Sky Lounge

Critic´s Review

• Buzz: 1.5 / 5
• Service: 0/5
• Decor: 3 / 5

-By Rinku Madan

Pretty Petite

An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools." - Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bells Toll

I am not easily impressed by bars anymore, consider my liver jaded or my tolerance for mediocrity in the times of the superlatives coming to our country, diminishing. So you have to be on your toes to stand apart from the Joneses and the Sky Lounge at The Park Plaza, Gurgaon is anything but that - very mediocre.

The Scene: On entering the Park Plaza Hotel you'll be directed to the lift to embark your voyage to the Sky Lounge. As you step onto the terrace, you will see a romantic (?) setting of high tables and chairs as well as wicker sofas. Walk through the lounge where you get your first glimpse of the views. With most rooftops, you stare downwards for the view, you get to stare up at all the surrounding buildings, the stars, the Milky Way, all those other people on higher floors that are looking down at you while you're prancing around with your Budweiser and oh, the open air kitchen.

The fortunate: Outdoor roof deck besides a swimming pool - apt size, neck cracking view of the galaxy as you sit underneath it. There's an extensive tea menu, with some unique flavours and awesome blends.

The Unfortunate: Dim lights and loud music create a strange setting. I say strange because while the crooners are belting out English numbers, an adjoining property plays blaring Hindi numbers with equal loud fervour, leaving you wondering if you want to be in such an ambience. I went on a Wednesday night and there was not a soul. Rumour has it that things liven up during weekends, so if you are looking for more of a vibe, it is best not to come on a weekday. It is open to all general public, a bulk of which is a constituted by the call centre.

The Drink: its hard to steer yourself away from ordering a Martell VSOP here on a cold night, such is the temptation to linger over a goblet as you look at the adjoining swimming pool or blue-lit backdrop. My anatomy has taken too far a tone of duty to be easily swayed by the fancy cocktail list at a hotel bar. Just make my drink the way it should be and make it well. I ordered a Kir Royale, they did not have the creme de cassis - not a crime but mistake #1 you tried to up sell me to a monin syrup drink that too with a sparkling wine and not Champagne.

Mistake #2: You tried to up sell me again to another terrible drink. I certainly appreciate the effort and courtesy, but a Bucks fizz is not made with packaged orange juice.

Mistake #3: When asked for a drink without sugar, please respect the request.

Anyway the bar is pretty and petite. I mean it is pretty petite, Here petite can be pretty subjective - let's review further and see how:

"The Lady is pretty petite = A+

"Thank heavens, this pimple on my face is pretty petite" = A+

"The service is pretty petite" = D-

"The rooftop bar is pretty petite" = D-

" Your assets are pretty petite" = D-

And those are possibly the last words you will ever speak.

Not romantic. Do you really get comfortable here? I would like you to show me how. Hopefully, they will wake up and this does not end as my final public service announcement for the Sky Lounge."