We spent four pleasant days at The Kumaon in the middle of June 2022.

The property is beautifully located on a ridge with panoramic views of the hills and the Himalayas in the distance (visible on clear days). The view is framed by pine forests and a deep valley. We spent several peaceful hours enjoying the view from the communal terrace as well as the balcony space of our room.

The rooms are spare and functional with white concrete brick and pinewood floors - they direct attention to the vistas The doors to the balcony are framed by glass windows so the views can be enjoyed in bed as well. The balcony is spacious and we spotted many birds in the forest outside. Some outdoor furniture more comfortable than the metal chairs and tables provided would have been a nice touch.

The bathroom in our room showed some signs of wear on the sink and the counters. It is also not well ventilated – an unpleasant and foul odour lingered throughout our stay. The black tiles everywhere do not help and the overall effect is dark and dingy. An update to the bathrooms is essential whenever this property is renovated. Toiletries are excellent (a custom fragrance from Ayca) but were replenished irregularly.

The communal areas are compact but delightful. The library is stocked with an eclectic selection of books and invites relaxation and reflection. The lounge and terrace overlook the mountains and are perfect for leisurely cups of tea.

Where The Kumaon needs a complete rethink, in our opinion, is in the F&B department. Meals are repetitive and the execution of non-Indian dishes is decidedly amateurish. The kitchen will make some small changes to dishes on request and is happy to prepare plates of pasta for kids, but in general, food choices are limited. The set menu (Kumaoni thali) for dinner gets repetitive after a couple of days, and the breakfasts were a letdown as well. We did not buy the excuses offered for limited availability of ingredients, as Almora is not too far away, and we saw well-stocked markets on our drive through there. A bar cart is set up in the lounge in the evenings, which is a nice touch, but inexplicably, we were unable to get a beer throughout our stay.

We would like to acknowledge Mr. Anand at the restaurant who was a warm host for all our meals. Duty Manager Ms. Meenakshi helped us out with medication when one of us had a small injury and her attention to our comfort was much appreciated. We also enjoyed the unmissable rum chais offered by GM Sid who is a pleasant and gregarious host.

Bottom line: this is a beautiful property in a great location. A little more attention to the private spaces and a complete and focused revamp of F&B would elevate it from good to great.