Hot batch of tacos and craft cocktails! 14 new restaurants in India to cure your monsoon blues

We just might have found the cure to our rainy-day blues. Our monsoon motivation? A hearty, warm meal at a cosy nook tucked away from the deluge of chaos. Imagine sipping chai with Farzi vada pav, enjoying the view of Mussoorie’s verdure. Or sitting in a Chettinad-inspired coach, indulging in a hot batch of medu vadas or having a candlelight dinner and tiramisu at a Parisian eatery on a thunderous night.

Here’s ELLE DECOR India’s list of 14 restaurants in India that give you a reason to step away from the grips of your cosy couches to these fantastical worlds of culinary.

1522 the Pub, Bengaluru
This mansion is now a pub, by order of the Peaky Blinders! Devouring the Mangalore Kori rotti with Irish whisky at 1522, designed by Studio Camarada, is the peak Bengaluru Blinders’ experience. Each space here feels like a postcard from the Colonial British Era. The traditional design elements, such as the arched ceiling with wooden beams, framed pictures and mirrors, evoke a sense of history and character. The black and white geometric tile flooring adds a contemporary touch, while the pendant lights provide a warm and inviting ambience. The large arched window with stained glass panels allows natural light to enhance the space, creating a welcoming and cosy atmosphere. The green plants add a refreshing touch, making the pub feel lively and vibrant.

AlaKart, Chattisgarh
A go-karting fine-dining experience interspersed with abundant natural light and picturesque views of the karting track, Meba Design Studio (mebā studIō) brings the allure of Monaco to Bilaspur. Drawing inspiration from nature, the interiors, awash in warm earthy tones, enhance the natural elegance of the lush greenery and the sun’s dance of illumination throughout the day. Seamlessly blending the outdoors with the indoors, it blurs the boundaries between interior spaces and landscapes. A perfect getaway from your non-race weekend blues, where you can burn doughnuts on the track, devour pizza as you watch the sun go down and end the day with a thrilling paintball fight—a truly à la carte experience away from the ordinary.

Atelier V, Indore
As one enters this epicurean paradise, nestled in the city of poha jalebi aficionados, they are engulfed in the tableau of chef Vedant Newatia’s travel tales. The walls here tell stories of landscapes across the globe and the culinary carte takes you on a detour from the ordinary, en route to a journey of global flavours. Surrounded by a neutral palette of interiors, a comforting dining experience awaits. Divulge in their delicate lamb bolognese fettucini, snack on the caponata-filled empanadas with your Aperol Spritz, all as you look at The Last Supper-inspired central wall with intrigue. With unique elements like the central wall cherishing the bond of friendship with a whimsical twist on da Vinci’s craft and a minimalist material palette of wood, black and beige; Ar. Udit Goyal, founder and principal architect at UGS Banyan has created an atelier abode for Chef Vedant’s tableau of flavours.

Farzi Cafe, Dehradun
Stitching together the Mussoorie hills on the upper floor and finishing with the scenic city of love etched on the lower, Ar. Animesh Aggarwal of Studieux Atelier has woven a culinary haven with the city’s natural fabric. Farzi Cafe takes one on a road trip from Dehradun to Mussoorie, bringing the nostalgia of spending weekends picnicking around the valley back to the city. A helical staircase connects the lower floor, dubbed Dehradun, grounded with earthy tones, with elements reminiscent of the natural streams, trees and soil of the valley with the upper floor, ‘Mussoorie’, interspersed with pastel hues. A palette reminiscent of the boundless skies and emerald forests takes over Mussorie, the bar canopy and the cabanas depict the verticality of the mountains. A hearty meal at Farzi Cafe feels like devouring a picnic spread with your family’s favourite spot in the valley, by the riverbank in the Queen of Hills Sierra.

Idylll, Bangalore
The monolithic monotone walls crafted by The Purple Ink Studio enclose an innately Indian and idyllic dining experience at Idylll, Bangalore. An array of flavours around India as vibrant as grandma’s dibba of spices, carrying on the generational nuskhe and forgotten recipes all in a fine dining flare, in a rustic ambience interspersed with the hues of the Pink City. From menus based on the age-old techniques of fermentation to craft cocktails with a tadka of regional ingredients, the Idylll has something for everyone. A menu that takes over the flavours of Rajasthan, Kashmir, Lucknow, Orissa and Maharashtra with indigenous ingredients foraged from the smallest towns of the country, celebrates the diversity of Indian food.

Klaa Kitchen, Bangalore
Celebrating Goan soul food in a quaint setting crafted by Maze Concept Design, Klaa Kitchen is bringing the rustic charm of Goan villages to Bangalore. Klaa is a heartfelt fusion of Chef Rhea Aaron’s culinary vision for Goan cuisine and her brother Varun Aaron’s cherished memories of their childhood travels across the country. With elements handpicked by Varun adorning the space and the aroma of Goan recipes handcrafted by Chef Rhea lingering in the air, the space feels like a home away from home for them. The retro charm of old-school Goa is woven into the decor, in the art adorning the walls and the display of Varun’s private radio collection. Taking a bite into the Crispy Prawn Rissois crisp from the outside and silken-gooey from the inside, with the spicy Balchao dip, you are transported to the tranquil land of beaches.

