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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Five Indian bars have made it to Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025. Is Indian mixology on the rise?
This year five Indian bars have made it to Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025. Released on July 15 in Macau, the list features New Delhi's Lair among its top-10 bars. But to anyone who has been paying attention to the country's rapidly evolving cocktail culture, this is no surprise. With cutting-edge cocktail programmes, sleek interiors and menus that champion local ingredients, there has been a conscious effort to elevate Indian bars, by balancing between global trends and local flavours. The list (long-list included) has three bars from Bengaluru, two each from Goa and Delhi, and one from Mumbai. We speak to the people behind these bars, to find out their winning formula. Indian bars that feature on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list 8. Lair, New Delhi 28. Soka, Bengaluru 30. Boilermaker, Goa 31. ZLB23, Bengaluru 37. Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru The bars on the long list 62. Sidecar, New Delhi 69. The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai 94. Hideaway, Goa Technique meets design Delhi's Lair, which takes the eighth spot on the list, also won the Best Bar in India 2025 award by Asia's 50 Best Bars. Its cocktails are inventive, and its ambience minimalist and edgy. On the official 50 Best website, Lair is described as a sleek hidden retreat. 'The menu, divided into three levels — beginners, intermediate, and superior — guides patrons through a journey of flavour complexity. Signature cocktails include the Blueberry Cheesecake, infused with blueberry and cream liqueur, and the Mountain Breeze, inspired by the Himalayas, with regional infusions. Don't let the extensive menu scare you, the friendly bartenders go out of their way to listen to preferences and suggest drinks suited to your taste and mood.' The bar is designed in shades of black and grey, and the design aesthetic is almost Brutalist. Founder and managing director Jairaj Singh Solanki says, 'We went with a unique design, monochrome concept. It feels like you are inside a cave. Lights are dim and we have spotlights on the tables. Colours are on the plates and drinks.' Delhi-based architecture and interior-design studio Renesa is the creative force behind the decor. Back to basics Boilermaker in Goa is a new entry on the list, coming in at 30. The bar was founded in late 2024 by Nakul Bhonsle, a craft beer entrepreneur and Pankaj Balachandran, a mixologist. 'India's bartending community is stronger than ever. The quality of our bars continues to rise, and the industry is evolving. A few years ago, I said this was the best time to be part of this space — and this year proves that statement truer than ever. We're not just growing; we're thriving,' Pankaj says. So what makes this bar in Siolim click? 'Boilermaker is bringing back what a bar should be — unpretentious, laid-back, and full of soul. A true dive bar atmosphere where the priority is simple: good drinks, good times, and great people. At its heart, Boilermaker celebrates the classic shot-and-beer combo — no frills, just fun. But it is more than that. Walking in feels like stepping into a friend's house party, where everyone is welcome and the vibe is effortless,' says Pankaj. The drinks pay homage to Goa with Biso Manana Karamel, a twist on an Old Fashioned made with overripe Moira bananas and local feni. The food too has Goan touches, with tambdi bhaji sourdough melts and balchão stuffed pickled cucumbers. The Asia's Best Bar official website says, 'Everything about Boilermaker is carefully considered, but the feeling you get is one of a remarkably relaxed place that's made to hang out with your gang. It's a refreshing change as well as a reminder of that local flavour that defines Goa.' Modern meets local ZLB23 in The Leela Palace Bengaluru ranks 31 on the list. The Kyoto-inspired bar has chic, vintage decor and skilled mixologists that shake up Prohibition era cocktails like Tokyo Bees Knees, Japanese Old Fashioned, and Bootlegger. The interiors make you feel like you could be in New York or London. 'ZLB has carved a unique identity by blending theatrical storytelling with innovative cocktails and deeply personalised service. It is not just a bar but an immersive experience,' says Madhav Sehgal, area vice president, (operations south & Head of Sales – South India, The Leela Palace Hotels and Resorts. ZLB23 has invited more than 50 international and domestic bar takeovers in the past few years, making its presence felt on the global stage. At the same time, the bar is also honouring its roots. Madhav says, 'Our newest 'Native' section is a tribute to the soil we stand upon, drawn from Bengaluru's heartland, and crafted with ingredients that belong to these roots. For example, the drink Fire and Water is made with bhajji chilli, Coco Fizz uses tender coconut water and annanas has local rani pineapples.' Asia's 50 Best Bars describes ZLB23 as 'A stroll down a winding garden path, a trot through a bustling hotel kitchen and a short ride in a service lift: this brief journey, albeit confounding, is well worth it.' Tending to the bar 'This is one of the greatest times to be part of the Indian bar community,' says Arijit Bose, founder of Bengaluru-based Bar Spirit Forward, that is listed at number 37. 