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NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Under A 100-Year-Old Banyan Tree In Kathmandu, 'The Old House' Makes A Case For Slowing Down
When a mixologist known for India's most celebrated cocktail bar opens something abroad, the expectations come stirred, not shaken. And while The Old House in Kathmandu is not exactly new - it has long stood quietly behind a leafy canopy on Durbar Marg - what it is now feels more confident, more composed, like someone who has finally grown into their skin. Reimagined by Yangdup Lama and Minakshi Singh - the award-winning duo behind Delhi's Sidecar (a regular on the World's 50 Best Bars list), as well as The Brook and Cocktails & Dreams Speakeasy in Gurugram - this is their first international project. And this version of The Old House is not built for spectacle. It is built for pace. For quiet calibration. And perhaps that is what makes it worth sitting with a little longer. From Sidecar to Kathmandu If you have ever sipped on a Zing Thing at Sidecar in Delhi or found comfort in the moody ease of Cocktails & Dreams Speakeasy in Gurgaon, you already know what this team is capable of. Minakshi and Yangdup are not chasing trends - they are building spaces that last. "The Old House is set to become a regulars' joint with great live bands and the same laid back ease that our bars are known for," says Minakshi Singh. And it shows. The interiors are warm without trying to be rustic. The bar is elegant but not sterile. And while the city outside moves fast, The Old House invites you to slow down. A Tribute To Newari Architecture And Culture The design pays tribute to the Newari way of life - not in a themed or theatrical way, but through textures and structure. You will see dhalin (closely spaced joists), terracotta tiles, and woodwork that references traditional craftsmanship without overwhelming the senses. The flooring features a layer of fine yellow clay, and the back bar stretches like a piece of lived-in art. Everything feels deliberate. There is nostalgia, but not sentimentality. The space nods to the Kathmandu of the 1970s and '80s, but it feels current, too - grounded in its heritage, without being caught in time. As Yangdup puts it, "Born and brought up in Darjeeling with roots in Nepal, I have always had a special affinity for the region, its rich heritage and beautiful produce, it almost feels like a homecoming." The Cocktails Are Rooted In Memory There is a clear throughline between the drinks you find here and the ones you might have tasted at their other bars, but this is no copy-paste menu. The programme brings together some of their OG hits: the Zing Thing, Cilantro, Foghorn, and Duk Ley - familiar names that regulars of Sidecar and The Brook will recognise. But they sit differently here. There is a sense of stillness to how they are served. The space and pace of Kathmandu shape the experience. This is still a bartender's bar. But instead of trying to impress with speed or spectacle, the cocktails focus on clarity, comfort, and a sense of place. Food That Leans Into The Local Dhendup Lama, the force behind the food, makes it clear that this is not fusion for the sake of it. "We are translating staples from the Newari kitchen in a refreshing new narrative without losing out on the heart of the Kathmandu cuisine." The menu pays attention to the idea of sekuwa, a traditional barbecue technique where marinated meats are grilled hot and fast over a pit. This shows up in dishes that are rich, smoky, and built for conversation. The food does not try to outdo the cocktails, but holds its own with confident, quiet flavour. And if you are not drinking, the bar has not forgotten you. There is a robust tea selection, fresh coffee by the Nepal Coffee Company, and a few well-thought-out zero-proof drinks made with ingredients from the region. Built For Locals, And For Those Who Stay Long Enough The Old House is not trying to be a tourist bar. It is not overly designed or obsessed with getting that one perfect Instagram angle. It is the kind of place where you can sit through an afternoon and not be asked to leave. A place that feels intimate even when it is full. Desal Lama, a local partner in the project, perhaps says it best: "I am so proud and happy to partner with the best in the world, and share that with my home, Kathmandu... We are also excited to share our Newari heritage and storytelling." That storytelling is what holds this space together. It is not just in the cocktails or the clay tiles. It is in the music, the conversations, the light through the leaves at 5 PM. The Old House is back - not as a reboot, but as a quieter, more rooted version of itself. And that might be what makes it matter most.
