New In Bangalore: Your Design Guide To The City’s Latest Restaurants

The essentials of any metro city include a lunch spot that’s good for your body, a go-to bar, a safe and welcoming dance floor, and a bartender you can trust. Our list includes all of these – from a Great Gatsby-inspired gastropub to an ‘under the sea’ themed brunch spot. Fine dining and nightlife is making a swift comeback to Bangalore in a chic, elegant, and novel way. Depending on your mood, the day of the week, and your whereabouts in the city, here’s a list that’s got you covered on the newest restaurants in Bangalore.

Mirage

This aquatic-themed lounge bar is located at the heart of the city on the sixth floor of 1 Shobha on Church Street. According to Dawn Thomas, one of the founders, “the vision was to take people on a journey by telling them a story revolving around the Man, Mermaid, and Medusa.” Located on the top-most floor, Mirage also offers gorgeous views of the city skyline. A glittering mural of Medusa greets you as you make your way to their rooftop terrace; if you peer more closely you will notice the curvatures that have been included in the design to imitate scales and fins. The addition of fiber optic lights instead of large chandeliers is a great touch. As a result, the space transitions beautifully between a brunch spot during the day to drinks and dancing at night. Designed by WDA Spaces, it is an ideal amalgamation of something from the sea and something from the city.

Their food menu includes many elements of Asian fine-dining cuisine and the occasional South American dish. True to their theme, their cocktails describe creatures from the sea and bring on a sense of adventure. The list includes a vodka and Jagermeister drink called The Gorgon Bomb and a white rum-based drink called The Temptress. Day or night, if you’re looking for a new fine dining experience or a night out in the city, then Mirage should definitely be on the top of your list.

MAYA Bangalore 

Located in one of the oldest and well-planned parts of Bangalore, it is not a coincidence that Maya has laid roots in Jayanagar. It used to be regarded as the southernmost part of Bangalore before the city expanded and dates back to 1948. The architecture inspired by Geoffrey Bawa’s design philosophy of tropical modernism is conscious of modern design and sensitive to site and context. MAYA has an open floor plan with mud tiles for the roof and a simplistic colour scheme. Executed by Maze Concept Design, this restaurant experience is a wholesome one.

The space prides itself on being “India’s first slow living restaurant and art gallery.” The slow food movement envisions a place where everyone can access and enjoy healthy food that is also good for the planet. At MAYA, sustainability is one of their core principles which means their produce is sourced daily from local farmers. The restaurant also actively avoids using single-use plastic and has also been vocal about becoming a zero-waste restaurant by the end of this year. Their menu includes global cuisines and features dishes from places like Portugal, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. “When you eat a wholesome meal by taking away any stress, your body, mind, and soul is replenished and you are healthier,” says the founder Sumukh Tallam. He goes on to add that their approach to the menu is an extension of this belief and many of their cooking methods have been devised to retain the nutrients and freshness of the ingredients.

In addition to the restaurant, the space also includes an art gallery that will showcase a different artist every month. The gallery recently featured works by Darpan Kaur curated by Samira Sheth. If you need to take a minute to wind down or just escape the fast-paced city, then we recommend a trip down to MAYA in Jayanagar.

Copitas by Four Seasons

While this stylish and opulent bar opened in Bangalore two years ago, it was ranked #3 on the 30 Best Bars in India list and #44 on World’s Best 50 Bars in Asia earlier this year. It is located on the 21st floor of the Four Seasons Hotel on Bellary Road. While the entire hotel has been designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the 21st floor has been designed by a different team – LW Design from Dubai to give the bar a distinct atmosphere. The bar is a play on the Spanish word for a stemmed glass usually used to serve sherry or cocktails and is an accurate word for the drinks they serve up. Since their opening, Sarath Nair the bar manager has been instrumental in putting together their carefully crafted bar menu to complement the ambiance. Some of their popular ones are their take on the classic G&T with variations that include rosemary, thyme, coconut water, and apple syrup to name a few, and their Asian-inspired drink called Crazy Rich Negroni.

This 21st-floor bar also offers stunning views of the sunset and the city in the evenings. Designed to be intimate and chic–the space is largely black and gold. The gold geometrical lighting gives the space clean finishes and accentuates the bar located right at the centre of the space. The bar also includes an outdoor patio space from where you can enjoy views of the city’s skyline. If you are looking for an elegant evening out for some post-work drinks when you find yourself in North Bangalore, then head over to Copitas.

Gatsby 

While watching the novel adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio, if you found yourself wishing you too had been invited to Gatsby’s lavish house party then this enormous bar is the spot for you. Designed to look like you’ve walked right into the movie set, the facade of the building is a glimmering replica of the 2013 film poster for the Great Gatsby. Black, gold, and extravagance from the 1920 Jazz age is the theme of this gastropub located in Bannerghatta Road.

Spread across 28,000-square ft the space is a mix of open seating, private rooms, cabanas, and a balcony view of the big party that is the Gatsby. Elements of sea blue, warm tones of orange and generous inclusions of gold and glass create the extravagance that is synonymous with the Jazz Age. In another project by WDA Spaces, the team has taken great care in designing these details to recreate the American novel.

Their butterfly blue pea flower cocktail has been making the rounds on Instagram for its dazzling blue-purple-colored gin-based drink served in a textured highball glass. After a long week, if you’re looking for a glamorous night out, then make your way to Gatsby Bangalore with your posse.