Top 10 best restaurants and bars in India in 2023

Gone are the days when Indian families would head out to restaurants on special occasions. Today, there is a thriving restaurant and bar culture that has taken the country by storm. This trend isn’t just prevalent in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, but also in Goa—which has lately emerged as India’s food capital.

A few themes like modern Indian cuisine, ingredient-first cocktails and the like have taken centre stage—but there’s really no limitation to innovation. Plus, it’s not just food and beverage that has to score high; it’s all about the experience that includes everything from decor to service.

While there are several restaurants and bars that opened in 2023, here are a few that caught our attention!

Cena Pranzo, Grand Hyatt, Gurugram

This newly-launched restaurant at Grand Hyatt, Gurugram offers a delightful journey to the heart of Italy. Translating to ‘dinner lunch’ in Italian, Cena Pranzo is helmed by Chef Mauro Ferrari, a third-generation Italian Chef with over four decades of culinary experience.

The restaurant believes in serving unpretentious Italian cuisine made with ingredients that narrate tales of Italian heritage.

Some of the must-haves at Cena Pranzo include Signature Burrata with Baked Onion and Yellow Capsicum Coulis, Homemade Tagliatelle with Duck Ragout, Pistachio and Pecorino, unmatched hand rolled pizza options and the classic Tiramisu.

FLOW Brew and Dine, Saket, New Delhi

As the name suggests, FLOW Brew and dine flows in its design as well as food and beverage offerings.

True to its promise, the restaurant's versatile space effortlessly transitions from a serene all-day diner to a high-energy bar space by the night.

The food menu is expertly crafted by Chef Ruchira Hoon and executed by Chef Kunal Bahl. It blends modern European, Asian, Indian, and Mediterranean culinary styles, complementing the classic Neapolitan-style pizzas (pizza made with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese) and juicy burgers.

The bar menu has been put together by one of India’s most accomplished mixologists, Yangdup Lama—it includes a variety of options from classic drinks with a unique twist and inventive concoctions.

INJA, The Manor Hotel, Delhi

INJA is the world's first Indian–Japanese fusion restaurant in the sprawling Manor Hotel, brought by Atelier House Hospitality. Their recent menu ‘The Hawker High’ merges the craft of Japanese street cuisine with the rich diversity of Indian street food, creating a symphony of flavours and aromas.

In the hands of Chef Adwait, every dish is a masterpiece. Some of the offerings on the menu include the Hamachi ‘Bombay Sandwich’ featuring Hamachi Sashimi, Wasabi Potato, Sweet Potato Chips, Ito-katso, and Sandwich chutney or the Koji Chicken Wings with Tamarind and Jaggery Teriyaki and a hint of Smoked Kashmiri Chili, just to name a few.

Sukoon, Bandra, Mumbai

Sukoon, a garden dining space in Bandra, Mumbai, adorned in elegant Kansa and copper crockery, crafts an epicurean symphony that ranges from soulful breakfast options like the Sourdough Toast, Dabeli Toastie Sandwich, and Ragi Dosa to sumptuous mains like Wild Mushroom Congee, Margherita Pasta, Undhiyu, Millet Maggi, Bharwan Karela, and more.

Experience unique blends in concoctions like Bobba Sol Kadi, Namkeen Berry Smoothie, Ashwagandha and Spirulina Smoothie, and Pumpkin and Peanut Butter. There’s also a stone-bar that offers a delightful array of Kombucha and healthy beverages, completes the holistic experience, deliberately absent of alcohol.

Barfly, Assagao, Goa

Conceived by Karrtik Dhingra, Shyaam Khurana, Bipin Sibal, and Tarun Sibal, Barfly promises to bewitch patrons with its mesmerizing revival of a 150-year-old Portuguese-Goan Bungalow, a true marvel to behold.

The thoughtfully planned rooms encourage social interaction, with an alfresco bar, main bungalow, and alfresco living rooms, each offering a distinct experience.

The beverage programme houses two specialty bars–The Tales from The Villa: Elevated Classics and the other, a first-of-its-kind Agave Bar in Goa. The continental cuisine programme takes customers on a gastronomic voyage throughout the world, guided by the creative direction of Chefs Tarun Sibal and Viraf Patel.

antiSOCIAL, Morjim, Goa

antiSOCIAL Goa aims to change the entire going-out experience in India by bringing to our country the first of its kind, largest live entertainment space with an amalgamation of music, arts, theatre, and entertainment from around the world.

The space comprises a hotel, indoor and outdoor cafes, a large swimming pool, a 180-degree beach view beach club with an expansive dance floor that can hold over 1500 people, a 20-foot projector for film screenings and more. This is an experiential property like never before in India, situated in Goa,

Sesame, Hyatt Centric Juhu

Sesame reimagines the art of dining by seamlessly blending modern design with a strong emphasis on dramatic culinary creations and unique dining experiences. Led by Executive Chef Rahul Srivastava, Sesame's globally inspired menu reflects a dedication to health-conscious options and innovative culinary techniques. Enhancing this experience are special cocktails, a dedicated wine rack and a diverse musical style that spans addictive genres adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

Glasshouse: World Grill and Bar, Worldmark Gurugram

Inspired by a greenhouse, Glasshouse in Gurugram is the ideal place to enjoy a meal with a friend or spend some time with your beloved. The space is designed as an open-air diner with the mesmerising view of the night stars and the summer skylight beaming in.

Glasshouse offers borderless cuisines, drawing tastes, flavours, and inspiration from all across the world, helmed by Partner-Chef Atul Kochhar. The food pairs well with handcrafted cocktails—those who are gin lovers will be in for a treat with their specially curated menu of gin infusions that will remind you of the ingredients in focus in countries like Sri Lanka, India, Mexico, and more.

Qavalli, Aerocity Delhi

Enter this restaurant and be prepared to be greeted by glistening chandeliers and gilded bar fronts, ensuring that every guest is treated like royalty. Don’t miss the wall that pays homage to the legendary ‘qavvals’ of our times and reminisce in the days gone by over drinks made from the root to the bark.

The menu offers comfort food, including seasonal classics like Mutton Kharode, Palak Channe ki Chaat, The Dilli 6 Matar ki Chaat, Koyla Kebab, and the Dhungaari Murgh Tandoori. There’s also Haleem and the Nalli Nihari if you want to indulge a little more.

Harajuku Tokyo Café, M3M International Financial Centre, Gurugram

Harajuku Tokyo Café elevates the Japanese ‘fun’ dining concept by infusing the space with avant-garde design elements. From an impressively elongated 72-foot sushi conveyor belt to an imaginative robot DJ, the venue hums with innovation.

The dining area, accommodating up to 100 guests, promises a versatile experience. Some of the favourites from the menu include the Dynamite Prawns, Katsu Curry Rice Bowl, sushi, and the jiggly Japanese Pancakes.

This is the only Harajuku outlet in Delhi-NCR with a bar, so don’t forget to order a tipple or two curated by acclaimed mixologist Nitin Tewari.