Gateway Coonoor

We stayed in Room 108 in June 2026, and our experience was nothing short of exceptional. This is one of those rare properties where almost everything feels thoughtfully planned and flawlessly executed. In my opinion, it fully deserves a five-star rating.

What impressed us most was the professionalism of the staff. Whether at the reception, restaurant, or housekeeping, every interaction reflected efficiency, competence, and genuine hospitality. The entire property operates like a perfectly synchronized machine—smooth, organized, and proactive. In fact, the team often seemed to identify and resolve potential issues before guests even became aware of them.

A perfect example of this was our room allocation. The staff noticed that our initially assigned room was undergoing maintenance and did not yet have curtains installed, which would have allowed outside light to enter the room at night. Without us having to raise the issue, they immediately offered us a complimentary upgrade. Such attention to detail and guest comfort speaks volumes about the hotel's standards.

Despite being housed in a heritage building that is over a century old, the property never feels dated. Thoughtful upgrades have been incorporated throughout to ensure modern comfort. The room featured numerous electrical outlets, including both Type-A and Type-C charging ports, which was a pleasant surprise. There were plenty of hangers, wardrobes, drawers, and storage spaces, making it easy to settle in comfortably.

The room itself was enormous. Upon entering, there was a spacious foyer area with a large work table and chair, in addition to another seating arrangement inside the room. The attached bathroom was equally generous in size and featured both a bathtub and a separate shower area. The bathroom was particularly well-designed, with numerous hooks for hanging clothes and towels. Lighting throughout the room was excellent, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Complimentary drinking water, a kettle, and all essential toiletries were thoughtfully provided.

The hotel does not have air conditioning, but during our stay, we never felt the need for it. We simply kept the windows open while leaving the mesh door closed, and the room maintained a perfectly comfortable temperature. We requested an additional blanket, which was promptly delivered. There was also a provision to light the in-room fireplace should guests require it during colder weather.

Cleanliness throughout the property was outstanding. The room, common areas, gardens, and pathways were all impeccably maintained. Three sizes of towels—face, hand, and bath towels—were provided. While the towels and blankets were perfectly usable, they could perhaps benefit from a little extra laundering and refreshing.

There was a minor issue with the Tata Play television channels in our room, but the matter was resolved promptly once we reported it.

The grounds of the property are beautifully landscaped and deserve special mention. The stunning purple bougainvillea near the reception is undoubtedly one of the visual highlights of the hotel and creates a wonderful first impression. The gardens are immaculately maintained, with numerous pleasant spaces to relax and unwind.

One of our favourite daily rituals was watching the hotel's resident ducks. Around 9:00 AM, five ducks would emerge and wander around the grounds, delighting guests with their adorable antics. We found ourselves looking forward to seeing them every morning after breakfast.

The property also offers several recreational spaces. While there is no swimming pool, the activity room is well-equipped. A common bonfire is lit every evening at around 7:30 PM in a circular seating area, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Families with children will appreciate the swings and slides located in the lower garden area near the Peony Restaurant. Beyond this section are the Presidential Villas, which feature their own private swings and bonfire areas.

The reception building itself is beautifully designed. Several tastefully decorated waiting rooms are available for guests, and the collection of artefacts and decorative pieces throughout these spaces adds to the property's heritage charm.

Guests interested in local attractions should note that the CSI All Saints Church is located right next door. Although there is no direct access from within the hotel grounds, it can easily be reached by walking out to the main road. The church building is generally open only on Sundays, but visitors can still explore the peaceful campus and its historic cemetery on other days.

Our arrival experience was equally pleasant. We were welcomed with a traditional tika ceremony and a refreshing welcome drink. Check-in and check-out were both quick and efficient. Theresa, who assisted us upon arrival, was exceptionally professional and ensured everything was handled seamlessly.

One point that may be useful for travellers arriving with chauffeurs or drivers: according to our driver, the hotel does not provide accommodation or meals for guests' drivers, so alternative arrangements may need to be made separately.

Overall, this is a wonderfully maintained heritage property that successfully combines old-world charm with modern comforts. Between the exceptional service, beautiful grounds, spacious rooms, and meticulous attention to detail, it offers an experience that is difficult to fault and one that we would happily return to.

I have posted a separate review for their in-house restaurant, Peony Restaurant - Gateway Coonoor.

Peony Restaurant - Gateway Coonoor
Breakfast was included as part of our stay, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the experience. The spread was extensive, offering a wide variety of options to suit different tastes. What impressed us most was that the menu changed regularly, ensuring there was always something new to try. Every dish we sampled was well-prepared, flavourful, and enjoyable, making breakfast something we genuinely looked forward to each morning.

We also had dinner at the restaurant on one evening during our stay. Unlike breakfast, dinner is served exclusively à la carte, as there is no buffet option available. A nice touch was the complimentary salad and papad served along with the meal.

For our main course, we ordered the Nizami Handi (₹750) along with rotis (₹350 each). There is no denying that the pricing is on the expensive side, but the quality of the food more than justified it. The Nizami Handi was exceptionally rich, flavourful, and expertly prepared, while the rotis were fresh and perfectly cooked. Together, they made for a truly memorable meal. In fact, it was one of those dishes that stays in your memory long after the trip is over. If you are staying at the hotel, do remember to ask about the house guest discount, as resident guests are entitled to a 20% reduction on the restaurant bill.

