HOTEL CLARKS SHIRAZ in Agra - Hotel Review with Photos

India › Agra Hotels › Clarks Shiraz Review
Updated: March 15, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Near the junction of Fatehabad Road and The Mall Road.
• Hotel website: hotelclarksshiraz.com
• Hotel phone: +91 (0)562 222 6121
• Check prices for Clarks Shiraz

Review of Hotel Clarks Shiraz in Agra, India.

The colonial-style 5-star Clarks Shiraz is located on Taj Road.

Clarks Shiraz – Agra’s first 5-star hotel still offers colonial-style elegance and oodles of traditional charm.

Almost hidden down a quiet street in Agra Cantonment, an area of defense housing, this property is a genuine surprise. The three wings look modern from the outside, but there is so much historical elegance within – from the doorman with the handlebar mustache to the marble lobby. Terraces of checkered tiles lead to rooms which overlook the flower gardens, immaculate lawns, and/or vegetable plots. All accommodations are spacious and cozy, although the lowest-category rooms are a little undersized. Adding to the appeal are the substantial shopping arcade, sizeable pool, and stunning Raj-era restaurant/bar on the top floor. And it caters reasonably well for families, with a games room and splash area at the pool.

Clarks Shiraz – The Location

Address: 54 Taj Road, about 200m from a large roundabout where 2 major thoroughfares converge: Fatehabad Road and The Mall Road.
Area: On the edge of Agra Cantonment, an area of defense housing, with ubiquitous red-brick walls. Streets in the area are comparatively quiet, clean, and safe; less so the main road about 200m away.
How to Get There: About 2 km from the Taj Mahal, 5 km from the Agra Cantonment Railway Station which has most services to/from Delhi and Jaipur, and 11 km from the new airport. All are accessible by taxi or auto-rickshaw.

Clarks Shiraz – The Basics

Guests: Most are foreign tourists on upmarket tours that include 1-2 nights in a suitably majestic hotel.
Views: Rooms face the gardens and lawns. A few do face the street, which is about 50m away and quiet anyway. Some rooms claim to have ‘Taj views’, which is not as misleading as other hotels, but the Taj is still more than 2km away.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Suites feature jacuzzis.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +91 (0)562 222 6121
Email: reservation@clarksshiraz.net
Website: hotelclarksshiraz.com

Clarks Shiraz – Amenities

Pool: Among the gardens, it’s a decent size and has shade, a splash area for toddlers, and a poolside bar.
Spa: The Adebha Spa is in a tight area at the end of the terrace from the lobby. Nothing much but massages.
Fitness Center: The Health Club is little more than a few exercise machines, but does have a steam bath and jacuzzi.
For Families: Games room, with snooker, ping pong, and futsal tables. More facilities than most hotels.
Other Facilities: Extensive shopping arcade (one of the best in Agra). Travel Desk. Laundry. Beauty Salon. Business Center.

Clarks Shiraz – Food and Drink

Restaurants & Bars: Mughal Room – Arguably Agra’s finest restaurant, with adorable regal setting on the top floor. Exquisite Indian food, sublime views, and live music nightly. • Mughal Bar – Relive the British Raj era in this sumptuous lounge. Shares the same striking views as the namesake restaurant. Checkers Buffet – All-you-can-eat spreads at breakfast, lunch, and dinner of Indian and European cuisine. • Sunset Lounge – Another rooftop restaurant/bar on top of a different wing. • Garden View Lounge & Bar – Charming café and patisserie at lobby level.
Breakfast: Not included, but can be paid for when booking or at the time.
Room Service: Available 24/7.

Clarks Shiraz – Rooms

Room Types: Deluxe Rooms • Superior Rooms • Suites • Taj View Deluxe Rooms • Shiraz Premium Rooms • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: No smoking is allowed in the rooms or any public areas.
Best Room: The Suites are the most luxurious. Very elegant décor, especially in the sitting areas, and jacuzzis (a genuine rarity).
For Families: Perhaps surprisingly, the hotel is not that well set up for families. The only option is 2 adjoining rooms (that won’t have connecting doors).

Clarks Shiraz – Local Transport

Walking & Cycling: Streets around the hotel are among the most pleasant in Agra to wander about: safe, clean, and quiet, but nothing much to see. The main road, 200m away, is not so appealing, however. Would be a great area for cycling, but nowhere locally to rent a bike.
Public Transport: Nothing of any use to tourists.
Taxis & Auto-rickshaws: Taxis (unmetered) are hard to find because it’s a remote area. If required, arrange through the hotel reception, or book an Ola cab. A couple of auto-rickshaws hang about the street outside, and there are plenty more along the main road about 200m away.

Clarks Shiraz – What’s Nearby? 

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

New Riao Restaurant – Fairly random opening hours alongside the hotel gates. Reasonable Indian food and inviting garden seating.
Only Restaurant – Would be lovely if not for the noisy location at the roundabout, 250m up the street.
Otherwise take an auto-rickshaw (3 km) to the Crystal Sarovar Premiere hotel. Inside are Lattice (all-day European and Indian cuisine), Bello Italiano @Fizz (premier bistro with bar), and Sky Grill (rooftop views, salad bar, pizza, and live music).

