately, it’s been modernized so you get the best of both worlds.
The Edwardian Suite room is big and well maintained. Housekeeping staff was super responsive and provided us everything we asked for - with a personal touch. Big thanks to Rabi who was in charge of our room. Breakfast was yummy, with many options and again the service was great - thanks to Anirban, Adrija and the lady chef at the egg station, they were very attentive.
The hotel is centrally located to walk to many historical sites and restaurants. And the metro is also walkable. Lots to see and do.
The only downside is that there is no view. Our room was on the second floor and we were really close to other buildings, couldn’t open the window shades. Otherwise totally recommend.
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kamal Raza, General Manager at The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Guest, Namaskar Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful feedback! We’re so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us, and it’s fantastic that the mix of historic charm and modern amenities resonated with you. We're proud to offer both comfort and a touch of the past. We’re also thrilled that you found the Edwardian Suite spacious and well-maintained, and that Rabi from housekeeping took such great care of you with his personal touch. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him! It’s wonderful to hear that you had an enjoyable breakfast experience as well, with Anirban, Adrija, and our chef at the egg station ensuring you had a delightful start to your day. Thank you for highlighting our convenient location too. We truly believe that being so close to historical sites, restaurants, and the metro adds great value to our guests' experiences. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the view from your room. We’re always striving to improve, and we’ll take note of your comment as we continue to make enhancements. Thank you again for recommending us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable stay Best Regards Kamal Raza General Manager The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata Kamal.raza@thelalit.com
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We chose the Lalit because most of the places in Kolkata that we liked were already booked out. As for the hotel itself - great charm in the old walls, large rooms, good service, nice outdoor pool. Some of the staff barely understand English, so we only found out on the day we left that there was a smoking area, even though we asked several times. We were also unlucky with our room at the beginning, as the view was of the inner courtyard and renovation work was being carried out in the morning, right next to our window, which woke us up straight away. After a lot of back and forth, we changed rooms and got one with a great view.
The staff were always very helpful, we would particularly like to highlight the breakfast and cleaning staff.
The breakfast selection was great and the location is also right in the middle, everything is easy to reach.
Overall, though, a bit overpriced.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Had booked a long stay (9 days) at Lalit Great Eastern kolkata for family with great expectations. However, the services offered by the hotel is pathetic as compared to any other five star hotels such a taj or leela, rather worse than a basic four or three star hotels. the housekeeping is poor and we need to constantly remind the staff for basic amenities in the room. Despite several requests, the issue of water clogging in the bathroom was nit resolved. For in room dining, the waiting time was a minimum of one hour plus for basic requests such as tea or warm milk (despite the exorbitant prices charged by the hotel for food). Despite repeated requests to the hotel staff, there was no improvement in the services offered by them. Except for the property that is the quality of rooms, nothing about the hotel is great. Overall a terrible stay!
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Poor services and uncourteous staff!!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kamal Raza, General Manager at The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata
Responded 6 Dec 2023
Dear Guest, Namaskar, We sincerely apologize for the inconveniences you experienced during your recent stay with us. Your comments about the housekeeping, and extended waiting times for in-room dining are deeply concerning. We understand the importance of prompt and efficient service, and we regret the inconvenience caused. Your insights are valuable to us, and we will take all necessary steps to address the issues you highlighted to ensure a better experience for our guests in the future. We hope to have the opportunity to regain your trust in the future. Best Regards, Kamal Raza Resident Manager-The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata kamal.raza@thelalit.com
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The property is a heritage one and so it retains old world elements.
Susprisingly, renovation work has been going on for many years and still in progress.
We opted to stay in Premier king room and the room matched with the advertised photos.
The room was too large in size and we felt that the space could have been utilized in a better manner.
The television was placed too far from the bed and small for the space.
The bathroom lacked basic amenities like a towel rack which is necessary to make things organized and presentable. The bath area was very small but it did have an anti skid matt.
The entrance lobby was huge and there was a piano which was gracefully played by a masterful artist in the evening.
Things that we liked - Couretous and smiling staff, huge entrance lobby, room size, location of the property. Prompt transfer service provided from the railway station to the hotel.
Things that need improvement - Lighting arrangement was poor as the vestibule lighting could not be controlled separately and all room lights were controlled by a single switch, very small bottles of water provided (Most good hotels have switched to in house water bottles to make them better sustainable), the catering staff at the restaurant lacked finesse and need better training (somehow we felt that they lacked grace which one would expect from a 5 star hotel).
Having stayed at numerous 5 star rated properties world over, this experience was satisfactory but there is still scope for improvement.
