Eat your art out

The Sarvato, Jaipur

A collaboration between HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh and restaurateur Abhishek Honawar, The Sarvato sits at the heart of The City Palace, Jaipur atop the historic Sarvatobhadra pavilion, once a private audience hall. Dubbed as a tasting menu restaurant and cocktail bar, the restaurant is a member of the Relais & Châteaux network, with its vast terrace holding majestic views of the Pink City as the chefs plate heritage, reviving ancestral cooking techniques through modern finesse. A regal, cosy seating unravels under the stars with cocktails like the Rajputana Reviver or Diwan-E-Khas, leading to an evening that becomes theatre. 

1932 Trevi, Jaipur by Shantanu Garg

Commanding an architectural performance, 1932 Trevi by founder Namokar Jain is a semi-open courtyard restaurant that serves palatable Italian cuisine in Jaipur. Designed by Shantanu Garg, traditional motifs anchor the space, reappearing in entrances and shadows.

The red, black and white colour palette pairs with curated furniture and statement pieces, as the space opens into a chowk centred by a fountain and a striking red piano. The obsessive detailing to attention is what makes 1932 Trevi special. A heritage-style restaurant balanced with a memorable culinary experience!

Mirove, Jaipur by Pantone Collective

If there’s one (more) stop you must make in Jaipur, let it be Mirove Artisanal Kitchen. Designed by Tanya Chutani along with the founder Sonali Sharma, this 8,000 sq ft, 100-seater restaurant is an ode to the Pink City. Blending nostalgia with a muted rouge colour palette, the restaurant unfolds into many zones. Through sweeping curves, open arches and soft circular voids, a 360-degree bar connects the indoors to open air. 

Inspired by Jantar Mantar’s cosmic geometry and Jaipur’s sandstone palette, Mirove balances its historical design inspiration alongside a delectable menu. 

1522 Sahakarnagar, Bengaluru by Studio Camarada

Understatement is the first trick 1522 Sahakarnagar pulls. Called “nothing much really” by Studio Camarada’s André Camara and Shravya Shetty, the space quickly proves otherwise. This neo-classical 1522 outlet balances calm and drama with ease. Outdoors, an open-to-sky retreat and lush rooftop soften the city jostle, while the indoors replicate a sorcerer’s den with bold monochromes.

Hidden somewhere near an office, this restro-bar is all about the grandeur of the bar space celebrating spirit in nature.

IDYLL,  Bengaluru

In the bustling streets of Indiranagar rests IDYLL, a modern Indian restaurant that values good hospitality like the Bible. “We’ve always listened to our guests, their insights have shaped IDYLLL in countless ways,” the team shares. 

With warm ambient lighting and a modern Indian menu, the heather maroon seating add a touch of smoothness that reflects the thoughtful evolution of the space shaped by guest feedback. The design changes according to seasons which can be seen through floral arrangements, art pieces and subtle details. This space adapts itself rather than asking their guests to.

Liquids Bar & Kitchen, Bengaluru by Studio AD9

Coconut rum punch for the table? Bengaluru’s commotion fades as Liquids Bar & Kitchen answers by transporting guests straight to Bali. Designed by Studio AD9, three floors tread under a straw roof, leading to a central bar enlightened by a hand-carved Ramayana-inspired stone panels. 

Handcrafted cocktails meet a set menu that marries Indian and Asian palettes, extending the island mood through taste. AD Studio9 crafts more than an ambience, venturing into a space that extends its warmth and appreciation to the Balinese artistry and soulful design.

Echoes, Delhi by URBAN MISTRII

Do you love zen days as much as house music nights? Echoes in Delhi offer both. Refreshing the city’s nightlife with the charm of the Himalayas, this cafe-bar shaped by URBAN MISTRII feels like the spot you discover after long travel hours. Rubble-textured walls ground you instantly alongside vintage artefacts whispering stories and arched windows reflecting soft amber light. 

Rather than one big hall, low partitions and staggered levels carve intimate pockets, each moody and intentional. Across 1,200 sq ft, this spot champions slowness that invites connection and authenticity over spectacle.

Kokoy, Delhi by The Narayan Architects

“Home is where the heart is,” and Kokoy proves it. Designed by The Narayan Architects, this cafe invites architecture lovers into its semi-open courtyard, where terracotta accents set the tone. 

All eyes on a terracotta tile rug, the space guides you towards a statement circular wall motif, a modern ode to Indian craft. Here, Mediterranean aesthetics echoes through patterned tiles and sun-washed textures and ceilings exudes burnt clay tones. More than a place to eat, Kokoy is a study in material art where design and culture hum under every surface.