'A bustling bar with a fun, boisterous crew manning the counters, Bar Spirit Forward is built for cocktail enthusiasts who appreciate craft, clarity, and context in their drinks. With a rich backstory led by industry veterans, including Arijit Bose, formerly of Countertop India and the team behind Goa's Tesouro, ranked No.4 in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2022, it focuses on creating a buzzy atmosphere that is punctuated by technically sound cocktails,' says the award list about this bar in the heart of the city. Perhaps because Arijit is a veteran in the industry, he knows it is the bartenders who make the bar work. Arijit says, 'If closely examined, bartender-lead-and-owned bars are making a splash, which was always the key to building a good bar. To cite a few examples, Goa's Hideaway, with Sheldon Abranches and Aditya Tribhuvan; Delhi's Sidecar, with Yangdup Lama and Minakshi Singh; Bengaluru's Soka, with Avinash Kapoli and Sombir Choudhary; Lair, with Navjot Singh at its helm — are all run by people who care about the business and craft. This will spur more people to open bartender lead programmes and venues similar to NYC, London, Thailand, Singapore or Tokyo.' The long list features three Indian bars Sidecar in New Delhi came in at number 62. Founder Yangdup Lama, who won the Roku Industry Icon award last year, says, 'With the inclusion of many Indian bars, the list puts a lot of attention on India.' What makes Sidecar stand out? 'I would say it is purely the focus — on not just awards, but on what's in the glass,' he says. The 94th spot went to Hideaway in Goa. Nathaniel da Costa, partner, says, 'It is an incredible feeling to be amongst some of the best bars in Asia and the world. At Hideaway, the main focus is on the customer experience and that is multifold, through our drinks, our food, the music, whether live or through our playlists and the interactions with our staff. As soon as you walk in, you know you're at a bar unlike any other.' The Bombay Canteen clinched the 69th position. 'This is a landmark moment for India's bar community,' says Yash Bhanage, founder and COO. 'Our bar evolves with a menu that explores regional Indian ingredients and craft spirits, always designed to feel in sync with the overall dining experience. But at the same time, it holds its own, whether you are just here for a cocktail at the bar or sipping one alongside a meal, the drinks are meant to engage, surprise, and delight.' Capturing the spirit of the city With three bars from Bengaluru on the list, there must be something the city is getting right. From being called the pub capital and the brewery capital, it may now be the craft cocktail capital of India. It is this spirit that Soka (number 28) captures just right. 'Bengaluru loves to chill. Our drinks try to do the same,' says Avinash Kapoli, the co-founder. 'They are inventive without being pretentious, familiar without being boring. Whether it is a reimagined filter coffee cocktail for our fragrance-paired menu or a highball with local ingredients, we build drinks the way this city lives. curious, complex, a little rebellious, and always laid-back.' He says their bar programme is technical, but also human. The drinks are a tribute to old Bengaluru: Black Cadillac is named after an old pub on MG Road and Cheese Cherry Pineapple is an ode to a bar snack at Downtown Pub. 'We didn't build SOKA to follow a template. We built it to feel. Just damn good drinks, super snacks, honest hospitality, and a team that shows up every single night with heart.' With inputs from Prabalika M. Borah and Priyamedha Dutta
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Delhi's Lair named best bar in India; four other Indian bars featured in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list
From banana-infused tequila to cocktails with edible paint, these Indian bars aren't just mixing drinks, they're shaking up Asia's drinking culture. When Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 list was unveiled in Macau this week, all eyes were on the continent's rising stars in the cocktail world. The top spot went to Hong Kong's Bar Leone, a Negroni-first bar with serious Italian flair. But for Indian drinkers and global mixology fans alike, the real buzz came from back home where 5 Indian bars cracked the Top 50, each one bringing a bold, local flavour to the global stage. Here's a look at them. Coorg Highball from Lair, Delhi; Let's Paloma from SOKA, Bengaluru Lair, New Delhi (#8) From a speakeasy tucked inside Vasant Vihar comes the country's most hyped cocktail destination. Lair isn't just about stylish design (think monochrome concrete and sharp glass cuts), it's about drink innovation that has the rest of Asia watching closely. Founders Jairaj Singh Solanki and Dhruv Raj Vij conceptualised Lair in 2019, survived the pandemic, and turned it into a full-blown trendsetter by 2025. Ever seen edible paint on glassware? Or tasted a Picante before it was cool? That's Lair's legacy. It's the kind of place where cocktails are concept art, not just concoctions. SOKA, Bengaluru (#28) Hidden away in a snug 38-seater space with leather couches and Goan art installations, SOKA takes a poetic approach to cocktails. Its one-page menu is deceptively simple, because the storytelling happens in your glass. Helmed by the team behind Jamming Goat in Goa, Chef Sombir Choudhary and bartender Avinash Kapoli, envision SOKA showcases the city's stories and secrets to both longtime residents and new entrants through an assortment of story-centric