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kamal Raza, General Manager at The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata
Responded 11 Jun 2024
Dear Guest, Namaskar Thank you for taking the time to share your recent experience at our hotel. We value all feedback, as it is instrumental in helping us to continually improve and serve our guests. We are thrilled to hear that you were pleased with the aesthetics of our heritage property, your room, the courteousness of our staff and our location. We have also taken note of your comments about the ongoing renovations, and I assure you that we are doing our utmost to minimize the inconvenience to our guests. Regarding the room space utilization and the television, your feedback has been noted and will be reviewed by our respective teams. Further, we apologize for the inadequate amenities in the bathroom and the small water bottles provided, both issues we will look into forthwith. Your comments about the lighting control and the professionalism of our restautant staff have been well received. Our team will focus on remedying these aspects moving forward to ensure that guests receive an experience that is indeed in line with the standards of a 5 star hotel. Your feedback is critical and will help us in our quest to continually serve and delight our guests. We eagerly look forward to another opportunity to serve you better in the future. Best Regards, Kamal Raza Resident Manager The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata Kamal.raza@thelalit.com
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Rooms were well maintained neat & clean. Housekeeping is top notch & best part was a call from concierge every evening to take feedback 👍 Location is perfect for roaming around & most of the iconic monuments/sites of historical importance is close by. A word of appreciation for The staff at The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata (Rupkatha, Adrija, Lekhi, Tanmoy, Naim, Dipankar etc.) Thanx for taking good care of us🥂 Absolutely fantabulous Keep it up😊
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kamal Raza, General Manager at The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata
Responded 24 Dec 2024
Dear Guest, Namaskar Thank you for sharing such a delightful review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay at The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata and that the rooms, housekeeping, and the concierge's thoughtful evening calls exceeded your expectations. It’s wonderful to know that our location was perfect for exploring the city and its historical landmarks. Your kind words about our team, including Rupkatha, Adrija, Lekhi, Tanmoy, Naim, Dipankar, and others, are greatly appreciated. I will be sure to pass on your feedback to them—they will be so pleased to know their efforts were appreciated. We truly value your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back for another fantastic stay. Best Regards, Kamal Raza Resident Manager The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata kamal.raza@thelalit.com
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Worst experience I have had in 5 star hotels. I would rate this at the lowest of all the hotels I have been too. To make it worst, I just came from Taj Deccan Hyderabad and checked in to this hotel yesterday. First encounter with the staff was good but after that it’s been a nightmare. For everything you need on your room like additional towels or sheets etc, you need to call at least twice. And nothing gets to your room in less than 30 minutes. On top, they would come with the wrong item or the wrong quantity. For e.g. we ordered for four cups of tea and the staff came with just one cup. I won’t go on how the tea tasted but a five star hotel with such callous attitude, I can’t even imagine. I have just one question, with such a horrible customer experience, how are you even able to maintain your 5 star rating. Long story short, avoid this hotel at all costs.
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Avoid it at all costs.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kamal Raza, General Manager at The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata
Responded 9 Mar 2023
Dear Guests Namaskar! Thank you for sharing your constructive feedback with us. We have noted your review with great concern on the areas you have highlighted for improvement and deeply regret the inconvenience caused. Your issue has received my personal attention and has been shared with concerned departments. Necessary corrective measures initiated to ensure no repeat. We request you to kindly treat this experience in isolation. Your patronage is deeply valued and we look forward to welcoming you back. Warm Regards, Mr.Kamal Raza , Resident Manager
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Good housekeeping byBiky Baitha and Kishore Biswas. Rooms were neat and clean. Necessary cosummables are provided with good care keeping us relaxed while stay in room.Timely cleaning and bed arrangement are done in an attractive way. Usually they are smiling even if they are overworked
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Recommended
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kamal Raza, General Manager at The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata
Responded 3 Aug 2023
Dear Guest, Namaskar! We appreciate you taking the time to write a review. We are happy that we were able to go above and beyond your expectations and give you the greatest experience possible. We look forward to welcoming you back on your future visits. Warmest Regards, Kamal Raza Resident Manager- The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata
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We chose great place to celebrate our eighteenth anniversary. The food was excellent, a lot of options were in the menu. The smoothness of the pasta was top-notch, we also ordered mutton kosha, which was one the best preparations of mutton we ever tasted. Amazing hospitality and staff. Mr.Deepak assisted us throughout the lunch. Must try!
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kamal Raza, General Manager at The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Guest, Namaskar Thank you for choosing us to celebrate such a special occasion as your eighteenth anniversary! We are truly honored to have been a part of your celebration. We’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed the food, especially the pasta and mutton kosha. It’s fantastic to know that these dishes stood out as some of the best you’ve ever had! We also appreciate your kind words about our hospitality and the service provided by Mr. Deepak. He will be thrilled to hear that he made your lunch even more memorable. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for many more celebrations in the future! Best Regards Kamal Raza General Manager The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata Kamal.raza@thelalit.com
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Stayed on holiday from 26 September to 02 October 2024. The rooms were spacious well appointed and clean. An additional small table near to chair would be helpful in case of in room dining.
The staff is friendly, professional and helpful. The housekeeping staff are prompt and do their job very well.
The breakfast is well spread with a variety of dishes including local delicacies. the food is tasty. Thanks to the tasty dishes it was overeating time during holiday.
The singer at Alfresco during breakfast - Ms Briti - ensures a peaceful start to your day by her melodious rendering of Bengali folk songs. She also explains the meaning to those not understanding the language. She is very talented.
The in room dining service staff need a mention especially Shri Amjad who was prompt and courteous.
A very good hotel which gives value for money.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kamal Raza, General Manager at The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata
Responded 4 Oct 2024
Dear Guest, Namaskar Thank you for taking the time to share your experience during your recent stay with us from September 26 to October 2, 2024. We’re delighted to hear that you found our rooms spacious, clean, and well-appointed. Your suggestion for an additional small table for in-room dining is appreciated, and we will certainly consider it for future improvements. It’s wonderful to know that our team, especially the housekeeping team and Amjad from in-room dining, made a positive impression on you with their professionalism and prompt service. I will ensure that they are recognized for their efforts. We’re also thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our breakfast spread, particularly the local delicacies, and that Ms. Briti’s enchanting performances added to your dining experience. Her talent and ability to engage guests truly enhance our atmosphere. We look forward to welcoming you back for another enjoyable stay Best Regards, Kamal Raza Resident Manager The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata kamal.raza@thelalit.com
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