Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar is all set to make the festive season truly memorable with its specially curated Christmas and New Year celebrations, running from 21st to 31st December. Guests can look forward to gourmet dining, family activities, and festive entertainment, culminating in two grand gala dinners on 24th and 31st December.

During the festive period, guests checking in will enjoy a warm welcome with a signature drink, daily buffet breakfast, Hi-Tea at The Berry Library, a serene sundowner experience at Quarter Deck, and a complimentary mini-bar (once per stay). Young travellers are treated to engaging activities including cooking classes, arcade games, indoor sports, and themed workshops.

Christmas Eve Gala Dinner – 24th December

The Christmas Eve Gala Dinner features a Mediterranean-style grazing table, artisanal cheese boards, premium cold cuts, and a mix of antipasti and salads. Live stations serve barbeque grills, wraps, Asian preparations, pizzas, pastas, and momos. Traditional festive highlights include Roasted Turkey, Lamb Leg, and Roasted Chicken at the carving station. The evening concludes with Christmas Plum Pudding, X-Mas Cake, Mince Pies, and artisanal pastries.

New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner – 31st December

The New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner offers an expansive spread with grazing tables, premium cold cuts, and a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian salads. Buffet highlights include slow-cooked lamb, seafood specialties, paneer dishes, Champaran Mutton, and Hyderabadi Murgh Biryani. Live stations feature grill counters, Rajasthani Thela, risotto, Mongolian wok, pasta and pizza, and shawarma. Desserts include Strawberry Christmas Tree, Hazelnut Chocolate Entremets, Dundee Cake, and assorted holiday cookies.

Both gala dinners are open to resident and non-resident guests, with prior booking required for non-residents.

With thoughtfully curated experiences, festive dining, and family-friendly activities, Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar promises a season filled with warmth, celebration, and the charm of the mountains.

As the New Year countdown begins, Mumbai is ready to welcome fresh celebrations, new hopes and unforgettable nights. While the city buzzes with energy, the hospitality landscape around Mumbai is stepping up with festive experiences that promise great food, music and scenic escapes. From coastal retreats to misty hill destinations, these resorts near Mumbai are set to make Christmas and New Year celebrations truly special.

Here are some standout festive getaways to consider this season.

Anchaviyo by Zuper, Palghar

Blending lush greenery with the charm of the Konkan coastline, Palghar offers serene beaches, fruit orchards and rolling green valleys. Historic forts dot the region, making it a refreshing escape for nature lovers and weekend travellers alike.

Nestled in this tranquil setting, Anchaviyo by Zuper is designed as a warm, peaceful luxury retreat. With reception spaces inspired by Balinese architecture, the resort instantly gives the feeling of a tropical holiday, almost like celebrating New Year in Bali—without leaving Maharashtra.

For Christmas and New Year, the resort is curating high-energy countdown celebrations. Guests can look forward to a vibrant gala night featuring an extensive spread of cuisines, a live band performance and an electrifying Bollywood night that sets the tone for a lively welcome to the New Year.

Address: Kharivali Tarf Kohoj, Maharashtra 421303

Canary Islands Resort & Spa, Lonavala

Lonavala needs little introduction. Known for its lush mountain landscapes, misty valleys and seasonal waterfalls, the hill destination takes on a magical charm during winter, with thick fog rolling through the hills and cool, refreshing air setting the mood for celebrations.

This New Year, Canary Islands Resort & Spa is promising a festive experience filled with Bollywood-themed nights, live band performances and non-stop entertainment. Guests are encouraged to leave calorie counting behind, as the celebration includes a generous spread of snacks, festive favourites and indulgent cuisines throughout the night.

Address: Canary Islands, Ambavane Saltar Road, Ambavane, Taluka Mulshi, Ekole Village Road, Majgaon, Maharashtra 410401

Tropical Retreat by Zuper, Igatpuri

Often referred to as Maharashtra’s “Fog City”, Igatpuri is known for its mist-covered hills, lingering waterfalls and peaceful surroundings. With attractions like the Vipassana International Academy and the nearby Kalsubai Peak—the highest point in the state—the destination offers a mix of calm, adventure and natural beauty.