cocktails. Think clarified jasmine, sous-vided bananas, and a piquant tequila cocktail named Mofo Don that glows pink thanks to red cabbage juice from a vendor in Russell Market. This is not your average pub, it's Bangalore, bottled. Boilermaker, Goa (#30) At Boilermaker, Goa's craft beer and cocktail powerhouses collide to create a bar that's industrial in vibe but pure soul in its pours. Co-founded by Pankaj Balachandran and Nakul Bhonsle, this joint is part welder, part wizard. The drink menu is split into Smashables, Sessionables, and Shorties — each one more fun than the last. Try Papa Issues, a riot of rum, papaya, and Sichuan pepper. Or Chotu Garibaldi, a short but deadly mix of Campari and fresh orange. Who needs a story when the flavour slaps this hard? ZLB23 at The Leela Palace, Bengaluru (#31) ZLB23 is part Prohibition-era New York, part Kyoto minimalism, and all heart. Hidden behind a secret door at The Leela Palace, this ultra-chic bar serves Shiso Negronis, smoky Old-Fashioneds, and a heady dose of live jazz. Every sip here feels like a secret well kept, and that's the point. Whether it's a moody jazz night or a global bar takeover, ZLB23 brings intimacy and intrigue back to Bengaluru nightlife. Spirit Forward, Bengaluru (#37) This Lavelle Road stunner is the kind of place where ice cubes get stamped, olives are blue cheese-stuffed, and the gin martini is prediluted and poured icy from the bottle. Spirit Forward was crafted by longtime F&B insiders with a knack for magic behind the bar. The Southern Star, their tequila-based crowd-favourite, is fermented with guava, plum, and jalapeno for 36 hours before being shaken to silken perfection. One sip and you'll understand why this bar just raced into the global spotlight. The ones that just missed the cut The excitement didn't stop at 50. Four more Indian bars made it to the extended 51–100 list: Goa's Bar Outrigger (#55), Delhi's beloved Sidecar (#62), Mumbai's legendary Bombay Canteen (#69), and Hideaway in Goa (#94). So whether you're beach-bound or city-hopping, this year's Asia's 50 Best Bars proves one thing — India isn't just catching up to the cocktail world, it's raising the bar, quite literally.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Delhi's Lair Named Best Bar In India For 2025, Four Other Indian Bars Among Asia's 50 Best
An Indian bar has made it to the top 10 bars in Asia for this year. The prestigious list of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 has just been unveiled. Lair, located in New Delhi, has been ranked 8th. Four other Indian establishments have been featured among the 50 best bars. Soka in Bengaluru is ranked 28th, Boilermaker in Goa is ranked 30th, ZLB23 in Bengaluru is ranked 31st, and Bar Spirit Forward in Bengaluru is ranked 37th. In 2024, ZLB23 at The Leela Palace Bengaluru was named the best bar in India. It was the only Indian bar to be ranked among the top 50 last year. Last year, Lair was ranked 68th in Asia. This year, it has managed to put India on the global map like never before. In its winner announcement on Instagram, the ranking organisation noted, "Located in the heart of New Delhi, Lair is a modern speakeasy inspired by secretive 1920s prohibition-era bars, where moonshine and craftsmanship reigned supreme. The name is a nod to the immersive space, which is designed to transport patrons to a sleek, hidden retreat. Conceptualised by hospitality veterans Jairaj Singh Solanki and Dhruv Raj Vij, the bar offers a perfect environment for relaxed conversations and immersive drinking experiences, with dim lighting and earthy decor that heighten the sensory experience. The menu, divided into three levels - beginners, intermediate, and superior - guides guests through a journey of flavour complexity." A few days ago, it was revealed that four Indian bars made it to the extended list of best bars in Asia for 2025. This means they were ranked from 51 to 100. Bar Outrigger in Goa was ranked 55th, Sidecar in New Delhi was ranked 62nd, The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai was ranked 69th, and Hideaway in Goa was ranked 94th. Click here to read the full story. The 50 best bars list for Asia this year was topped by Bar Leone in Hong Kong, Zest in Seoul and Jigger & Pony in Singapore. Find out all the winners below: These Are Asia's 50 Best Bars For 2025: Bar Leone, Hong Kong Zest, Seoul Jigger & Pony, Singapore Bar Us, Bangkok Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok Bar Cham, Seoul Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou Lair, New Delhi Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo Penrose, Kuala Lumpur Argo, Hong Kong Modernhaus, Jakarta Alice, Seoul Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur CMYK, Changsha Coa, Hong Kong Virtu, Tokyo BKK Social Club, Bangkok Vender, Taichung MO Bar Shenzhen, Shenzhen The St. Regis Bar, Jakarta Offtrack, Singapore Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore Yakoboku, Kumamoto G.O.D, Bangkok Penicillin, Hong Kong Soka, Bengaluru Vesper, Bangkok Boilermaker, Goa ZLB23, Bengaluru The Savory Project, Hong Kong Gokan, Hong Kong Carrots Bar, Jakarta Barc, Kathmandu Punch Room Tokyo, Tokyo Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru Cosmo Pony, Jakarta Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur The Public House, Taipei To Infinity & Beyond, Taipei Moonrock, Tainan Opium, Bangkok Cat Bite Club, Singapore Native, Singapore Lamp Bar, Nara Reka, Kuala Lumpur Bar Sathorn, Bangkok Bar Libre, Tokyo Le Chamber, Seoul
