This hotel is one of the best locations in Pondicherry if one is flying in or getting dropped off in a cab or something. If you are on a road trip, please be warned that there is NO hotel parking of any kind so you might have to leave your car in the street blocks away. (The front desk said, "that's no problem, sir, you can move it closer to the hotel late evening "). Almost everything about our stay here was great except for the service, especially at breakfast. Had to wait for about 25 minutes with a glass of juice before anyone showed up to take our order (basically a choice between Indian/continental), however, it took another hour to serve the breakfast, one item at a time with long gaps in between, waiting for the food. All this while there were only three tables of customers. We got served Dal instead of sambar with our idlis contrary to what the menu said and we ordered, which would have been OK had the waiter not decided to argue with me that it was indeed sambar even though it was clearly not. On asking to see the chef we were told that the chef and the junior chef does not come in till 10 and the chap that cooked in the morning does not speak English. There was no offer to correct the situation at all, and there were clearly no one with any authority in charge at the hotel (9:30 am on a weekday) to make it right. Clearly, this is a great hotel in every other respect except for the service and the employee buy-in into the concept of serving the customers, especially considering that this is currently the most expensive place in town to stay. This lack of service is the key reason that I rate this hotel so poorly. We would gladly come back and stay there again, but ONLY IF the service significantly improves... Just being quaint and cozy and being located in a heritage building is not enough to make a great hotel. The key to guest loyalty is how the guest feels as he or she is walking out the door.