Located just about two hours from Mumbai, Tropical Retreat by Zuper is set amidst this scenic landscape, offering an ideal balance of relaxation and festive energy. New Year celebrations at the resort include lively Bollywood music, a live band, dancing and a festive food spread featuring unlimited treats and celebratory bites, making it a perfect setting to welcome the year ahead.

Address: Pimpri Road, Mumbai–Agra National Highway, near PWD Guest House, Ram Nagar, Igatpuri, Maharashtra 422403

Juhu’s nightlife welcomes a distinctive new address with the opening of KOJAK, an immersive cocktail bar that blends narrative, craft, and mystique into a carefully layered drinking experience. Inspired by the legend of a man known only as Kojak, the space invites guests into a world shaped by hidden stories, coded details, and a quiet sense of intrigue, offering something refreshingly different to the neighbourhood’s hospitality landscape.

The concept takes shape around a fictional artefact believed to be Kojak’s original leather notebook, filled with cryptic sketches, fragmented thoughts, and experimental cocktail formulas. This imagined discovery forms the foundation of KOJAK’s identity, guiding its narrative-led approach to modern mixology. The bar speaks to a new generation of guests seeking experiences that go beyond aesthetics, where creativity and intention are as important as flavour.

Designed by Esquisse Design, the interiors feel like stepping into Kojak’s own mind. A deliberate play of darkness and light, textured surfaces, and sculpted glows create a cinematic atmosphere that shifts seamlessly from moody and intimate to breezy and open, with an unexpected alfresco element. Every corner reveals subtle clues, encouraging guests to explore the space slowly and intuitively.

At the heart of the experience is the Cocktail Lab, led by Head Mixologist Ratan Upadhyay. Here, drinks are crafted using advanced techniques such as clarifications, fat-washing, and distillation, each cocktail unfolding like a chapter from Kojak’s diary. The menu features evocative creations such as Page 17, Tangier Heat, Velvet Code, and The Fifth Secret, inviting guests to taste, decode, and uncover the legend one sip at a time.

Complementing the cocktail programme is a thoughtfully curated food menu by Culinary Director Suheb Chawdhary. The kitchen reimagines global bar cuisine through a refined contemporary lens, offering dishes that balance bold flavours with restraint. Highlights include Tuna Tartare with avocado cream and gochujang, Turkish Lamb Kebab with garlic yoghurt and roasted peppers, Butter Chicken Gnocchi with garlic bread, Togarashi Crusted Sea Bass with lemon cream, and Roasted Pepper Coulis with Charred Zucchini. Each dish is designed to complement the cocktail-led experience, ensuring a seamless dialogue between food and drink.

Behind KOJAK are two female promoters who choose to remain anonymous, mirroring the quiet mystery that defines the brand. Their vision is brought to life by Founding Partner and COO Khalid Ansari, with narrative development shaped in collaboration with The Alkemist Project. Together, the team has created a space where mood, storytelling, and craftsmanship take precedence.

“KOJAK is more than a bar, it’s a feeling,” says Khalid Ansari. “We wanted to create a place where every element, from the cocktails to the design, carries intention. It’s a world built on curiosity, quiet elegance, and the belief that the best stories are the ones you discover slowly.”

As Juhu continues to evolve as a hospitality destination, KOJAK positions itself as a refined yet approachable space for guests who value thoughtful craft and immersive experiences. Designed to evolve with new menus and unfolding narratives, KOJAK ensures that the mystery never truly settles, making every visit feel like a return to a story still being written.

• Address: 1st Floor, Hotel Kings International, 5, Juhu Tara Road, above Alfredos, opposite St. Joseph’s Church Road, Juhu, Mumbai
• Timings: 12:00 pm to 1:30 am