Brunton Boatyard

Today the hotel has 22 tastefully decorated rooms and suites, all of which look out over the water, as do the ensuite bathrooms, which means guests can watch ships coming in to port from the comfort of the bath.

Cochin's cosmopolitan history is in evidence throughout the hotel, which is like a museum to the various colonial powers who occupied Cochin across the centuries, Guests will find Portuguese, Dutch and English motifs and curiosities (think a Portuguese helmet and breastplate) dotted around, but the heritage shtick is particularly noticeable in the History Restaurant, where the chef cooks up delicious dishes using the spices, peppers and herbs that were traded through Cochin across the centuries; now used in dishes such as Syrian fish moilee or a Dutch pudding sprinkled with cinnamon. Foodie aficionados can take the culinary history lesson a step further and enjoy cooking lessons on the terrace.

The hotel has a small spa where guests can enjoy Ayurvedic treatments or a famous Kerala massage where two therapists work in perfect synchronicity. Alternatively, retreat to the billiard table or a quiet corner, armed with good book and G&T.