July Hot List: New Restaurants and Bars Across India

The monsoon might be playing tricks on our plans, but India’s dining scene is sizzling through the drizzle.

Meanwhile, July’s slate of openings are all about drama and flavours. From decadent jungle-inspired fine dining to Parisian cocktail lounges and chocolate shops straight out of our wildest dreams, this month’s newest bars and restaurants are dressing up to impress us.

Whether you’re in the mood for burrata ice cream, prawn-infused Aperol cocktails, or old-school shikaar glamour reimagined for the modern palate, this list is your north star.

So, pull out your umbrellas and your appetite—we’re eating well (and a lot) this July.

MUMBAI

SoBo 20, Mumbai

Finally, someone said no to sushi. SoBo 20 brings refined, rebellious New Orleans fare to South Bombay, and it’s doing it well. We’re talking soft shell crab linguine, jambalaya fritto misto, and pizzettes so thin they might just levitate. From the Atelier House crew (the ones behind INJA in Delhi), this is French technique tangled with American soul. The beignets come topped with caviar, the cocktails dig into forgotten classics, and the burrata ice cream with orange vinaigrette will ruin regular desserts for you. Meanwhile, the interiors are an Art Deco daydream—leather booths, vintage jazz, and all the right kind of drama.

Miss Margot, Mumbai

The sexiest new cocktail lounge in town is here, and she’s French, flirty, and very particular about her martinis. From the folks behind Tanjore Tiffin Room comes Miss Margot, a lush, velvet-drenched space with mirror play and mood lighting for days. But it’s the cocktails that steal the scene. Expect gin kissed with maraschino and lemon and tequila shaken with prawn pickle (yes, really).. The food flirts too—we're talking goat cheese and beet salads, tuna negimaki, and tom yum gambas with mantou buns.

The Merchants, Mumbai

Part theatre, part thali, all flair—The Merchants at Fairmont Mumbai isn’t just another food hall. It’s a 306-cover of open kitchens, global flavours, and chefs on full display. There’s a Nawabi kitchen, a Southeast Asian nook, a Euro comfort zone, and a Japanese counter serving Hamachi Carpaccio and pork ramen. Then there’s The Chocolate Atelier—a dessert bar so extra it deserves its own runway. Come for the Gucchi Gilawat, stay for the Butternut Experience, and don’t be surprised if your cocktail has a coffee barrel-aged twist.

Paashh, Mumbai

Welcome to Bandra’s slow-living bungalow. Pune’s beloved Paashh has made its way to Mumbai, serving seasonal, conscious fare in a leafy, soul-soothing setup. Multigrain thalipeeth, raw banana curries, and zero-refined-sugar desserts make up the spread, while the adjoining concept store lets you shop for ghee, honey, spices, and style.

Sahib Room & Kipling Bar, St. Regis, Mumbai

The jungle fever is real. This reimagined old-world haunt pays homage to royal retreats and Rudyard Kipling, complete with tented ceilings, antique mirrors, and Bagheera as the logo. The food plays its part—murgh rezala, dum biryani, tulsi-paneer and more—but the chef’s table under a canopy is the real star. The cocktails are literary, exotic, and layered, just like the space. This place is a dream wrapped in rosewood and nostalgia.

KMC Bar & Bistro, Mumbai

KMC has planted roots in Vikhroli, and it’s their most ambitious outpost yet. Four experiential zones—including a sunken amphitheatre and an art terrace—house chef Niyati Rao’s ever-evolving menu. It’s an ode to flavour, memory, and fermentation: think salli kheema, brie-stuffed arancini, house-made liqueurs, and cocktails laced with mahua. Sleek, thoughtful, and with a soundtrack that feels like Sunday afternoon in a Wes Anderson film.

Baroke, Mumbai

Baroke is Mumbai’s first vinyl-only listening room. Situated in the heart of South Bombay, this 84-seater spins Jimi Hendrix, Stan Getz, The Doors, and Bryan Adams through Klipsch La Scala II speakers. That means no streaming, no fluff—just full-bodied analog sound that fills the room like a memory. Designed by Rohit Bohite (the mind behind La Pantera), the space is rich in sculpted concrete, walnut wood, and warm, earthen lighting. There’s even a headphone zone inspired by Japanese listening bars, for when you want to disappear into your own sonic rabbit hole. The cocktails are equally sensorial—introspective, elegant, and layered. 

