I need a break from saying I need a break, I muttered to myself, as another week began. The pandemic has slowed down travel terribly, and as we confine ourselves to our cities. The only cautious and careful stepping out we can do, is weekends away at a safe property, with our closed ones, with our own vehicles. And if you’re living in Mumbai, that need to get away is even more palpable, given the boxed apartments and literally no space to crawl in.

I know when as a family we’re picking a getaway destination, the votes often swing between a hotel or a homestay. I prefer hotels, I argue, while the others feel like a homestay is more relaxed. But here’s a twist as I recently checked out Geometrica, — the first villa by Le Sutra Great Escapes, known for Mumbai’s Le Sutra and Out Of The Blue — along with a restaurant, Anglo Indian Café, that combines the homestay and hotel experience, and calls its ‘dinky hotels’ to emphasise on the importance of quality hotel experience within private holiday homes. 

Nestled comfortably in Lonavala on a seven acre property, Geometrica is hip, well designed, and luxurious, complete with art installations, and geometrical interpretations of Indian art. This is just the first villa out of eight villas that are going to be constructed on this property, and this one overlooks the Sahyadri hills at the perfect spot. The three-bedroom private house has an outdoor area to the villa, with some more interesting art and a snazzy outdoor bar, perfect for sundowners and evenings with your group. This outdoor bar area overlooks the pool, and you can directly view the hills from the poolside, and while taking a swim. Bliss, right?

I know when I go for fancy staycations, I end up stepping out to eat, because more often than not, room service just doesn’t cut it with the quality of food. But that’s where the hotel-homestay comes into play. The Geometrica villa has their own restaurant — Anglo Indian by Out of the Blue — which is adjacent to the villa, where you can opt for a meal-plan.

The Anglo-Indian café is where, as the name suggests, East meets West, and the food is a blend of European dining, with a touch of Indian flavour. It also helps to know when you’re digging into the food or sipping on the basil lemonade, that most of their ingredients come from their own small herb and hydroponic garden on the same property, and the rest come from local, organic vendors. On the menu are vibrant salads, boozy cocktails, and premium spirits, plant-based burgers (with breads being baked in house), baked biryani, and the comfort of an aglio olio. They have some interesting desserts using in-house, fourth generation chocolate. The star on the dessert menu, however, is the chikki cheesecake, using the popular chikki of Lonavala. Bite sized and full of flavour, it’s the perfect way to end the meal while celebrating the local provisions of the hill station. 

But when it comes to the hills, we city folks love a barbecue or a grill, especially because Mumbai doesn’t give us the opportunity to indulge in cold weather activities. So in case you wish to go for something that’s not on Anglo-Indian’s menu, you can ask the chefs for a customised experience, with a barbecue or grill. It’ll be the perfect weekend meal to bond with your loved ones, away from all city chaos. And speaking of chaos, some TLC is always a part of leaving town. Be it yoga, massages, or some art therapy with charcoal sketching or painting sessions, Geometrica is happy to arrange those for you. 

Just 45 minutes away from Mumbai is this all-well-thought-out escape into a whimsical bistro with the hills as your backdrop to disconnect from the world, and enjoy the company of your favorite people. The villa and restaurant takes care of ever trying from a day at breakfast basking in the sun, to an evening enjoying a candlelit dinner. It’s time to breathe in some mountain air, and let go.

Address: Breeze In The Hills, Next to Della Resorts, Kunegaon, Lonavala

Tariff for Geometrica: Starting at Rs. 36,000 ++

For Anglo-Indian Café: Rs. 800 for two, excluding taxes 

Contact Number: +91 9820204355 / +91 9930004289

Find out more on: https://www.instagram.com/lesutragreatescapes/