Hotel Opal

We stayed at this place on our way back to Mumbai from Bengaluru. We also wanted to visit the Mahalaxmi temple and only convenient way was to stay at a decent place and commute by auto rickshaw. The place is good. Rooms are clean enough, AC cools well and toilets are nice. The place has a local flavour. You can sample reasonably authentic local food espcilly the non vegetarian preparations. The complimentary breakfast is also nice. They have kept some local produce for sale. We bought some jaggery. They have a pretty good facility in the basement for safely parking your car. I feel one should stay at such places to experience local flavours.

This is a value for money proposition. It is good in terms of food quality, hygiene, room size & service. It is strategically located in the city. Variety of veg & non-veg food items are available. It is famous for authentic local food.

They don't allow foreigners to check in and it is not indicated anywhere on websites. They accept booking, you come after a long flight, waste money on taxi to their place and then they refuse you on the basis of some "rules". Very,very, very bad manner of treating international guests. Very angry and disappointed.

We actually visited the dining and not stay. Opal is quite popular and also very famous in Kolhapur. It is just next to the five star hotel Sayaji. It is also very accessible from main parts of city like the Kolhapur bus stand or railway station. Its nearby localities also have McD and other hotels like Dehati and some more. Must try dishes in Opal which ai would recommend are: For Veg peoples: 1- Veg thali - This is semi unlimited thali with variety of dishes in gravy sabzi, dal, rice, sweet, papadam etc. 2- Panner masala 3- jeera rice For Non- Veg peoples: Well you have varieties to try but I would recommend, 1- Mutton Masala or 2- Mutton Fry 3- Mutton Biryani 4- Chicken Spl biryani 5- Chicken masala 6- Butter Naan for sweet lovers: 1- Lassi is a must drink to try. Thick and creamy. Also you can try the Chas (buttermilk), Solkadi - Very popular drink in Maharashtra side (specially costal regions) this helps in keeping you stomach calm and also helps in acidity and heat problems.

We have been staying at Opal whenever we are in Kolhapur as we visit it for praying at Mahalaxmi temple our family deity. It's been a long relationship with Opal with that old bungalow charm like entrance and tasty food at their restaurant. This time we got to stay at their newly renovated and tastefully built new building. lovely spacious rooms , clean bathrooms , every small details like having a cloth stand to keep wet clothes and more They have retained their old staff and that's a good sign from management as there was that personal attention and great hospitality as ever.

Intially we were recommended by a friend to taste their Tambda mutton rassa. Well it was insipid. Even the mutton was a bit stubborn. I have tasted much better quality of mutton elswhere in Kohlapur and Talegaon. Even Jowari Bhakri was like Frisbee! The Chapatis was really soft and tasty - the only savior!! Yes their service was really worth mentioning. Yuvraj was really helpful and very alert.

Very high priced compared to services provided. total Miss-management. Managers of no use, it run by all housekeepers & room attendants Construction is new but ACs are junk, Only one channel available on TV

Renovated room was neat and spacious, but service levels need to improve big time especially in the restaurant. Food is the most talked about in Opal, but we found it just ordinary during dinner and the attitude of the waiters added to the bad taste. Breakfast was no different with very limited choice and with squash and jams carrying the taste of food essence, coloring agents and food additives from 1964. Leave out the restaurant, it is conveniently located with basement parking and reasonably priced

The Hotel has just opened up its new building in Dec 2021 and hence neat and clean.The Front desk and the Service is prompt and polite. Very helpful and friendly helpdesk who explains the options available for rooms as well as the billing is smooth The rooms are nice and clean and with good lighting and ventilation alongwith lot of storage option.The flip side was the bucket and the stool which was old and could have been reaplced Kettlle and tea coffee are complimentary alongwith 3 litres of packaged drinking water per day The flip side is the restaurant.The complimentary breakfast was okay with options like Misal,Mango juice (too much concentrated),Bread Butter and Jam,Sheera and Tea / Coffee For lunch we ordered different varieties of Thalis Chicken Masala Thali,Chicken Fry Thali,Mutton Masala Thali,Mutton Fry Thali this includes large bowl of Taambda and Paandhra rassa. The food was average and the taste has certainly been compromised post Covid.Not as delicious as it was in pre-covid days Do not order Solkadi as it doesnt match the ones we get in Kokan with lots of coconut in it.Overall I would recommend giving nearby Dehati restaurant a try which has emerged as one of the top ones in Kolhapur for Non veg food