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India’s dining scene in 2026 is defined by immersive experiences, thoughtful design and cuisine. This curated edit spotlights the restaurants setting the tone for the year ahead.
Where design meets flavour and every table tells a story, welcome to the restaurants defining how India dines in 2026.
Dining in 2026 is no longer just about what’s on the plate, it’s about atmosphere, emotion, storytelling, and a sense of place. Across India’s most dynamic cities, restaurants are evolving into immersive experiences, where design, music, cocktails, and cuisine come together to create moments worth lingering over and talking about long after the last course.
From intimate aperitivo bars and soulful neighbourhood bistros to destination dining spaces redefining leisure-led hospitality, this edit captures the restaurants shaping the year ahead, addresses that feel current yet timeless, indulgent yet thoughtful, and unmistakably memorable.
Fielia
Tucked inside Mumbai’s iconic Mahalaxmi Race Course, Fielia is an invite-only bar imagined as a Cocktail Cinema, where every detail feels deliberately staged. Dramatic double-height ceilings, mezzanine balconies, and a commanding central bar set the tone, while interiors by Gauri Khan blend historic architecture with a dark, modern edge.
Cocktails draw from stories of sin, scandal, and temptation, paired with an indulgent aperitivo-style menu designed for slow, lingering evenings. The bar operates on an invite-only basis, with dining available via advance reservations and weekends reserved exclusively for invited guests. Intimate, immersive, and quietly bold, Fielia is a night that unfolds one pour at a time.
Location: Mahalaxmi, Mumbai
Soraia
Soraia feels like a quiet discovery, elegant, unhurried, and deeply soulful. Blending European garden charm with an Indian sensibility, its indoor and alfresco spaces flow seamlessly, creating a calm escape from the city’s pace.
The menu showcases modern Indian and European cuisine guided by seasonal produce and thoughtful technique, while the bar features an omakase-style cocktail experience where each drink tells a story of place and purpose. Refined yet comforting, Soraia is shaped by light, detail, and emotion, where every visit feels personal and every moment lingers.
Location: Mahalaxmi, Mumbai
Address: Racecourse, Royal Western India Turf Club, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai
Bastian Riviera
Set along the Morjim backwaters, Bastian Riviera marks the brand’s bold evolution from restaurant to full-fledged lifestyle destination. Spread across 1.5 acres, the space blends global design cues, water-led architecture, and seafood-forward indulgence into an immersive day-to-night experience.
More than a dining address, Riviera signals a new era of leisure-led hospitality in Goa, one that’s already shaping how the state dines, unwinds, and celebrates.
Location: Goa
Address: Morjim, Parse, Goa
Ammakai
Ammakai is where warmth, tradition, and great food come together. Inspired by Karnataka’s rich culinary heritage, the space welcomes family gatherings, nostalgic Sundays, celebratory evenings, and quiet weekday meals with equal ease.
The menu features small plates, family-style dosas, refined Karnataka classics, and beloved Bastian favourites, all crafted with care and authenticity. With its inviting, community-focused vibe and heartfelt hospitality, Ammakai is a place to connect, celebrate, and savour, where every meal feels like home.
Location: Bandra, Mumbai
Address: B/1, Kamal Building, New Linking Rd, Khar, Bandra West, Mumbai
Call Me Sofia
Call Me Sofia is Mumbai’s first Italian-style aperitivo bar, discreetly tucked behind Olive Bandra. Conceived as an intimate, golden-lit early-evening hideaway, it draws from the romance of European aperitivo culture, where drinks are light, conversations linger, and evenings unfold at an unhurried pace.
The experience centres on playful, low-ABV cocktails and thoughtfully crafted small plates, served in a setting that feels warm, relaxed, and quietly seductive. Designed for slow sipping and intimate connections, Sofia invites the city to pause and rediscover the pleasure of beautifully paced nights.
Location: Bandra, Mumbai
Address: 14, Union Park Rd, Union Park, Khar West, Mumbai
Foo
Foo is an all-day dining destination that moves seamlessly from casual to celebratory. Rooted in Asian flavours and driven by thoughtful innovation, its menu balances familiar favourites with elevated indulgences from comforting classics to signature creations like the iconic Foo Blue Butter Japanese Fried Rice.
Designed to suit every age group, occasion, and appetite, Foo extends the same attention to detail beyond the restaurant through delivery-friendly packaging, ensuring the experience travels just as well as it’s served.
Location: Multiple outlets across India
Bastian Garden City
Bastian Garden City turns dining into a complete sensory experience. Set within a restored 60-year-old bungalow, it features lush gardens, chic alfresco dining, and striking, immersive interiors.
The menu spans seafood, Asian and Chinese flavours, inventive vegetarian and vegan dishes, gluten-free options, indulgent desserts, and creative cocktails ensuring something for every palate. More than a meal, Bastian Garden City is an escape where every visit feels extraordinary.
Location: Bangalore
Address: 4, Shanthala Nagar, Ashok Nagar, St. Marks Road, Bangalore
Bastian Empire
Bastian Empire is Pune’s ultimate destination for effortless luxury and culinary adventure. The space radiates modern tropical elegance, statement lighting, and thoughtfully layered interiors that invite guests to linger.
The menu features fresh seafood, vibrant Asian dishes, and vegan, gluten-free, and Jain options, all crafted to delight diverse palates. From celebratory brunches to intimate dinners, Bastian Empire promises bold flavours, striking design, and soulful energy every time.
Location: Pune
Address: 36, Westin, Mundhwa Road, Ghorpadi, Koregaon Park, Pune
Nara Thai – BKC & Worli
Nara Thai’s The Golden Table is a festive, flame-forward experience designed to linger in memory. This limited-edition menu celebrates Thailand’s communal dining culture, with open-fire cooking at its heart, smoky appetisers, vibrant herbs, and shareable plates meant for long, unhurried meals.
From flame-kissed vegetables and lemongrass-marinated grills to a show-stopping whole grilled lobster finished with spicy Thai herb glaze and pomelo salad, the menu balances indulgence with finesse. Thoughtful wine pairings, Thai-inspired cocktails, and a striking purple sweet potato ice cream with black sticky rice sponge complete the experience, while a live grill cart at the BKC outpost adds theatre and aroma.
Available at Nara Worli and BKC, The Golden Table is one of 2026’s most compelling tables to bookmark.
Baglami, BKC
Baglami captures BKC’s high-energy dining scene at its best—bold, stylish, and made for evenings that flow seamlessly from dinner into the night. Moody lighting, plush interiors, and a lively crowd strike the perfect balance between glamour and comfort.
The menu spans sushi, pan-Asian small plates, indulgent pizzas, and generous, share-friendly mains, all designed with punchy flavours and visual appeal. A well-crafted bar menu and buzzing atmosphere complete the experience, making Baglami as much a social hub as it is a restaurant.
Location: Bandra, BKC
Address: Bombay @ BKC 7, Ins Tower, Opp. NMACC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai
The Nook
The Nook is a neighbourhood bistro in Bandra designed for moments that unfold at their own pace from slow mornings to evenings that gently ease into the night. Drawing from mid-century modern design, the space is layered with earthy textures and warm lighting that evolves through the day.
Coffee anchors the experience, from clean brews to indulgent favourites like the Croissant Latte and Café Bombón. As evening sets in, cocktails take centre stage under the themes Light, Brew, and Craft. With a menu built for sharing and lingering, The Nook is a place people return to, no occasion required.
Location: Bandra, Mumbai
Address: Ground Floor, Geliki, ONGC Building, Shop 5 & 6, Reclamation, Bandra West, Mumbai
January 16, 2026, 10:13 IST