As March pushes winter’s chill to a biting close, clear blue skies and a newfound warmth have awakened our appetites for the new, bold, and refreshingly delicious! From art-inspired cocktails to a wide array of experimental, international, and regional cuisines, here are our top picks for Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa and Kolkata.
From their Meat-Wale Chawal to lip-smacking Bunta Sodas, Ikk Panjab captures the heritage and generosity of an undivided Punjab. With a mélange of flavours and memories, this newly launched themed restaurant in Connaught Circle offers a menu featuring lost and cherished recipes from the chefs and grandmothers of Rawalpindi and Lahore to those of Patiala and Amritsar. A royal Gosht Beliram sits beside regional favourite Ferozpuri Macchi and often even rubs shoulders with Dadi Harnam Kaur’s Matthi Chole.
Address: K-13 Outer Circle Ground Floor, Connaught Place, New Delhi
Follow: @ikkpanjab
Steeped in both aesthetic appeal and culinary experimentation, Green Park’s sleekest new spot has an All-Day Brunch menu where you can tuck into Goan Ross Omelets and Tiramisu Pancakes, smoky Soft Shell Ghee Roast to and Chorizo Carbonara. As the sun goes down, the restaurant transforms into a lounge, complete with live jazz and intriguing cocktails. Slender glasses of Limoncello Spritz add a touch of European flair to the ambiance.
Address: Sri Aurobindo Marg, Block A, Green Park, New Delhi
Follow: @addonisdelhi
Latoyá, a Latin American restaurant and bar, is an exciting new addition to Eldeco Center. Beyond being a typical Tex-Mex experience, this vibrant venue serves Argentinian and Brazilian dishes. It even explores cross-cultural culinary creations like Nikkei, a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian techniques, think fresh ceviche and Peruvian sushi. Complementing the food is an impressive cocktail menu, a dedicated section for Mezcal and Tequila, and a thoughtful selection of pisco, cachaça, and Mexican beers.
Address: Eldeco Centre, Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi
Follow: @latoya.in
Kolkata’s beloved Mughlai restaurant has arrived in NCR, and you may want to find out what the hype is about. From the iconic Kolkata Biryani, rich stews, buttery naans, succulent kebabs, to generously filled rolls, their meals hark back to royal kitchens and deliver economic yet satiating meals across Kolkata and now Delhi.
Address: J, 2/5, Block J, Rajouri Garden, Delhi
Follow: @arsalanrestaurantandcaterer
Mi Piaci, an Italian pizza palace, delivers a classic slice of Italy to the NCR. From their coffee-soaked tiramisu to saucy pizza crusts, stuffed and often topped with a variety of Neapolitan cheeses, this straightforward menu will win over pasta and pizza aficionados, as well as calzone lovers.
Address: Gwal Pahari, Gurugram
Follow: @mipiaci.gurgaon
Bandra’s newest hotspot offers a culinary experience that takes us to the heart of Levantine cuisine, featuring varieties of Manakish and Fatayer, along with highlights of Iranian meat preparations, Egyptian street food Koshary, and Yemeni Mandi. From flatbreads and shawarmas to meat and lentil dishes, delicate knafeh and baklavas, and the rich, milky Umm Ali pudding, zima promises a feast spanning the plains, deserts, and bustling cities of the Middle East.
Address: Linking Rd, near National College, Bandra West, Mumbai
Follow @zimagourmet
Layered with faded sketches and stained-glass accents, this mid-century themed taproom hopes to transport you to post-World War II Berlin and Bombay. With brews ranging from the eclectic Alphonso Mead and Basmati Blonde to the Tropical Twist IPA there’s enough and more to choose from. You can also opt for German options like the Bavarian Bloom Hefeweizen and Berlin Dunkelweizen. Pair them with Mini Blue Cheese Kulchas or Pan-Glazed Barbecue Chorizos.
Address: Unit No.2, D Wing,Ground Floor, Times Square, Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri East, Ward-K/E, Greater Mumbai, Mumbai.
Follow: @berlinbrewmumbai
A brand-new speakeasy in Santa Cruz offers a curious mix of American street food and ancient Mayan flavours. With lavish, Mayan-inspired interiors including a ceiling that is designed like the insides of a volcano. Ocho chooses to remain elusive by intentionally rejecting Google Maps searches. Located behind an unmarked “Authorised Personnel Only” door on Linking Road, Ocho coyly lures. 35 Latin American dishes (like their succulent Chimichurri Lamb Chops) complement the 13 cocktails inspired by the 13 moons of the Mayan calendar.
Address: 8th Floor, Ramee Emerald II, Linking Rd, above Nike Showroom, Vithaldas Nagar, Santacruz (West), Mumbai
Follow: @ochobandra
A cheeky nod to the permit rooms of yesteryear, Permit and Co. brims with affectionate Bombay nostalgia. Adorned with curios from the 80s and 90s, lined with subway tiles, and furnished with comfortable wooden furniture, this Lower Parel restaurant has a menu dedicated to Bombay’s idiosyncratic flavours. Dishes range from Chinese Bhel with a Manchurian pancake to Nizami Haleem and a dessert called “Ramesh Aur Suresh”—a 5-Star chocolate like experience in a bread pudding laced with salted caramel.