Overall, while dining here may not be inexpensive, the quality, taste, and consistency of the food make it well worth the indulgence.

We stayed at Gateway Coonoor for 3 nights and unfortunately the experience was far below what we expect from a Taj property.

We had booked a Superior Double Room with breakfast and dinner included, but on the first day the staff kept denying that dinner was part of our package because it wasn’t reflecting in their system. After multiple calls with our travel agent, they finally allowed us to dine, but what was disappointing was the attitude — we were told they were “allowing” us to have dinner despite not finding the booking, as if they were doing us a favour. That is not the hospitality Taj is known for.

We had also informed the property about our Jain food preferences 2 days before check-in, yet every meal felt like a struggle. Requests for simple Jain preparations were repeatedly called “short notice,” and there was clear miscommunication between the reception and kitchen staff.

The rooms and overall property were also very average and nowhere close to the luxury standards or pricing associated with Taj.

People choose Taj because of the trust and hospitality associated with the brand, especially at premium prices. Sadly, this experience did not justify the cost at all. If you are planning to spend a good amount of money expecting a luxury stay, I would strongly recommend looking at other options in the area.

Lovely property

Good

Beautiful property and very helpful staff. Location is close to attractions.

Beautiful property

We had a wonderful stay in lovely Coonoor at the historic Gateway hotel. The rooms were so comfortable, the staff were excellent, the restaurant very good and there was even a small gym. The bonfires in the evening were lovely, as was just being in the beautiful garden an looking out at the views of the Nilgiris.

First, the very helpful and caring staff at every point of contact.
The rooms are spacious and well appointed. One of the few hotel rooms where 2 bags can be opened and stored.
The gardens are beautiful and so well maintained. What lovely bougainvillea and jacaranda.
The location is great.

We stayed here to celebrate our anniversary on 21st April and chose this property as Taj loyalists of over 12 years. Unfortunately, this turned out to be one of our most disappointing stays.

Despite informing the hotel multiple times—during booking, prior communication, and again at check-in—our anniversary was completely overlooked. There was no acknowledgement at all, not even a simple wish, which was extremely disappointing for a special occasion.

While the property itself is beautiful, with well-maintained gardens and a wide variety of flowers, the service fell far short. The staff was courteous but clearly inexperienced and overstretched—it was evident the hotel is understaffed, with the same team managing operations across meals.

Food was average, and no effort was made to understand or accommodate preferences. In-room dining got our order wrong on multiple occasions. Overall, the experience lacked the warmth, personalization, and attention to detail that Taj is known for.

We had originally planned to stay until 22nd April but chose to check out a day early on the 21st. Even during checkout, there was no attempt from the front office to understand why or address our concerns.

The airport transfer arranged by the hotel was also concerning, with the driver driving rashly, making for an uncomfortable journey.

The only bright spot was Surya from the restaurant team, who made a genuine effort to improve our experience by addressing feedback thoughtfully.

Overall, while the property is visually appealing, the service and experience did not reflect Taj standards in any way. This was a special occasion for us, and it was disappointing to see it handled so poorly.

Gorgeous and close to centre of town

Good Property

Beautiful lush green, quite n peaceful place, colonial architecture. Good ambience. Restaurant n lounge are welcoming, the staff is warm and friendly. Especially Jhilik would greet us every morning during breakfast and dinner with a warm smile and her service was impeccable, she took our special requests as well.

We stayed for two days the rooms are clean well equipped.

The recreational amenities for adults were not there they can have some activities n local crafts sessions.

This is the place to come if you want a relaxing break .
Very unique property with unique rooms. Food is also good
The team members are absolutely amazing
Jhilik from the dining room was so wonderful and caring .She made us feel so welcome and comfortable during meal times . Britto along with the servers also took good care of us.
Theresa from the front desk was super helpful, went out of her way to make us feel happy with her thoughtful gestures . She along with Jhilik made our vacation memorable!!

I would give 5/5 rating. Stayed here for a weekend in coonoor. The staff Leona theresa ,samiya ,kiran were incredibly friendly and welcoming from check-in to checkout. Staffs at the front desk upgraded our room and gave great local food tips. Rooms were clean and quiet. Would absolutely recommend and come back.

Incredible service staff caterers to our every need. Great property overall really felt like home. Rooms were very spacious and clean with a controlled noise level . All in all our whole family enjoyed this holiday will definitely come back soon !!

Beautiful hotel with positive vibes.Felt like staying back for a few more days.
Taj staff were fantastic, they catered to every guest need.
Our food was exemplary.
Our room was spotlessly clean.
Service in the restaurant was spot on.
A big shout out to the hotel team
Thank you so much!!!

It was a wonderful stay at Taj Coonoor. The staff and ambience were excellent, and we truly enjoyed our time there. We would like to sincerely appreciate Ms. Leona and Ms. Thresa for their warm hospitality. The traditional way of welcoming guests was a beautiful touch.
Overall, we are very grateful to the Taj team for creating such memorable moments for us.

This hotel was peaceful and beautiful, and it provided me with one of the most relaxing stays, I liked the atmosphere here. We felt relaxed and welcomed from the moment we arrived. The staff:s LEONA, THERESA & SAMIYA took really good care of everything. It was a refreshing
Everything here felt great. It was peaceful, clean, and calm.
What a nice and pleasant space! I loved the modern features and the calm lighting. It was peaceful at night, which I greatly loved.