A good resort in Madh Island should feel like a proper getaway while still being part of Mumbai. The Retreat Hotel and Convention Centre, on Erangal Beach, fits that brief with a private exit to the sea, a signature lagoon-shaped pool, four dining venues and 12 event halls, backed by what the hotel says is more than 25 years of hospitality.
The road narrows. Trees close in overhead. You pass a fishing boat pulled up on someone’s front yard, a cat asleep on a wall, a church painted a very cheerful blue. Then, between the palms, a flash of grey green sea. Windows go down. Somebody in the back seat says “finally” a little too loudly.
Here’s my confession. I lived in Mumbai for years before I realised that a beach weekend didn’t have to involve a long drive down to Alibaug, a packed bag and an argument about who forgot the charger. Madh Island was right there the whole time, quietly waiting for me to notice. Embarrassing, really.
Two things are working in Madh Island’s favour. First, the hotel industry sees room for many more weekend breaks. Horwath HTL’s India Hotel Market Review 2025 lists weekend getaways as a key opportunity for business cities, and says Mumbai in particular needs to grow its weekend and off-season leisure business. Somewhere close, by the sea, with a pool? That’s the gap.
Second, getting there may soon get a lot easier. On 9 September 2026, the Bombay High Court cleared the way for the proposed Madh Versova bridge over Malad Creek. Right now, the road journey from Versova is a long detour of about 21 km that can take nearly 1.5 hours. Once built, the bridge is expected to shrink that to around 1.5 km and about five minutes. It’s not open yet, so for now the drive still counts as part of the adventure.
You’re driving out here for a reason, so the resort needs to earn it. My wishlist:
The Retreat Hotel and Convention Centre sits on Erangal Beach, in a quiet fishing hamlet on Madh Island. The hotel says it has a private exit to the ocean, so you share the sand with fewer people. It also says it has been in hospitality for more than 25 years.
The signature here is a lagoon-shaped swimming pool, with an open-air jacuzzi alongside. There’s a separate kids pool and play area, plus a toddlers room, which parents of small humans will appreciate more than they can say. Volleyball, water polo and indoor sports fill the rest of the day, and the health club offers massage therapies when you’d rather do nothing at all.
Rooms come in five categories: Deluxe Room, Executive Room, Superior Suite, Deluxe Suite and Presidential Suite. The Superior Suites look out over the palms, and the Presidential Suite adds a separate living room with views of the ocean and the resort grounds. Every room has free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a TV and a tea and coffee maker.
Tangerine is a 24-hour cafe for coffee, snacks and desserts. Oriental Bowl serves Pan Asian food with a bar. Lagoon is the pool-view cafe with an a la carte menu, and the Sunken Bar is where cocktails meet the pool. The hotel also mentions barbeque dinners.
With 12 conference and convention halls and a guest capacity of 700+, per the hotel, The Retreat handles offsites, reunions and weddings. It describes itself as a sought-after wedding venue, with beachfront settings.
The reviews featured on the hotel’s website read a lot like thank you notes from groups. Vikram Rao (DBS), writing after a team offsite: “We are writing to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation for the outstanding experience we had at your resort during our recent offsite.”
Shefali & Shivani, writing after a day at the resort with their whole class, kept it short: “Everything went off absolutely perfectly!!” Mickey, on behalf of the IHMCT batch of 1972, praised the service across the hotel and food that was thoughtfully suited to senior guests and their international tastes. And for the solo verdict, Anthony Rozario: “It was really a good stay and excellent food! All Staff were excellent, Good Property!”
At the time of writing, the hotel lists the Rejuvenation Package, Staycation Package, The Autumn Getaway Package (MAP), Getaway Package (CP), Seaside Serenity Package and Honeymooner’s Paradise, along with a Club Membership offer. Packages change with the seasons, so check the official website for what’s running when you plan your trip.
It’s on Erangal Beach, off Madh Marve Road, Madh Island, Mumbai 400061.
The hotel says it has a private exit to the ocean, so guests can step onto the beach with fewer people around.
Very. There’s a kids swimming pool and play area, a toddlers room, and the big lagoon-shaped pool for the whole family.
Yes. The hotel has 12 conference and convention halls with a guest capacity of 700+, and describes itself as a sought-after wedding venue.
Not yet. The Bombay High Court cleared the way for the Madh Versova bridge in September 2026, but it hasn’t been built yet, so for now it’s the longer road route.
