Frankfurt has welcomed back one of its most prestigious and storied luxury hotels. After closing in 2020, the former Grandhotel Hessischer Hof has reopened as Taj Hessischer Hof Frankfurt, pairing its original grandeur with contemporary design, destination dining and a renewed sense of occasion.
The opening marks Taj’s first hotel in Continental Europe, extending a collection already familiar to UK travellers through St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, London and Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, London, as well as The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York and Taj Campton Place, San Francisco. Each is shaped by its own setting, while sharing the attention to detail for which Taj is known.
Inside are 117 guestrooms and nine suites, where contemporary furnishings sit alongside carefully preserved pieces from the former hotel. Hamburg-based studio JOI-Design has retained features including parquet floors, wood panelling and marble, adding expressive colours, tactile fabrics, considered detailing and artwork. The result is richly layered and quietly glamorous.
Space is not in short supply, with seven of the suites measuring more than 80 square metres. The largest, the 140-square-metre Royal Presidential Suite, has two bedrooms, a separate meeting room and a kitchenette, while several rooms also feature spacious private balconies. Should guests decide to venture out, Frankfurt Trade Fair is directly opposite and the city centre is close by, making the hotel well placed for both business stays and weekend breaks.
At the heart of the hotel is Bombay Brasserie, where Executive Chef Nilesh Dangwal combines authentic North Indian cooking with refined European influences. Dangwal’s career has taken him from Taj Mahal Palace and Tower to Taj Dubai before his move to Frankfurt. Along the way, he has cooked for heads of state and diplomatic delegations, with guests
including Naomi Campbell and Hillary Clinton.
His menu moves from tandoor specialities like Zaitooni Truffle Paneer Tikka to much-loved favourites such as Chicken Tikka Masala. Wagyu rib-eye steak, Lobster Thermidor and lamb chops broaden the menu, while rotating tasting menus showcase the kitchen’s range.
Bombay Brasserie has 60 seats indoors and 45 on its summer terrace. Open daily from noon, it also serves a two- or three-course business lunch from Monday to Friday.
