9 new restaurants and menus to try across India—in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Goa

With only two months remaining in the year, the restaurant scene is bursting with a slew of new openings in time for the festive crowd. Diners have a whole gamut of options to pick from—be it a new eco-friendly menu at Bengaluru’s Copitas to Sylvia, W Goa’s latest gin bar. Bazaar India lists the ones that you should bookmark for your next meal out. 

Pune

The Asilo Terrace

The Westin Pune Koregaon Park is home to the city’s newest terrace bar—The Asilo Terrace. With stunning views of the Pune skyline and cozy cabanas where you can relax with friends and family, it makes for the perfect night out. The bar is built around a cherry blossom-inspired décor call the Tree of Life, and you’ll find the pink spring blooms make their way into the indoor seating area as well. To go along with your tropical cocktails like the communa colada and the la dolce vita, there is a bar bites menu that features dishes like crispy spicy avocado maki, the truffle scrambled eggs, and the Andalusian lamb slider. 

Bangalore

Copitas—new menu

Copitas has a new eco-conscious menu called The Greener Future, which is inspired by using every part of the plant—from the seed to fruit. The restaurant marries sustainability with nostalgia in the edit that sees drinks like gin stirred with home-made black lemon cordial that makes use of a fruit, and a rum drink infused with tamarind and pandan leaves. Other drinks too, highlight one part of the plant, be it the roots or the leaves. 

Bento Bento 

From the team that helms the celebrated Goa restaurant Edible Archives is their latest called Bento Bento, the casual eatery in Bengaluru offering Korean and Japanese food with a side of K-drama flair. With a menu curated by chef Anumitra Ghosh Dastidar, expect small plates and bento boxes that have locally-sourced produce and knockout flavours as the stars, like onigiri, soy-glazed mackerel, and more. 

Mumbai

Starbucks Reserve

If you’ve lived in Mumbai for long enough, chances are you’d have visited the iconic Horniman Circle Starbucks, which also happened to be the first in the city. Now, the address has got a complete facelift and is now home to the first Starbucks Reserve in India. Spanning 5,200 square feet, the new store promises an elevated coffee experience—right from your cuppa joe to the chic interiors. The bar is offset by a stunning sculpture that resembles clouds, and inside, beyond the twin arches, is a vibrant AI mural by local Mumbai artists Sonal Vasave and Makarand Narker that comes to life when you scan the QR code placed nearby. As you admire the new surroundings, sip on small-lot single origin coffee sourced from Bolivia, Rwanda, and Sumatra and made through a variety of processes—from siphon brewing to cold brewing.  

Plural—new menu

Nestled in Kala Ghoda, Plural is the Vietnamese restaurant that is popular with the city’s vegans for its plant-based menu that puts the focus on responsible eating. Its new menu follows the same ethos, with local ingredients and seasonal produce front and center in dishes like crunchy lotus chips, cauliflower tacos, bibimbap, Nasi Goreng, among others. Finish your meal with a decadent vegan chocolate mousse or a seasonal sugar-free cheesecake. 

La Loca Maria

Tapas (small, shared plates) form the backbone of Spanish cuisine, and at the recently revamped La Loca Maria, they are the spotlight. Their tapas menu, curated by chef Manuel Olveira, features classics like gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns in chili oil), charred octopus (dusted in paprika, baby potatoes, tomato chutney) to lighter dishes such as the BFF carpaccio and kale and brussel sprouts salad (with beetroot hummus, passionfruit dressing, seeds granola). Patrons will spot familiar dishes like the grilled tenderloin steak (served with swiss chards, mushroom ragu and potato pave) and the smoked salmon on the menu as well. With the new avatar also comes the restaurant’s first bar, which is divided into four sections of signature cocktails, traditional Spanish cocktails, tequila-based concoctions, and a negroni selection. 

Privé by Akina

Akina, the plush Japanese restaurant and bar that opened its doors in Bandra recently, also has a a private area called Akina Privé, which boasts of intimate but indulgent interiors. Sample the contemporary Japanese fare and enjoy your cocktails at the bar in the company of your close ones without interruptions. Expect the ultimate late-night experience—right from the friendly staff to the stylish setting. 

Goa 

Sylvia—W Goa

A new gin bar has made its way to the state, with W Goa’s Sylvia. With moody lighting, eccentric couches, and sweeping views of the Arabian Sea, the bar promises a fun experience. Pick from over 21 gin labels, and sip on avant-garde cocktails that are made with native ingredients. One of the standouts on the drinks menu is the Gibson course, where the martini with a twist gets a curated set menu with five different variations that one shouldn’t miss if you’re a true-blue gin lover. 

Delhi

Petite Pie Shop

Chef Vanshika Bhatia’s Petite Pie Shop, originally in Gurugram, has a new outpost in Delhi’s Defence Colony.  The bistro has a relaxed and earthy vibe, which translates into the laidback menu—sample their delectable pies like the potato and leek and Spanish chorizo, quiches, and tarts along with coffees and teas. Freshly-baked goods take a new definition at the café, with sweet pies made in small batches and savories baked to order so the crust remains flaky and crisp. 

Lead image: La Loca Maria