ITC Ahmedabad Residency

ITC Ahmedabad Residency sits like a polished office block on the bus‑lane‑cluttered S.G. Highway, a glass‑faced reminder that the city’s new money prefers climate‑control over the sun‑bleached old town. Arrive after 10 am for the lobby’s Tejasvi tea—steeped with a dash of cardamom and served on copper trays—because the early‑bird crowd will have already cornered the glossy leather chairs. The rooms are a study in “corporate luxury”: king‑size beds, marble‑washed bathrooms, but the real draw is the rooftop pool with its half‑height infinity edge that looks out over a smog‑tinged skyline rather than any genuine horizon. If you’re there for food, skip the over‑hyped all‑day buffet; instead, book a table at the Indian Accent‑styled “Banyan” at 7.30 pm and order the dhokla‑filled kulcha with a dollop of saffron‑infused raita—talk about a dish that pretends to be avant‑garde while staying firmly Gujarati. The spa’s Ayurvedic massage is decent, but the real perk is the free shuttle to the Sabarmati Riverfront—just a 10‑minute ride that saves you the hassle of navigating the chaotic traffic. Best visited in November–February when the heat retreats; May and June will turn the lobby’s air‑conditioning into a flimsy consolation prize. Expect to pay a premium for the brand, but the combination of location, rooftop view and the occasional culinary surprise makes a two‑night stay justifiable for business travellers who need a refined base without venturing into the messier lanes of Old Ahmedabad.