The May Hot List: New Restaurants in India

India’s restaurant scene is truly thriving. Every week, there’s a new whisper in the WhatsApp group, a new mood board on Instagram, or a low-lighting bar that you just cannot wait to get on the list for. Delhi is dressing up again. Mumbai’s ordering bone marrow with its edamame. Pune, once the sleepy younger sibling, now has cocktails with character arcs.

In an industry where longevity is often sacrificed for hype, these new players feel intentional. They’re trying to go somewhere. Whether that’s back to a memory, forward to a culinary future, or sideways into some brilliant fever dream of an izakaya-meets-nightclub hybrid, they’re moving the needle.

So, what’s the mood this month? Think coastal nostalgia glazed in miso, Peruvian-accented sushi under red tiles, cocktails that know your attachment style. If you’re lucky, you’ll leave full. If you’re unlucky, you’ll leave with feelings.

Here’s everything new, necessary, and slightly unhinged—just how we like it.

Otoki, Colaba, Mumbai

Japanese reverence meets Bombay audacity in this new restaurant.

In the architectural quiet of Colaba, Otoki emerges like a sigh and humming with intention. Chef Mohit Singh, fresh off a pilgrimage through the temples of Kyoto’s Kikunoi Honten, brings discipline to his menu of Kozara, Nigiri, and Robata-glazed proteins. There’s no gimmick here—just clarity of vision. The Sake program, led by India’s own sake whisperer Maia Laifungbam, is almost poetic in its precision. You’ll want to sip, not shoot. Call it Bombay’s new sanctum for Japanese soul food—with Michelin credentials and the quiet confidence of a place that doesn’t need to shout.

Paradox, Mahalakshmi, Mumbai

This one’s got range. The Dugar duo (of Masque fame) drop their most fearless concept yet—a design-forward, genre-fluid experiment. Think dhokra chandeliers, zardozi walls, and cocktails that read like zines. Chef Varun Totlani’s menu swings for the fences with Himalayan morels on whipped paneer and paneer peri-peri corn fries. Mixologist Ankush Gamre, meanwhile, turns drinks into theatre: osmanthus-laced low-ABV stunners and smoky, sultry Caol Ila concoctions. Paradox is Indian opulence gone rogue, and it’s glorious.

Kona Kona, Andheri, Mumbai

This will be your favourite neighbourhood nostalgia trip, backed by Mona Singh. Kona Kona feels like a warm hug from your college days: mismatched furniture, framed memories, and food that tastes like a re-run of Sunday lunch. Chefs Jasleen Marwah and Neetu Solanki plate himachali mutton siddu, crispy calamari, homemade chorizo pie, and truffle mushroom sliders. Drinks follow suit: think whiskey and orange juice together, or vodka and kalla khatta.

Nama, Siolim, Goa

Perched on the edge of the Chapora estuary, Nama is where you go when you want your Negroni with a side of coconut breeze. The architecture is half zen retreat, half kinetic rave. During the day, it’s all hand-painted tiles and botanical cocktails. By sundown, the ceiling lights start pulsing, and so does your appetite. The food toggles between comfort and curiosity—think Chettinad clay pot rice, XO lobster, and harissa prawns that pack just enough punch. It’s Goa, but grown up—and finally giving North Goa the serious dinner-and-drinks destination it’s needed.

Kiki, Bund Garden, Pune

Kiki is the brainchild of Nikhil Surve and Rohan Sawant, and the cocktail menu is a masterclass in anthropomorphism—each drink tied to an archetype. There’s Barhoppers Club with banana syrup and sunflower seed vodka, and PM to AM, which reads like a whisky-spiked lullaby. Chef Rizwan Moidu brings the food that matches the vibe: hot honey lotus chips, Malabar-spiced KFC, and sushi that doesn’t try too hard. Pune’s scene just got a little more self-aware—and a lot more fun.

Gaijin, Linking Road, Mumbai

This place is a maximalist love letter to Japanese technique.

“Gaijin” means outsider, and this place wears that label with pride. Chef Anand Morwani isn’t just tweaking Japanese—he’s flipping it inside out. The result is bone marrow brûlée on nigiri, truffled morels in soy beurre blanc, and sushi tacos with foie gras. The drinks are just as audacious: gin-chrysanthemum cocktails encased in ice sculptures, and kombu-laced mezcal sippers. If subtlety is your thing, maybe skip it. But if you’re here for spectacle and umami at 11, Gaijin is your new addiction.

Fervor, Bangalore

This 36-seater, helmed by chef Aditya, ditches the stiff white-tablecloth energy for something more tactile and chef-forward. Expect bold French techniques colliding with local Indian influence: yellowfin Tuna Crudo with yuzu and coriander stems, Smoked Duck with potato dauphinoise and ginger vin, and Octopus & Glazed Pork with braised belly and charred lemons. The desserts walk the fine line between indulgent and elegant: try the Malt Cake soaked in Milo syrup or the Pavlova with smoked vanilla ice cream.

Omny Kitchen, Delhi

Chef Vicky Ratnani’s Omny Kitchen is less a restaurant, more a culinary passport. Nestled in Mumbai, this casual fine-dine space leans into flavour without losing its playful edge. The interiors—brass, curves, warmth—set the mood for a menu that whisks you from charcoal-kissed Filipino chicken adobo to Sindhi lamb shanks and the Jammu Tawi burger, stacked with kalari cheese. Pastry whiz Vinesh Johnny handles the sweets (masala chai flan, anyone?), and your caffeine comes courtesy Corridor Seven.

Hikki, New Delhi

Rooted in the Japanese concept of hikikomori (self-imposed reclusion), Hikki is anything but reserved when it comes to bold flavours. Japanese technique meets Peruvian flair in a space that’s as striking as the food—mirrors, red tiles, an olive tree under a high ceiling. The black cod robata is a must; so is the crispy rice with avo. Pair with a wasabi picante or pisco perla, and finish with a matcha tiramisu. Solitude has never tasted so stylish.

Mamma Killa, Delhi

Zorawar Kalra’s latest venture, Mamma Killa, is a celestial rooftop retreat tucked near Qutub Minar. Named after the Incan moon goddess, this members-only Aztec-inspired bar leans into mystery with a no-photo policy and a design dream of mosaic murals, terracotta walls and intimate pendant lighting. Cocktails come cheeky (mango ceviche, Peruvian pizza highball) or performative—served from a roving trolley. Food is hyper-local, sustainably sourced, and just as seductive as the setting.

Joshi House, Worli

The Bandra favourite has moved south, trading haveli chic for terracotta serenity in its new Worli address. The reimagined Joshi House now nods to coastal Maharashtra and Konkan cuisine with grilled kokum prawns, lobster ghee roast, and sweet potato shammi chaat. But there’s still plenty of playful fusion—think thecha baked brie—and clever cocktails to go with. The Kerala choklet ganache wraps it up on a rich, cocoa-dusted high.