Lemon Tree Premier 1, Gurugram

The Lemon Tree Premier is a perfectly pleasant hotel that's just shy of its own upscale aspirations. First impressions are great, and rooms are mostly sharp but for a bit of wear. The lobby is bright -- thanks to large windows and high ceilings -- and features polished cream marble floors with a black-and-white inlay design. A multihued stained-glass art piece suspended from the ceiling adds a lot of life to the space; additional pops of color show up in the form of bright-red chairs in small window-side seating areas. A similar decor scheme follows in other common areas, where the predominantly cream and tan decor is spruced up with brightly hued artwork and upholstery. Most guests are business travelers, unsurprising given the hotel's location in corporation-heavy Gurgaon, though its proximity to the nearby Kingdom of Dreams entertainment complex make it a reasonable choice for Hindi-speaking tourists in town for a show. 

The Lemon Tree is located in Gurgaon, a satellite city of neighboring Delhi and part of the National Capital Region (NCR). There's not a lot to see or do in Gurgaon proper, and most people stay here because they have work in the area. The only major attraction of interest beside shopping malls full of American and European (and a few Indian) brands is an entertainment complex called "Kingdom of Dreams," right across the street from the Lemon Tree, where regular live music and dance performances in Hindi are held daily. The hotel is located in Gurgaon's Leisure Valley shopping area. There are plenty of restaurants within a two-minute walk, including Pind Balluchi, specializing in rich North Indian food, and Mamagoto, which has pan-Asian fare. There's also a Starbucks right around the corner. The hotel is just under a 15-minute walk to the IFFCO Chowk Metro station. It takes half an hour to reach South Delhi or an hour to reach Connaught Place, the de facto center of town. The drive can take just as long, or longer during rush hour, due to consistent traffic jams that often only ease up in the wee hours of the night. Indira Gandhi International Airport is about 20 minutes away by taxi, depending on traffic. 

Across the board, decor in this Lemon Tree's rooms is modern and a little funkier than what's found in the typical chain property. Details include curlicue-patterned throw cushions and reproductions of modern art pieces by the likes of Klimt on the walls. Furnishings are a bit more sober, and the abundance of jewel-tone fabrics add some additional polish. Light wood-laminate floors and mostly white walls keep everything bright. The hotel offers a wide variety of room types, especially considering the whole property only has 81 rooms and suites. The base category, Superior Rooms have queen beds or two twins and, at 236 square feet (22 square meters), are just a tad smaller than the 242-square-foot Deluxe Rooms (also about 22 square meters), which have king beds. Executive Rooms are even larger, while Studio units are larger still, and have living areas. The biggest rooms in the house are the Executive Suites, which have separate bedrooms and living areas with sofas and coffee tables. All rooms come with kettles, minibars, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and electric safes. Executive Suites add microwaves to the mix. Bathrooms have wall-mounted toiletry dispensers and large vanities with wall-mounted makeup mirrors. Most units have walk-in showers, while Studios and Executive Suites have shower/tub combos and roomier double vanities. We did spot a bit of wear, in some of the details in bathrooms (including tub surrounds), and chips in the laminate flooring in some rooms. 

One of the highlights of a stay at the Lemon Tree is its excellent breakfast buffet (included in room rates) served every morning at the Citrus Cafe. The spread includes a variety of Indian and international dishes, with lots of vegetarian options. Lunch and dinner are also available in the bright space and there are regular specials throughout the year depending on the seasonal availability of ingredients -- the May to June mango season is an especially good time to visit. The Lemon Tree also has a bar, Slounge, with a pool table and a PlayStation.The fitness center is fresh and modern, with a couple of treadmills, a bike, an elliptical, and a few different weight-training machines. There's also a spa -- Fresco -- that offers massages and other treatments. The outdoor pool gets plenty of shade as it's partially covered by the building, but it's small and there are only four lounge chairs plus a couple of parasol-shaded tables with chairs. There are two meeting spaces: the giant Tangerine Grand with bright-orange swirly-pattern-carpeted floors (capacity 150) and a smaller, more subdued conference room for up to 40 guests. The hotel also has a 24-hour business center with iMacs and free basic Wi-Fi (with high-speed access for a fee).