Seoul, Delhi by URBAN MISTRII

Like the comfort of your first kimchi bite, Seoul by URBAN MISTRII pairs architecture with flavour. Here, Korean delicacies beam with authenticity rooted in the founders’ story, anchored by a wife’s Korean heritage. 

Inspired by Japandi minimalism, the flexible planning includes two private dining rooms, one seating 20 with movable partitions and the other honouring ondol-style floor dining. Uplifted by yellow, soft pink art and a statement pink bar, subtle hues that bubble like tteokbokki on a slow flame, this restaurant in Saket is architecture served warm.

Drift, Mumbai by Russell Sage Studio

What if your early morning sunny side-up and late-night tiramisu shared the same address? Set inside Nilaya Anthology, Drift, designed by Russell Sage Studio, dishes out all-day classics from 11 to 11. 

Warm lighting washes over an oblong bar cabinet, while a wavy ceiling glows overhead like soft surf. Drift is where relaxation meets rhythm. Here, mornings ease into nights, cocktails remix classics and the evening buzz linger longer than the DJ sets. A space where ingredients and interiors go hand in hand.

Fireback, Mumbai by Russell Sage Studio

Curvaceous interiors get a Bangkok twist at Fireback, in Nilaya Anthology, Mumbai. Opening with a wave-like ceiling light that sweeps across the space like liquid gold, this spot combines traditional Thai menu with modern minimalism. 

The long bar shapeshifts from laid-back daytime lounge to electric night spot, mirroring Thailand’s streetfood lanes. With Chef David Thompson curating unfussy, flavour-forward cuisine, Fireback feels confident and irresistibly urban, impossible not to dine at.

Penang Table, Mumbai

Mumbai’s first slice of Malaysia (with a side of Bandra breeze) awaits at Penang Table. A space by the restaurant industry’s doyen Kishore DF, this new outpost lays out Chinese, Malaysian and Indian delicacies. Framed picture walls, beautifully crafted chairs that never repeat and a striking bookshelf, this place surprises with countless details.

Sunlight streams through windows across bamboo blinds and planters of every size. As evening falls, spicy reds, blacks and warm yellows set the mood. Penang Table is the spot that thrives on its versatility. 

Sobo20, Mumbai by Essajees Atelier

Symmetry, golden accents and clustered saxophones blooming in spirals, Sobo20 has already mastered the art of design and curiosity. Designed by Sarah Sham of Essajees Atelier, the restaurant in South Mumbai evokes a global attitude that is sampled on the menu as well.  

Step inside and gaze at brick arches, deep jewel tones and a green ceiling. As Sarah says, “The space redefines what a luxury dining experience can be, vibrant yet refined, playful yet sophisticated.”

Fat Choy, Pune by Raya Shankhwalker

Ever wondered what Chengdu would feel like without boarding a plane? Fat Choy is your portal. Conceived by Ali Haji and designed by Raya Shankhwalker, this gem in the Kharadi neighbourhood is calm, modern and nostalgic.

Inside, a detailed facade, maze-like railings and bespoke furniture honour Chinese craftsmanship. And if you want to know which moment steals the glance first, the lit lanterns alongside hand-painted murals and earthy tones weave a story that is opulent and impossible to forget.

Nanna’s Negroni, Pune

“If you’re not spilling sauce, are you even living?” Nanna would approve. Think of a traveller’s postcard wall coming to life, that’s the entrance to Nanna’s Negroni. Envisioned by chef Ambar Rode, the restaurant blends the warmth and care of an Italian grandmother with cocktail sophistication across 2,600 sq ft. 

Features include dark green booths, well lit marble-topped tables and floral curtains framing a soft golden glow. As black-and-white sketches whisper tales, a chic smoking room hides between columns. Warm, mischievous and homely. 

Nakhra, Pune by OTHERWORLDS

Nakhra, is a restaurant that borrows inspiration from the sprawling Wadas of Maharashtra and design philosophy of Frank Lloyd Wright. Illustrated by the design and arts-based practice Otherworlds atop a busy Aundh terrace, the venue spreads across 4,800 sq ft, revealing in layers of warm timber charm.

Chowk-style clusters inspired by home-like spatial planning, the space opens into a library, a kitchen-side dining and living room. Marked by bamboo totems that divide and intrigue, this spot is all about walking in and devouring more.

Read more: The day we ditched coffee for breakfast