And very close to the Crystal Sarovar hotel are:

Grey House Café – Upper floor for views, offering excellent food, pleasing prices, affable staff, and bar. Next to the hotel. (3 km).
Mocha Café & Bar – Hugely popular among well-heeled youth for coffee, western food, and beer. Just across the road from the hotel. (3 km).

Nearby Shops

There are no shops within walking distance, so take an auto-rickshaw to the Crystal Sarovar hotel (see above). This area is packed with money-changers and shops selling carpets and other handicrafts.

Nearby Attractions

The Taj Mahal is certainly Agra’s, and possibly India’s, number one attraction. The ticket office at the West Gate is only 2 km away – best by auto-rickshaw. Separate entries for men and women. Open from sunrise to sunset, but closed on Fridays.
Agra Fort – The grand Red Fort (Lal Qila) symbolizes power and resilience. Partly occupied by the Indian Army, tourists can still see multiple mosques, palaces, and other structures inside this vast monument located close to the city center. Open from 6 am to 6 pm on all days. (3 km).
Itimad-ud-Daula – Popularly thought of as the first draft of the Taj Mahal, and often known as “Baby Taj”. The tomb is the first marble structure built by the Mughals and features intricate lattice work. Open from sunrise to sunset. (7 km).
Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary – A haven for several species of birds and a must-visit for wildlife photographers. Apart from birds, it also houses pythons and Wildlife SOS, the largest bear rescue center in India, as well as the only elephant hospital in the country. (25 km).
Fatehpur Sikri – This majestic red sandstone fort is known for the Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chishti, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwani-i-Khas, and several other monuments on-site. Built in the 16th-century by Emperor Akbar to celebrate the birth of his son, Jahangir, in Sikri. Open daily from 6 am to 6 pm. Tickets can be bought online from various travel portals or at the fort entrance. (40 km).

Clarks Shiraz – The Hotel 

The hotel is located in a quiet defense housing area.

The Clarks Shiraz hotel is in a quiet suburban area dominated by defense housing and known as Cantonment.

The large hotel has 3 buildings among love gardens.

Hotel Clarks Shiraz dominates the area, with 3 high-rise buildings among lovely gardens.

The hotel boasts much more space, lawns, and gardens than almost all hotels in Agra.

The traditionally-dressed doorman welcomes the guests.

The tradition and charm found throughout the hotel starts at the front door.

The lobby's marble tiles and columns boast of historical splendor.

The lobby of marble tiles and columns exudes a historical splendor.

At the lobby level is a substantial shopping arcade, probably the largest of its kind in Agra.

The Garden View Lounge & Bar is also a cafe and patisserie.

On the ground floor is the Garden View Lounge & Bar, which is also a café and patisserie.

The hotel is dotted with inviting guest lounges.

The open-air terrace connects many of the hotel facilities.

An open-air terrace outside the hotel leads to many of the facilities.

The lawns are especially popular for pre-dinner drinks.

A pre-dinner drink on the hotel lawns is almost obligatory.

The hotel boasts several flower and vegetable gardens.

There is so much to explore around the hotel, including gardens of flowers and vegetables.

The large pool has plenty of shade and lounge chairs for guests.

The pool is substantial, with enough shade and lounge chairs for guests. (Like many, it was undergoing maintenance during the chilly winter months.)

The Adebha Spa offers only a few treatments apart from massages.

Facing the hotel pool, the Adebha Spa offers little more than massages.

The games room has snooker and ping pong tables.

Along the corridor between the lobby and pool, the games room houses snooker and ping pong tables.

The Health Club fitness center is well-equipped.

Next to the games room is the Health Club fitness center.

Breakfast is served at the Checkers Buffet café.

At ground level within the hotel, Checkers Buffet café is where breakfast is served.

The Mughal Room serves excellent Indian food in a stunning old-world setting.

The Mughal Room on the top floor of the hotel offers exquisite India food in a stunning old-style setting.

Alongside the Mughal Room is the namesake bar.

Most rooms face the gardens and lawns, while a few do overlook the quiet street outside.

The lovely rooms feature pictures of old India.

Rooms are lovely, with modern facilities and enchanting photos of old India along the walls.

Rooms have full-length windows with garden views.

All rooms feature full-length windows, with most overlooking the gardens and lawns.

The neighborhood is pleasant but not very interesting.

The hotel is in a suburban area of defense housing. The backstreets are pleasant for walking, but there is little of interest to tourists in the immediate area.

Bello Italiano @Fizz bistro and bar nearby is a terrific option for a meal and a drink.

The Crystal Sarovar Premiere hotel, a few minutes away by auto-rickshaw, offers several terrific options for a meal and/or drink, including the classy Bello Italiano @Fizz bistro and bar.

Sky Grill on the rooftop of Crystal Sarovar hotel is very inviting.

Particularly appealing is Sky Grill on the rooftop of the Crystal Sarovar hotel.

Grey House Café next door to Crystal Sarovar is an excellent restaurant.

Next to the Crystal Sarovar hotel is the excellent Grey House Café.

The bright yellow Mocha Café & Bar is very popular.

Opposite the Crystal Sarovar, the popular Mocha Café & Bar stands out along the dusty street.

Both gates and ticket offices of the Taj Mahal are close by.

Both ticket offices and gates to the Taj Mahal are only a few minutes by auto-rickshaw from the hotel. Check rates and availability: Clarks Shiraz

Hotel Clarks Shiraz in Agra, India

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