The Old Courtyard Hotel

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A wonderfully intimate historic hotel, right in the centre of bustling Fort Cochin, with great food, friendly staff and occasional live music

The Old Courtyard Hotel does what it says on the tin, and more (if this reference escapes you, don’t think the building is housed in a metal box, just be thankful you missed a catchy paint commercial on UK television). It is both old – over 200 years, to be precise, built by the Portuguese when Cochin was their window to the spice trade – and it is centred around a cobbled courtyard, the heart of this delightful little hotel.

But there’s more. On summer evenings, you can sit around the tall old mango tree and soak up violin and flute music or clay pot drum rhythms played by local musicians. Alternatively you can swap stories with guests or with the well-travelled owners Rose and Jacob Kuruvinakunnel. And you can enjoy Continental-style cooking any night of the year - a refreshing alternative to curries. Follow the grand wooden staircase to the 8 guest rooms, varying in size but all charmingly decorated. Step outside and you have spice shops, Chinese fishing nets, a Dutch palace and India’s oldest church on your doorstep.