Astoria Hotel

I visited Hotel Astoria Veg specifically for their restaurant, so this review is purely about the food and dining experience. If you’re looking to experience authentic South Indian, especially Tamil-style food where locals actually eat, this place is a must visit.The dining style itself is an experience. You’re expected to eat with your hands, which makes it feel much more traditional and immersive. They serve you hot rice along with a variety of curries, sides, and papad, and you mix everything together and enjoy it. Before the meal, they even pour a little water on your plate, which is part of the local dining custom.One interesting cultural touch is that they offer hot water instead of regular or cold water, as it’s commonly preferred in Tamil Nadu. Small details like this really add to the authenticity of the experience.The food itself is simply excellent, flavorful, comforting, and truly representative of local cuisine. I had their regular Tamil thali (there was an LPG shortage during my visit, so options were limited), but even then, the quality and taste were fantastic.The staff is very friendly and helpful. They understand Tamil and English well, and sometimes even Hindi, so communication isn’t an issue at all.Pricing is very reasonable, making it a great value-for-money spot. However, parking can be a real challenge since it’s located on a street, so it’s best to plan ahead.I don’t have photos from my visit, but you can check out pictures in other reviews to get a better idea. Also, if you’re in the mood for dessert after your meal, Daily Bread Pastry Corner is right next door and worth checking out.Overall, it’s a must-try place if you want a genuine South Indian dining experience.~ Atharv Baheti

Comfortable Family Stay Near Kodai LakeWe had a lovely 2-day family stay in Kodaikanal and booked two rooms at this hotel. The rooms were beautiful, comfortable, and well-maintained, while the washrooms were neat and clean. The hotel also provided three litter Bisleri water bottles in each room, which was a thoughtful touch.The location on Main Bazar Road was excellent, with Kodaikanal Lake just a walkable distance away. Staff members were polite and helpful throughout our stay. Overall, it was a pleasant and convenient stay for our family vacation, and we would definitely recommend this hotel to others visiting Kodaikanal.

Found this restaurant when i was looking for a pure veg south indian food in kodaikanal. I had dinner thrice here during my stay. Its situated very close to the bus stand. I just loved their plain dosa. It is crispy but thats the way i like, definitely one of the best dosas I have had in my life. To supplement that, their side dishes (sambar, coconut & spicy chutney) were delicious too. The service was also quick. Only downsides are that, the south indian options are limited and parking can be challenging during weekends or season times. Otherwise a very good restaurant that is friendly, both for your pocket & stomach.

The room was good, though a bit compact, but overall the stay was decent. The restaurant located below the hotel serves amazing food and is highly recommended, especially for those looking for pure vegetarian options. The location is a big advantage as well it’s right in the center of Kodaikanal and just about 10 meters from the bus stand.However, our experience with the reception staff was disappointing. The behavior of the receptionist came across as quite rude. While we fully understand the 10 AM check out policy, we were already wrapping up having breakfast around 9:50 AM and heading back to the room to check out.Despite this, we received a call reminding us to check out right at 10 AM, which felt unnecessary as most hotels usually allow a small grace period of 10 to 15 minutes. Not only that, we received multiple follow up calls on the room telephone, which became quite frustrating. Within just 17 minutes past check out time, we were reminded several times, including a visit from housekeeping staff. This felt excessive and impacted the overall experience.While the food and location are definite positives, the service especially at reception and in room coordination needs improvement.For those looking to stay very close to the bus stand, you may also consider Hamuse Hotel, which is just opposite.In summary, good food and location, but the stay experience and service could be significantly better.

I tried the Poori Sagu here ’ the taste was okay, nothing very special but still decent. The overall food quality is good, and the ambience is neat and pleasant. A nice place for a simple and comfortable meal.