Kochi Best Restaurants

• Malabar Junction – To begin with, check out Malabar Junction…Chic and quaint, the restaurants at Malabar House Residency is a heritage building that once housed the tea traders and bankers of old Cochin. It is a clever blend of the old and the new, walls washed in contemporary colours and balanced out with a large collection of special antiques. The restaurant carries the same theme, is simple and extends from a veranda of sorts to a garden, a perfect setting for an evening of food and a glass of wine. Owned by a German-Spanish couple, the fusion food, a deliberate blend of Mediterranean and Kerala, is meant to cater to many tourists who visit the town.

Address – Malabar Junction, 1/268, Parade Road
Fort Kochi, Kerala

• Fort House – Located close the water, Fort House is best known for its seafood and homely cuisines. Part of a home run hotel, the interiors of the restaurant offer a rustic feel drawn perhaps from the thatched roof and old furniture. Interestingly, a part of it carries forward to a jetty that juts out into the sea. As expected, the view from this perch is spectacular and as you dine al fresco fishing boats and canoes ply across the waters. The cuisine is largely Keralite with flavours of Cochin’s foreign influences as well as from recipes of the Latin Catholics, fisher folk who live along the coast of Kerala.

Address – Hotel Fort House, 2/6A, Calvathy Road
Fort Kochi, Kerala

• Upstairs – Ideal for pizzas, Lasagna, fritto-misto or an array of salads, it is run by an Indian-Italian couple. The interiors are simple and essentially in white and blue. The restaurant is the upstairs of an old structure that has been converted into a one room diner – thus the name – with ample light and air flowing through. The menu drawn up by the owners, who personally cook everything, focuses on authentic Italian. There is freshly baked bread, celery-walnut salad, blue cheese pizza besides a choice of desserts like affogato or apple cake to be washed down with plenty of coffee.

Address – Upstairs, The Italian Restaurant
Next to Santa Cruz Basilica,
K B Jacob Road, Fort Kochi, Kerala

• Tea Pot – A quaint stop for that cuppa…this is a tea-room where one can savour the antiquity and charm of Fort Cochin’s Old Portuguese homes. Converted recently into a café, much of the structure’s original style and lines of architecture have been retained. The interiors are warm; tea crates act as tables, a collection of kettles and teapots adorn the place and tea stains decorate the walls. There is enough on the menu for a meal as well: prawn curry and rice or appam and stew. And if that still keeps you hungry, just ring the little brass bell on your table. The stewards would be glad to help.

Address – Tea Pot, Peter Celli Street, Fort Kochi, Kerala

• Kashi Art Café – Started for the sole purpose of art, it later saw the addition of a café…Kashi is where one can relax, almost endlessly. The ambience entices a visitor to stay, best with book for company. The décor is warm with red-oxide flooring and handmade furniture from local coconut wood. Aspects such as an old sewing machine placed as a table and an ancient tea-maker adds to the décor. There is plenty of contemporary art on the walls, mostly for sale.

Address – Kashi Art Café, Burgher Street. Fort Kochi, Kerala.

South Mumbai Restaurants

Mumbai is the financial capital of India and suffering from gastronomic fever. With so many new restaurants coming daily, to pick the best one is not an easy job. In south Mumbai, there are real estate hurdles to overcome and, there are few restaurants, which emerges out a big eat out place in couple of years.

• Corleone – The gastronomic journey at Corleone will transport you to a bygone culture that left lasting impressions on traditional Sicilian fare. Mumbai’s gourmands are in for a pleasant surprise: the fragrance from cloves, pepper, cinnamon, saffron, rice, citrus fruits, will find instant favour with taste buds bred on spice. Minimalist interiors afford an unadorned look with the possible exception of paintings that include the chef’s very own creations. The best seating provides sea views, the best suggested orders include the chargrilled prawns, char-grilled reasts of chicken and the grilled king fish, all three flavoured with individually complementing herbs and, if you are inclined to kitty parties, the fun has just begun.

