Villa Shanti - Heritage Hotel for Foodies

This place is beautiful and clean. If that's all you care about, this is great place to stay. Otherwise, it's pretty mediocre even for India and definitely overpriced. It's been well marketed. The restaurant brags about having a chef from a Micheline star restaurant in France. Having been to micheline star restaurants, this isn't even close. In fact, of mid/high end Indian hotels the food is subpar. Perhaps I missed something on the menu but I did eat there like 6 times. The menu is affordable, and the food reflects that. You can definitely eat better elsewhere in Pondicherry. As for service, it needs a lot of work. Staff often seemed clueless. They would lie about things just to appease the customer. For instance, asked for a hotel sewing kit. They kept saying they would bring one instead of just saying, "no we don't have a sewing kit". Often no one picked up at reception. One day, we needed to leave early in the morning. They offered to pack breakfast. I called to confirm that 30 minutes in advance. Came downstairs and no body had prepared anything. Again, don't say you have services or make offers that can't be delivered on. I have other examples but this review is long enough. Also, the jr suites with balconies face a very noisy road, particularly on the weekend. Bring your earplugs. That said we had a couple of very nice female servers who were good a developing customer relationships, and again the place is pretty.

We’ve been staying at Villa Shanti for 5 days and enjoyed every minute of it. A wonderful little cool and calm oasis in the hustle and bustle of Pondicherry. We loved the thoughtfully designed rooms and the absolutely wonderful food. A huge thank you to Dhivya, Fouiezya, Soubhagya, Queen and all the other staff who are the actual stars of the show here - they make this place so special.

Room 4 was clean and nice ..Hospitality from Mr.Samsheer at front desk was outstanding South Indian breakfast was delicious The location of the hotel is also ideal for site seeing Airobindo ashram was only 600 meters away .pomade beach is at walking distance

Clean friendly boutique hotel. Our room was spacious and charming. Excellent food. The breakfasts were delicious but too large for us. Twice we ate there for dinner the food was tasty & fresh. The food and beverage staff were friendly and attentive even though the dining room was very busy at times. The staff were accommodating. They helped organise a taxis and a guide and suggested a couple of walking trips. Great hotel that did not disappoint.

Excellent food, great service, superb value for money and terrific ambience. We went as a family of four. We got a great table and ambience is nice and open air. We ordered multiple dishes and each of those were excellent with interesting variations. Portion size are good. Definitely worth a visit.

Last night’s dinner was nothing short of extraordinary, offering a symphony of flavors that delighted both the palate and the senses. I began with a beautifully baked eggplant and zucchini parmigiana, each bite a perfect balance of tender vegetables layered with rich tomato sauce and melted cheese. The textures and flavors melded together harmoniously, creating a rustic yet refined dish that exuded warmth and comfort. For the main course, I indulged in a sublime fish served over basil and olive risotto. The fish was impeccably cooked, tender and flaky, while the risotto, infused with the fresh aroma of basil and the subtle richness of olives, provided the ideal complement. Every spoonful was an elegant dance of Mediterranean flavors, creating a dish that was both light yet deeply satisfying. The meal concluded with an indulgent Crepe Suzette, flambéed with brandy. Watching the dessert being flambéed tableside added a touch of theatrical flair, and the crepes themselves were the epitome of luxury—thin, delicate, and soaked in a tangy orange sauce, balanced by the warmth of the brandy. This was truly a dinner to remember, each dish an ode to culinary finesse.