The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla

Excellent property and had a very comfortable stay..
The hotel staff are very friendly and took good care of us...
Chef Raj kumar Bhatia was available at all times and took good care...

Staying in Shimla? Only one place to stay. The Cecil is a class act. Difficult to explain, you just need to experience the service, the ambience and the history.
Couldn’t fault it.

We visited with a tour party and stayed for two nights. This is a beautiful hotel in a really central location (about 10 minutes walk to train station and 25 to Mall) our room was stunning, very comfortable with all amenities required (safe, iron hair dryer, toiletries etc) The buildings decor was beautiful, staff very polite and helpful and buffet food plentiful. Friends who used the spa facilities were very complimentary about it.
Apparently not all rooms are the same with some fellow travellers mentioning that theirs was much smaller than our corner room. Ask for a corner room if you have the option!

A short but highly memorable experience. Overall stay and dining experience was fabulous. Chef Raj Kumar was great as always ensuring personalised attention and delighting us with gastronomic delights. Mr. Mukesh, the F&B Manager also looked after us very well. Suraj at the restaurant created timeless memories by clicking highly professional photos and compiling a beautifully edited video. Tanushri and Adhranil at the restaurant served us enthusiastically always with a smile.

Hotel staff are friendly, polite and cooperative. Exceptional good service specially Suraj, Mukesh, Sahil, Rintu, Raj Kumar Bhatia, Gaurav Pal......

Our recent stay at The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla was truly unforgettable. It also coincided with our daughter’s 2nd birthday — which made it even more special for us as a family.

From the moment we arrived, the warmth and professionalism of the staff stood out. Every single team member greeted us with genuine smiles, and what touched us most was that they remembered the reason for our visit and even our daughter’s name. That personal touch made us feel valued.

The birthday arrangements were thoughtful and heartwarming — the cake, the room decoration, the daily fruit amenities, and especially the cartoon-faced pancake with our daughter’s name written on it at breakfast. These small yet meaningful gestures reflected true hospitality and care.

A special mention to Tanushree at the restaurant, who consistently took wonderful care of us and made lovely conversations that made every meal enjoyable. The gentleman at the bar was equally kind and welcoming. Even the farewell was memorable — the front desk team and the guard at the gate waving until our car left, left a lasting impression.

Everything well managed from check in to check out along with food, in-room dining, housekeeping.
Great hospitality by Chef Raj Kumar presenting special ice cream n poori bhaji made within minutes.

Loved our stay here. The staff was extremely helpful in helping me with a smooth check in for all my colleagues. Food was top. I’m definitely only choosing Cecil over all other hotels in Shimla.

Excellent hospitality..Will not find better anywhere else. Kudos to the Oberoi group.
Location very good for access to the Mall.
Easy access by road which is rare for Shimla
Beautiful heritage property
Great place to stay.

We had an amazing time at The Oberoi Cecil. The location is ideal, bang in the middle of the city, which makes it a good base to explore Shimla. They have ample, secured parking opposite the main entrance, which makes it ideal for people who are driving to Shimla. The rooms and the hotel infrastructure were great too, especially for enthusiasts of colonial era architecture.
What really made the experience special for us was the staff and the hospitality shown by them. They were extremely polite, helpful and professional in their conduct. Every single member of the Oberoi Cecil Staff was incredibly well trained and made a very good experience a truly memorable one.

An amazing hotel. Staff are so friendly, can’t do enough for you. The place is beautifully presented and the rooms are a delight. Very spacious and equipped with all you could possibly need.

Relaxing weekend getaway. Was maybe my 7th 8th stay there. But experience was just the same. Everything was very well taken care of by the hardworking team.
Housekeeping was on point, made our stay very comfortable . Culinary team spoiled us with amazing food.
Can’t wait to get back .

Huge thanks to Shareya -I left a Kindle in my bedroom and she arranged brilliantly for it be couriered to Delhi airport hotel so i got it back before leaving Egypt. All achieved in 48 hours. Not only that it was the most beautiful piece of packing i have seen. The hotel is luxurious with a lovely lounge/atrium, very attentive service and a delightful sense of time past but with high modern standards

As a loyal guest of the Oberoi Group and an Oberoi One member (with stays at properties such as The Oberoi Rajvilas, The Oberoi Udaivilas, The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort, The Oberoi Vanyavilas Wildlife Resort, The Oberoi Gurgaon, The Oberoi New Delhi, The Oberoi Dubai and Wildflower Hall, An Oberoi Resort), I came with high expectations. There were some genuinely positive aspects, but overall the experience did not feel consistent with the standard I usually associate with Oberoi.

What I appreciated

Warm, efficient check-in and a very helpful front desk / concierge / reception team

Thoughtful welcome and good overall hospitality on arrival

Comfortable room layout and good housekeeping

Support from Mr. Raghav Khullar during booking and at check-in

What could be improved

Property upkeep: Some areas (especially the activity centre) felt visibly worn. Furniture/equipment appeared dated and maintenance could be tightened to match premium expectations.

Food quality: Breakfast and à la carte meals were below what I’ve experienced at other Oberoi hotels—taste and consistency did not meet expectations.

F&B service: The biggest gap was attentiveness at the bar/restaurant. We repeatedly had to request assistance multiple times to get basic attention, which takes away from the experience.

A serious concern: apparent racial discrimination
This was the most disappointing part. During service, the staff appeared significantly more attentive and welcoming to white guests while we struggled to get basic service, even after repeated attempts. I cannot comment on intent, but the pattern was visible and felt discriminatory and humiliating in the moment. I strongly urge the management to investigate this and ensure every guest is treated with equal warmth, respect, and responsiveness.

Overall, the front office team did a wonderful job, but meaningful improvements in F&B service, food quality, upkeep, and—most importantly—fair and equal guest treatment are needed to bring the experience back in line with what guests expect from the Oberoi brand.

Excellent Place to stay in Shimla. From food to service, would give 10/10. Staff very helpful. Would recommend everyone to try this property.

Cecil hotel is located centrally and all the places to visit was at walking distance for all those who love to explore on foot

Excellent Property and kudos to their hospitality. Location is a near far to the Mall but it really is not a deterrent. Food also is very nice

Wonderful hotel. Amazing staff throughout. We had a valley view room and it’s worth it.
Breakfast is fabulous and so is the restaurant. We ate here the 3 days we stayed.

Awesome place for a perfect holiday....warm inside with the chill outside.
Staff is extremely courteous...makes you feel comfortable
Would highly recommend it to friends and family.
Good food and great service.
Special mention to the chef Bhatia for arranging a dinner to celebrate our special occasion

Head Chef Mr. Bhatia was amazing. The food served was extremely tasty and fresh. We will definitely be coming back to Cecil again.