Marilyn, Lucknow
Bringing the romantic charm of vintage Parisian brasseries to the poetic city of Nawabs, Marilyn is designed by Studio Gulaab. Marilyn fleurs in a rêverie, with classic French print wallpapers, distressed mirror accents and elegant waffle weave half-window tier curtains. Before the entrees, the carefully curated 1980s French interiors will charm you like a Dean Martin song. A feast of the eyes, a palette with the richness of earthy hues of olive green, dusty rose, elegant whites and terracotta Draped pendant lights, rustic furniture upholstered in rich fabrics, a fine dining experience with attention to the finer details—  the decor is luxurious yet timeless. Indulge in a multi-cuisine carte under dimmed lights. Marilyn is the perfect date-night destination.

Notorious, Jalandhar

Notorious for its two sides, just like our Earth at any given time, Notorious, the restaurant by Studio Dashline in Jalandhar, Punjab, is a 12,000 sq ft rooftop resto-bar. The space brings together two contrasting sides, one that is bright and open and the other that is dark and secluded.

The heart of Notorious lies in its three distinct cabanas, enveloped by lush landscapes, vertical gardens and tranquil water bodies. A private dining area and an outdoor bar, featuring vaulted arches and brass shelving details, break the spatial flow of the cabanas. A brass skylight crowns the bar, casting a gentle glow over the atmosphere.
Connecting these spaces are walkways shaded with jute fabric. On the opposite end, discreetly concealed behind a crafty artwork-framed door, lies the speakeasy — a space where the dark and mysterious unfurl. Here, one can find brass finishes, handmade tiles, marble inlay flooring and intricate details. Vaulted ceilings with linear tube lights, plush tan leather sofas and patterned green upholstery chairs add to the ensemble.

Padmanabham, Delhi

All aboard the Padmanabham express! Karigar Design Studio takes Delhi on a journey of South Indian flavours in a coach inspired by the various craft forms of South India. With traditional courtyards, ornate pillars and an earthy palette with eclectic touches of aqua blue, Padmanabham feels like a Chettinad mansion. Watch with awe the traditional artefacts adorning the space, divulging the rich culture. Then indulge in a hearty meal, starting with the kuttu dosai, then diving into the vegetable gassi with poni rice and ending on a sweet note with the sabudana payasam.

Telugu Medium, Hyderabad

In the verdure of Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, this Andhra cuisine haven is dubbed Telugu Medium. A modern reinterpretation of South Indian dining finds a quaint rustic home under brick and mortar, an escape from the scorching Hyderabad heat. The Deccan soul of the space is kept alive in its interiors: textured tandoor flooring, brick-moulded ceilings and scaling concrete columns. A rectangular pond lined with black limestone tiles demands your attention — that is, if you aren’t intoxicated by the pink granite-clad central bar. Contemporary elements are brought together by Sona Reddy Studio at Telugu Medium to translate the regional cuisine into a modern dialect.

Tres Amigos, Ahmedabad

This Mexican restaurant by Compartment S4 dubbed Tres Amigos brings fiesta and siesta to Ahmedabad. The palette is a fiery red guac inspired by the vibrant hues of Mexican desserts. The lively streets of Mexico are brought indoors, a 6ft tall handmade cacti lamp stands along the monumental wooden table that encourages communal dining. A menu ranging from tamales to tacos, with vegan and gluten-free options, celebrated the vibrant Tex-Mex flavours.

United Coffee House Rewind, Haryana

The Melange Studio brews a strong cup of nostalgia for the millennial spirit at the United Coffee House Rewind, Haryana. As one crosses the cafe’s colour-blocked green lobby, the aroma of roasted coffee beans and their hearty, signature United Coffee House meals engulf their senses. A modern take on the classic cafes, the interiors blend classical elegance with modern trends. Larger-than-life wicker lights, wrought iron accents and brass meet playful colours and graphics adorning the walls to create an ambience perfect for every setting. Grabbing frappes with friends, wholesome Railway mutton and Nargis kofta lunch with the family or cocktails with colleagues, United Coffee House Rewind has a comfy booth for every occasion.

Waikiki, Mumbai

How does clinking to the Ala Wai Mermaid and sipping on Maui Mai Tai sound? Take a tropical vacation in a metropolitan (without the tan) at Waikiki. Drawing inspiration from the journey of the native Hawaiian tribes, the restaurant in Mumbai designed by Hiren and Saloni Ganatra, creative founders of Colab Company brings Hawaiian culture and cuisine to the city. Picture a refined yet eccentric space bathed in vibrant sunset hues, intricate art, installations and the spirit of aloha interspersed in it.

Colab Company imbues this spirit into the interiors, creating the ultimate tropical dining experience. The island-inspired menu spoils one for choice, ranging from sambal oelek to avocado tartar and our dessert of choice, Hawaiian pannacotta. A labour of love brought to life by a team of local designers, the restaurant contains art by Botanical Bias, Namrata Kumar, One O One Studios, Hyderi Design Studio, Harshita Jhamtani, Gate Fine Arts Studio and Urban House.

Thanks & Beyond

Designed by Natelier by Bent Chair with Natasha and Neeraj Jain at the helm, Thanks & Beyond is a lively restaurant-cum-bar located in Delhi. Boasting of a spacious outdoor space with a bar as well as plush interiors, the space harbours a distinctively bohemian appeal. Dubbed Thanks, the interior dining space aims to cater to coffee aficionados and cocktail enthusiasts equally.

An earthy colour palette permeates the space that looks just as good as the food, with a kitchen stocked with the finest ingredients sourced from across the country and the world. Within &, a tranquil retreat plush with rustic charm and the beauty of nature ensues as the city faces into the background. Beyond is a bar brimming with energy. Hand-sculpted wall sculptures decorate the space.  The bar boasts an array of handcrafted cocktails made with premium spirits, crafted to deliver.

Now read: 13 new restaurants in India that give thirteen reasons to feast!