Raffles Jaipur

Raffles Jaipur, a distinguished property that recently earned the prestigious Two-Keys recognition from the Michelin Guide 2025, is celebrated for its exceptional design, intuitive service, and timeless experiences, reimagining Rajasthan's royal legacy with contemporary elegance.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Raffles Jaipur consistently receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, aligning with its Michelin Two-Key status, which signifies an "exceptional stay". Guests frequently describe their experience as magical and beyond expectations, praising the blend of elegance, comfort, and warm hospitality. On platforms like Agoda, it boasts an impressive overall rating of 9.7, with perfect scores for facilities, cleanliness, and staff performance. Booking.com also reflects a "Wonderful" rating of 9.0, highlighting high scores for cleanliness (9.7), comfort (9.6), and staff (9.3). While one Goibibo rating shows 3.0 out of 5 based on fewer reviews, other aggregators and individual comments consistently lean towards excellent.

2. Key Highlights

Guests are particularly enamored with the hotel's palatial design, which harmoniously blends Indo-Saracenic grandeur with modern luxury, feeling like a "modern palace" inspired by a queen's abode. The meticulous butler service, serene atmosphere, and emphasis on wellness through its extensive spa are consistently highlighted. The property's artisanal craftsmanship, from hand-cut marble inlay floors to intricate moldings and handcrafted furniture, also stands out. Its tranquil setting amidst the Aravalli Range and the showpiece rooftop infinity pool further add to its allure.

3. Room Quality

The 50 guest rooms and suites at Raffles Jaipur are designed as serene sanctuaries, each unique and adorned with hand-carved details, rich textiles, and local artworks that narrate Jaipur's royal history. Accommodations feature golden murals, canopied beds, engraved brass tables, painted ceilings, and camel bone inlay furniture. Every suite includes a large balcony with either a plunge pool or a soaking tub, often overlooking the Aravalli hills. Modern amenities seamlessly integrate with the old-world opulence, including USB charging ports, bedside button-operated curtains, smart toilets, discretely hidden minibars, and Nespresso machines. Bathrooms are luxurious, often featuring platinum-toned marble, claw-foot bathtubs, and hand-carved stone sinks, creating a jewelry-box feel.

4. Dining Experience

Gastronomy at Raffles Jaipur is an experience of artistry and flavor. The hotel offers a diverse culinary journey across its four on-site restaurants and bars.

• Arkaa: The signature restaurant, known for its progressive North Indian cuisine with global inspirations, emphasizes plant-centric dishes reflective of Mughal court traditions, using ingredients from local micro-farms. Guests have praised dishes like do phool, Old Delhi Chicken Tikka, and gosht dum biryani. Breakfast is a highlight, offering freshly prepared à la carte dishes instead of a typical buffet, along with fruit platters, juices, and bakery baskets, with in-room breakfast also being an option.
• Safir: A tea and champagne lounge located in the central atrium, it offers traditional afternoon tea with specialties like London Tea Exchange leaves and tea-based cocktails.
• The Writers Bar: This signature Raffles space, with its pale blue interiors, soaring ceilings, and exquisite Jaipur-style decorative paintings, serves Rajasthan-inspired cocktails and small plates, accompanied by musicians playing evocative ragas in the evening.
• Sehara: The rooftop restaurant provides Mediterranean classics al fresco, complemented by views of the Aravalli Range.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Raffles Jaipur is consistently lauded as attentive, personalized, and exceptional, with staff going above and beyond to make guests feel "truly at home". The dedicated butler service, introduced via WhatsApp before arrival, is a key differentiator, assisting with everything from unpacking and spa reservations to arranging guided excursions, artisan master classes, local village dining, or even babysitting and doctor calls. Guests frequently highlight the welcoming and warm hospitality of the staff, noting their politeness and promptness.

6. Location & Accessibility

Raffles Jaipur is nestled in Kukas, at the foothills of the Aravalli Range, providing a tranquil escape. It is approximately 17 miles (30 kilometers) from Jaipur International Airport and about a 20-minute drive north of the famed Pink City. While its location offers a peaceful environment, some guests note it is a half-hour drive from the bustling city center, which might not be ideal for those wishing to be closer to direct sightseeing action. However, key landmarks like Amber Fort (five miles away) are within easy reach. The hotel offers various accessible features, including wheelchair-accessible parking, spa, pool, fitness center, business center, restaurant, and lounge.

7. Value & Pricing

As a Michelin Two-Keys property and a luxury haven, Raffles Jaipur comes with a premium price tag. Average room prices start around $500+ (or INR 65,000 per night), with some sources indicating a range of INR 30,000 to INR 50,000 for Raffles Jaipur specifically. This is significantly higher than the average hotel room in Jaipur, which might range from $26 to $50. Guests generally consider the investment a "worthwhile splurge" for an extraordinary and unforgettable escape, given the lavish experiences, world-class amenities, personalized service, and unique cultural immersion it offers.

8. Common Complaints

While overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, a few minor criticisms have been noted:

• Service Speed: One guest mentioned slow service for food, housekeeping, and luggage, with a 3/5 rating for their stay. Another noted that breakfast service was not good, experiencing a 30-minute wait for a dosa.
• Motion-Detecting Lights: One review expressed being "not thrilled" with the highly sensitive motion-detecting lights in the toilet room and beneath bedside tables.
• Location for Sightseeing: For those prioritizing proximity to the bustling city center for frequent sightseeing, the hotel's location in Kukas, a half-hour drive away, might be a minor inconvenience.

Sources

1. worldofhospitality.in
2. ellegourmet.in
3. michelin.com
4. agoda.com
5. booking.com
6. goibibo.com
7. afar.com
8. reddit.com
9. outthere.travel
10. thenationalnews.com
11. makemytrip.com
12. luxurylifestylemag.co.uk
13. hotels.com
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15. indianexpress.com
16. google.com