DELHI-NCR

Manam Chocolate, Delhi

Chocolate pipes, make-your-own tablets, and a drink bar with 30 kinds of cocoa elixirs—Manam Chocolate in Saket is a chocolate temple. India’s award-winning chocolate brand has gone all in with this flagship space. Watch chocolatiers craft bonbons behind glass, grab a nitro cold brew cacao, and take home a haul of over 350 chocolate things. There’s even a café with plates like Jackfruit Croquettes and Gongura Spaghetti. You’ll leave sticky-fingered and on a sugar high.

Naarma, New Delhi

Naarma is (literally) inspired by fire and water. Chef Jayson Cagaoan brings Japanese precision and European warmth to a menu that’s all finesse: otoro sushi, miso-glazed chicken, spaghetti with molten cheese fondue. The three-part space includes a live kitchen, a sultry cocktail den curated by global mixology stars, and an art-laced lounge where everything glows in rose and gold. It’s moody, bold, and unapologetically luxe—a restaurant that’s here to turn heads and raise eyebrows.

Latango, New Delhi

Tucked away in Delhi’s quieter southern quarters, Latango arrives as an all-day European bar. Conceptualised by YUVI Hospitality’s Sahil Sambhi (of Japonico, Bawri, Berlin, and Vietnom) and brought to life by designer Vivek Guha, the space leans into Mediterranean minimalism—think textured concrete walls that feel almost cave-like in their calm, a green cut-glass bar, and an open kitchen that spans two stories. But the real gravitas lies behind the pass: Italian chefs Roberto Blondi and Joe Stanchi bring decades of European training to the plate. A cold octopus salad gets punch from fried capers and garlic chips; the pork belly arrives unapologetically rich. There’s comfort food, too—Diavola pizza with nduja and pepperoni, and a showy tiramisu housed in a caviar tin, layered with espresso pearls and a splash of Bacardi rum. It’s an all-day bar that actually feels like it could belong anywhere—Milan, Marseille, or, yes, even Delhi.

POD by Savorworks, Delhi

Tucked inside Delhi’s favourite coffee and chocolate haven is a hidden world—a speakeasy so intimate it feels like a secret. POD is what happens when a chocolatier and a coffee obsessive fall in love and build a cocktail bar. It’s cosy, Thai-inspired, and heady with coffee-infused spirits. Expect Espresso Martinis, Thai bar bites that hit the sweet-salty spot, and a vibe that lingers like a good finish. You’ll want in before the gatekeepers take over.

BANGALORE

Yàn Yǎn, Ritz Carlton, Bangalore

Bangalore’s had Chinese restaurants. What it hasn’t had—until now—is a place like Yan Yan. Tucked inside the Ritz-Carlton, this isn’t your typical dim sum-and-dragons setup. Yan Yan (which loosely translates to “feast for the senses”) brings an elevated, region-spanning approach to Chinese dining, with a menu that jumps from spicy Sichuan-style soft tofu to wok-tossed Hunan beef, from Cantonese scallops to the crispest Peking duck this side of Beijing. Everything’s made in-house—from the mochi to the bean curd. The space is opulent but dialled-in: warm light, hushed corners.

Cahoots, Bangalore

A little retro, a little reckless—Cahoots is Brigade Road’s newest hideout, and it’s got old-school charm in all the right places. A 250-seater with big energy and a bold cocktail program curated by mixologist Yangdup Lama, expect inventive sips like sambar cordial and tomato basil gin. The food dances between nostalgic and fiery: Mysore masala kulchette, Bhut Jolokia tacos, and thandai tres leches.

HYDERABAD

Radio Bar, Hyderabad

Hyderabad finally gets its own slice of Mumbai nightlife swagger with the arrival of Radio Bar in HITEC City. It’s bold, buzzy, and built for a crowd that likes its nights loud. The space is dramatic—neon, music, local art—and the menu’s a mix of masala and global charm. Kodi chips, Guntur chilli tikka, and cocktails like the Gulabo Margarita or Green Fizz bring the flavour, while the live music scene brings the heat.

Tuya, Hyderabad

Chef Suresh DC’s Tuya is a soulful tribute to Southern India—warm-toned interiors, ikat walls, terracotta textures, and a menu born from years of travel and stories collected from home cooks across the South. Think subtlety, heritage, and a deep respect for flavour.

GOA

Jugnu, Goa

Set in a 160-year-old Portuguese villa, Jugnu trades the usual Goa clichés for something far more atmospheric—think moody cabanas by a waterfall, a garden island bar, and indoor corners lit more by fireflies than LEDs. Chef Ajay Chopra’s menu is coastal comfort: Goan chorizo on wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, seafood stew laced with Parsi nostalgia, lotus root and burrata, and nourish bowls that actually nourish. The cocktails walk the same line—Feni with kokum and jasmine, vodka with bee pollen and Assam tea. This place is like the lo-fi indie track you play on loop.