Address: - Corleone, InterContinental Marine Drive,
135, Marine Drive, Mumbai – 400020


• Monza – Monza Bar, Kitchen, and Lounge & Wine Boutique at Phoenix Mills is where everyone gathers on the weekends. For whatever reason, this restaurant has a high happiness quotient going by the leisurely attendance of Italian food advocators, also coming all the way from the burbs. Monza interiors are with the times, straightforward with very little room for over-the-top decorations. The floor lighting cheers and an otherwise light palette balances the black ceiling and dark furniture. A wall sofa that runs along the entire length, and tables placed in comfort threatening proximity ensure maximum use of space but take away the privacy. Top-of-the-mind recall is not simply because of Monza’s ‘appealing’ location. Rather, a desirable blend of exquisite New and Old World wines, delicately flavoured food and the occasional dance.

Address: - Monza Bar, Kitche, Lounge & Wine Boutique,
Garden Court, Black No. 16, Phoenix Mills Compound,
462 Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (West), Mumbai – 400013


• Taxi Fusion Kitchen – Taxi Fusion Kitchen, this is Prashant Choudhry’s obsession at Colaba. The restaurant has received valuable inputs from fashion photographer Sumeet Chopra, industrialist Manish Mehta and fashion designer Mohini Chabbria. The upshot deserves kudos for its careful consideration of every little detail. This restaurant has all it takes to be a high-end food destination, including the gasp-inducing prices. A ‘special’ lunch menu (special because the damages aren’t as nightmarish!) is supposedly an ‘exclusive offering’. But really, what Taxi displays is 2,850 sq ft of pure sensual ambience – a grossly indulgent experience within the heritage walls of a beautiful old bungalow and amongst some contemporary-plus vintage looking finery. Romantic trysts are entirely possible!

Address: - Taxi Fusion Kitchen, Jony Castle Building, Khatau Road, Off Wodenhouse Road, Colaba, Mumbai – 400 005

Bars & Lounges in Hyderabad

In recent years, Hyderabad has opened up to a wide variety of entertainment options including bars, pubs, lounges and nightclubs. The timings do remain a bone of contention between the government and the bar operators, but the city today never had it better.

• BOTTLES AND CHIMNEY

Location – Near TMC Begumpet, Hyderabad – 16

B & C is one of the largest watering holes in the city. This twin deck night club has a swanky décor adorned with its chrome steel and glass look making it very international and appealing nightclub. This chill zone attracts a lot of the younger and IT industry crowd. B&C’s been around since 2003 and has hosted some of the most incredible shows and events making it quite a trendsetter. The large island shaped bar is also one of the largest island bars in the country.

• 10 DOWNING STREET

Location – 10, My Home Tycoon, Begumpet

10 Downing Street is synonymous with pub culture in the city. One of the oldest places in the twin city, it still retains its charm. This iconic pub, with its tanned leather sofas and lush décor, has a touch of elegance with that dash of hauteur that typifies the British. The efficient service makes it the most favoured pub of Hyderabad.

• LIQUID AGAIN

Location – Bhaskar Plaza, Road 1 Banjara Hills

Liquids Again, the name says it all. Hyderabad’s contemporary (and first) lounge bar, liquids, started out as a trendsetter. This sophisticated and chic watering hole offers a breathtaking view of the Banjara Lake and the skyline of the city through its large glass windows. The music does tend to get a bit loud.

• MARCO POLO

Location – ITC Kakatiya Begumpet

Stylish and with a corporate feel to it, and has gained the reputation of being a favourite watering hole for corporate high flyers. There is a great music, often a live band and good cocktails. It is the best place in town to have casual corporate meetings. Extensive wine list and selection of spirits and cigars.

• AHALA

Location – Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills Road No. 1

The drama lounge is spacious and has three bars scattered across the room. It also has a small dance floor by the DJ console. The interiors are quite stunning and the lighting brings it out. The menu boasts a variety of cocktails and a vast selection of wines and single malts. The snacks and bar eats menu is substantial and offers a variety of culinary options, mostly Indian and oriental in nature.

• XTREME SPORTS BAR

Location – No. ¾ Alcazar Plaza Opp. City Center Road No.1, Banjara Hills

Xtreme bar caters to the niche sports bar segment, features top notch digital sports entertainment and international selection of spirits and wines. A great place to meet up and cheer your team and enjoy many a happy hour.

• FIRANGI PANI

Location – City Center BJN 4th Floor Road No.1 and 10, Banjara Hills

English style pub with a spacious dance floor, murals depicting the Victorian pub scenes and paraphernalia of a bygone era, extensive menu for food and beverage. The music can get loud here and they play a mix of rock, house and Bollywood numbers. Good value for money bar.