The Old Courtyard Hotel was known as Lily Koder’s house. The famous Koder family of Fort Cochin, who were Jews. The house was built for Lily Koder’s brother, but unfortunately he did not live long to occupy the house. And since Lily Koder was unmarried, she lived in that house with some nephews. When the nephews migrated to Israel, she lived there alone. Her brother lived in the Koder House which was connected to her house by the shop next door and by a bridge over the road. She used to spend time and eat at her brother’s house. Lily Koder was well known among her colleagues and in the society and the young girls used to go to her to learn bridge and French. She died in the early 90’s and the house was. left abandoned until it was bought over in 1999.Jacob and Rose Kuruvinakunnel found Lily Koder’s house the perfect setting to start their own hotel. The old mango tree in the center of the courtyard was the clincher. Being a graduate of Ecole Les Roches, Cran Montana, Switzerland, it was their dream to find a place they could transform to a small and intimate hotel. With Jacob’s love for antique furniture, he searched all over to find the kind of furniture he imagined to fill the place. Thus, he created rooms in the colonial style of four poster beds, intricate cupboards, tables, lion face, 5 headed elephant and other unusual pieces. His love of art enabled him to collect original art work and paintings which are show cased in the Old Courtyard Restaurant and rooms.
Rooms:
Initially a home to the Portuguese this charming hotel has just 8 rooms divided into 2 Suites (1 air conditioned and 1 non air conditioned), 3 regular rooms (1 air-conditioned and 2 non air-conditioned) and 3 Superior rooms (all air-conditioned). The Suite is the highest category of rooms here and is antique looking. You get the feeling of being deported to the days of yore in this place. The wooden flooring, high ceiling and a romantic Portuguese decor welcome you; the white colour was marked all over the walls and linen playing with rich and elaborate furnishings. Room amenities include double bed, mini bar, luggage rack, sofa unit, mosquito net, dressing table, full size mirror, cupboard, television and telephone. The bathroom is spacious and has a bathtub with running hot and cold water and other amenities like soap, shampoo; linen etc. The Superior room is a big room with wooden floor and ceiling and rich woodwork. The typical conical ceilings are specific to this kind of rooms and are very unique in character. The furniture consists of sofa chairs and tables, fancy mosquito nets, luggage rack, cupboard, study table, television, telephone etc. The Regular rooms are similar to the Superior rooms, but only smaller in size. Interestingly, these rooms are not accessible from the common corridors of the hotel. A spiral iron staircase is the only entrance to these rooms. All the facilities are the same. The bathroom is big with a shower cubicle, running hot and cold water supply and the same facilities as in the Suites.
Dining:
The restaurant opens on to the courtyard to serve quality dining in a melodious atmosphere. Fresh seafood caught daily in the scenic Chinese fishing nets are a specialty. The cuisine covers a delicious range of Kerala, Continental, Mediterranean and Asian flavours. Indeed, a pleasant alternative to the very spicy local fare. Among the ambrosial display of desserts, “Rose’s cheesecake” is justly famous!
Jacob and Rose are foodies and for them the quality and attention to food is a priority. Rose was the Chef who planned the menu, created dishes using local ingredients and developed dessert recipes which have remained as main favorites in the menu which is updated every year according to demand. Their guests constantly ask for their well guarded recipes of Apple Crumble and Dark Chocolate brownies, Lime Cheesecake and cake.
Facilities and Services:
Facilities at the hotel include the following: Free Internet facility with dedicated computer for guests and wifi in certain common areas, Breakfast inclusive of rate, A Café and Restaurant available, Live Classical Indian Music during the season during dinner, Housekeeping Service, Laundry Service, All rooms have a safe, Higher Category rooms have cable TV, Tea/Coffee making facility, All rooms are equipped with hair dryers, Complimentary Bottled Water per room daily, No minimum stay required, A 24-Hour Front Desk for Check in /Check out and Information Desk with a person on duty at all hours, All rooms are air conditioned, Travel Desk on premises for tours/ cultural activities/ taxi requirements, All rooms have attached bathrooms/ Ensuite Bathrooms with hot and cold running water, Housekeeping done daily morning for general housekeeping and cleaning and evening service to do a once over for all rooms etc.
Location:
The Old Courtyard is located on Princess Street in Fort Cochin. The airport is 36 kms away,  railway station is 13 kms away while the Fort Cochin bus stand is about 0.5 kms away from the hotel. The beach, where you can see Chinese fishing nets also is just a short walk away from the hotel.

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