The Grand Hotel in Ernakulam as mentioned on LonelyPlanets guide for south held its promises. A 60's hotel aged with respect. Professional, quality, clean and with great space both in rooms and common areas.
With a renovated dining hall and new bathrooms this old hotel still feel up to date.
The furniture is timetypical wooden 60's. There are some stains on my sofa and such but didn't bother me. Don't expect modern steel and glass - this is oldschool bit very wholehearted.
The breakfast is very good. Indian base with add on made on demand omelett, hash brown, coffee and toast. Some fresh food in cubes. Morning pastries if you are into that.
The restaurant at the Grand Hotel is popular and crowded - busy but the service is very efficient. The menu is big and hold a lot of different cousines but I have so far had the Keralas and the flavour is all there - very good standard and quality here. Not cheap but you get what you pay for I think.
This hotel is in Ernakulam. I chose this because I am travelling onward and didnt want to stay in the more touristic Fort Cochi. I take the rik-shaw to the jetty 20-40 INR and then the ferry 4 INR and then I am at Fort Cochi. A bit more fuss but I like the morning walk and the trip on the waterways.
Any downsides? There are construction going on outside and the first night they did do nightjobs which was disturbing. Following nights was silent but might probably happen again.
I stayed at the Grand Hotel for 5 nights.