Eighth Bastion, Cochin India, Kerala

Eighth Bastion is a small, intimate property that combines laid back, yet contemporary styling on a quiet street corner in Fort Cochin, ideal for exploring. It’s part of the CGH Earth brand which has many hotels in the south Indian region and all renowned for character, charm and friendly service.

The hotel is spread over three floors and has one restaurant, the East Indies, both indoors and onto a pleasant courtyard. Cuisine is Indo-Dutch and often there is live traditional music in the evenings (note that it does not have an alcohol licence). A pleasant pool is small but perfectly formed.

The 19 rooms all come with balconies and the décor is a blend of minimalist with touches of nostalgia in the form of maps and pictures. The rooms feel bright and airy. They are not awash with amenities and do not have televisions, although each floor has a small sitting area with one. All rooms are slightly different and not all have a bathtub.

Eighth Bastion is a lovely hotel for guests who enjoy a relaxed hotel with comfortable, understated style. Every now and then the hotel can be feel a tad crowded if it’s peak season and the restaurant is full. It may be too modern for some and as it’s situated in the heart of the fort, it can be noisy at times. Note that it doesn’t have any interconnecting rooms, so more suited to older families or couples.