Address: 1st Floor, Raghuvanshi Mills, Senapati Bapat Marg, Gandhi Nagar, Upper Worli, Parel, Mumbai
Follow: @permitandco
Bayroute has launched a new outlet in Mumbai’s Goregaon, bringing a Middle Eastern dining experience to NESCO! Offering an immersive ambiance along with meticulously curated dishes, the restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining, with the exterior being a charming alfresco space called the ‘Open Garden’. Showcasing time-honed recipes from across the Middle East, notably Turkey, Greece, Morocco and Egypt, the must-try dishes here include the Layer Shawarma, Lamb Pirzola, Salmon Tripoli and the indulgent Baklava Sundae! For intriguing tipples, try Bayroute’s signatures like the Gin Blossom and Zanjabeel & Grapefruit.
Address: NESCO Center, Western Express Highway, Goregaon (East), Mumbai
Follow: @bayroutedining
Defying traditional dining norms, Bengaluru’s PartTwo focuses on small-plates, emphasising flavour diversity. Chef Karan Upmanyu’s ever-evolving menu ranges from signature dishes like Pork-Floss Toast and Charred Bro-cauli to reimagined classics like the tahini-tinged Burrata Plate. The cocktail menu highlights Karnataka’s local ingredients, featuring drinks with Coorgi Coffee or Udupi Jasmine.
Address: Lavelle Road, Bengaluru.
Follow: @parttwo.blr
Spanning 9,000 square feet, Lumara (derived from Latin’s lumen or “light”) is a Mediterranean resto bar that plays with light and shadow, from airy bamboo structures to earth-toned alcoves. Its striking ambiance complements the comfortable dining experience. The menu spans local and international flavours, from ragi-twisted Gua Baos and Katsu Curries to sushi and comforting Neer Dosas with Lucknowi Galouti. The bar offers everything from Vintage Gimlets to the Sulaimani, a take on a Long Island Ice Tea.
Address: 4th floor, Trinity Circle, Trinity Pothraj, #154, Old Madras Rd, Bengaluru
Follow: @lumara.blr
Housed inside a 160-year-old Portuguese mansion in the quiet lanes of Assagao, Goa, Jugnu offers a stand-out dining experience. Led by Chef Ajay Chopra, this menu invites curious diners to explore the possibilities within Indian cuisine. Showcasing Goan favourites like Rocheado and Chonak preparations, North Indian specials such as Shaadiyon Wali Aloo Gobhi Kasuri Methi and reimagining traditional desserts with their Tiramisu Serraduras and Chocolate Green Apple Jalebis, the menu seamlessly blends the traditional with the eclectic.
Address: 140, Bairo Alto, Assagao, Goa 403507
Follow: @jugnu.goa
Overlooking the shining waters at Morjim’s Mayfair, Farzi Beach is an airy restaurant adorned with scarf-like canopies and awnings that enhance the seaside setting. Its textured, muted architecture, handcrafted cocktails, delicious flavours, make it ideal for both serene lunches or vibrant sundowners. Farzi, meaning “illusion,” lives up to its name by offering a modern twist on Indian culinary expectations, with menu items like the dal-chawal arancini.
Address: 764 E, Gawdewada Rd, Morjim, Goa.
Follow: @farzibeachgoa
Lined with traditional Torii Gates, common to Shinto shrines in Japan, this izakaya is helmed by Chef Vishesh Jawarni. The star of the menu is the ramen, with a stock that has been simmered for 14 hours before serving. The balance of flavours found across the menu carries forth in their cocktail selection, mixing alcohol with curious elements such as the Japanese BBQ sauce yakiniku, Umeshu (Japanese plum wine), sakura and gari.
Address: Next to Cliff’s Monty Guesthouse, opposite Artjuna, Monteiro Vaddo, Anjuna
Follow: @jsangoa
Hidden away in a 109-year-old building, this cosy salon is a cocktail parlour nestled beneath a jazz club and thrift store exudes a speakeasy vibe. With limited seating, an omakase-style format, eclectic Bauhaus elements, a games room, a fermentation lab, and a singular Burmese teak table—this 650 sq. ft. bar is a veritable playground that celebrates the craft of cocktails. Must-tries include the “Kolkata Chinatown”, a mix of Patron Silver, chicken broth, scallions, soy, and more, a hat tip to Kolkata-style chili chicken, the “Sushi” – where umami meets Bombay Sapphire.
Address: Ground Floor, 91, Manohar Pukur Rd, Manoharpukur, Kalighat, Kolkata
Follow: @nutcase.etc