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
India's cocktail pioneer heads for the hills
The first thing that strikes most visitors from Nepal's overbearing southern neighbour is how clean and quiet most parts of Kathmandu are. There's no escaping the chaos and the pollution, but people don't honk or litter. Longtime residents largely credit Kathmandu's young mayor Balendra Shah for the city's spruced-up look. The rapper and structural engineer, who contested as an independent and leveraged his popularity on social media, was the unlikely winner of the last mayoral elections of 2022. The change is not only evident on the ground, literally, but also in the city's food and hospitality scene. Many young Nepalese are now returning home after graduating or working abroad. Tusa, co-founded by former Noma intern Parashuram Pathak, serves progressive Nepalese cuisine in the historic city of Bhaktapur, about 40 minutes from Kathmandu. Luxury hotel chains, especially from India, are readying new launches, including the resurrection of the iconic Hotel Annapurna; the city is now dotted with Instagram and TikTok-friendly cafes and roasteries; and some of its bars regularly feature on Asia's 50 Best Bars list. The most recent entrant into Kathmandu's vibrant night scene is Yangdup Lama, whose The Old House also marks the first international debut of an Indian bar operator. Lama is India's most celebrated bartender and bar entrepreneur. He set up India's first bartending school in the early aughts; is the first Indian to feature on global bartender lists; and Sidecar, which he co-runs in Delhi with his business partner Minakshi Singh, is frequently recognised as among the world's best. The 54-year-old was born in Kurseong but is of Nepalese descent, and he began his journey as a fresh-faced hotel management graduate at Hotel Annapurna in Kathmandu in the early 1990s. Lama says he has emotional ties to Nepal and, from a cultural perspective, Kathmandu made sense for the duo's first international bar. 'Kathmandu has always had its share of well-heeled, adventurous travellers. Beyond that, many of my contemporaries, some of them younger than I am, have returned from abroad and are doing innovative things. So, we reasoned that while it might be a small market, the signs were all positive,' says Lama. Lama and Singh's bars – besides Sidecar, they also helm Cocktails and Dreams Speakeasy and The Brook, in Gurgaon – have followed a simple and successful template of being familiar neighbourhood spaces, 'Monday-Tuesday' bars where you can land up after work, or have a quiet conversation. The Old House, located on the upscale, colonial-era avenue of Durbar Marg, doesn't stray too far from the concept. The Old House leans heavily on the architecture of the Newars, the traditional inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley. With a courtyard that welcomes guests, a generously proportioned skylight, intricate woodwork, and textured brick and stucco walls, one gets the feeling of entering the grand home of an especially welcoming Newari elite. The kitchen sends out generous helpings of meats, some of which are grilled sekuwa-style — over charcoal — and momos, and the bar menu showcases a breadth of ingredients from the subtropical lowlands of the Terai to the subalpine heights of the high Himalaya with measured flair. The easy-drinking Mustang Melody combines gin with seabuckthorn, honey and lime, while the Meaningful Marpha, a nod to Nepal's apple capital, adeptly blends whisky, apple jam, and black pepper bitters. Lama is most proud, though, of the Dhaka Topi, named after the patterned cap worn across Nepal, traditionally made from handwoven Dhaka fabric. To Lama, the cocktail – whisky, bay leaf and lime – speaks of Nepali pride. 'I'd been trying to get it right for a while now. With bourbon, with scotch, but ultimately what worked is a smooth blended scotch and bay leaf purée,' says Lama. The bar and floor staff are all local, trained in the Sidecar style but encouraged to make it their own. While Lama and Singh are weighing offers to set up bars in cities such as Jaipur and Hyderabad, they also have India's other neighbours in their sights. 'Sri Lanka would be lovely. There is a massive, high-quality tourism catchment there,' says Singh. With Indian mixology on the rise – five Indian bars figure in this year's Asia's 50 Best – they might also have a concomitant agenda: to spotlight some uniquely Indian ingredients. Singh believes that some parts of the world are now ready for big flavours. 'I remember this event in Italy where our cilantro-based cocktail got people excited. Some bars in Singapore are already doing Indian-forward cocktails, so we're not starting from scratch anymore,' says Singh. 'So yes, an Indian bar in Sri Lanka or maybe Southeast Asia sounds excellent – I mean, why not?'
Time Out
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The best doughnut shops in L.A.
What is it? An artisan plant-based doughnut shop originally from Kauai, Hawaii. Why we love it: Siblings Hana and Nile Dreiling first started serving fried-to-order taro doughnuts made with locally sourced ingredients back in 2018. Now, Holey Grail has made it to the mainland with two L.A. outposts: Santa Monica and Larchmont Village. While I wouldn't recommend these pricey, smaller-than-average vegan doughnuts over, say, Sidecar or the Donut Man, the unique texture—somewhere between a mochi doughnut and a cake doughnut—and high-quality ingredients like single-estate dark chocolate make Holey Grail noteworthy enough to merit inclusion in this guide. Rotating flavors and collab doughnuts with high-profile chefs keep things interesting for those inclined toward novelty, but manage your expectations: Holey Grail, while tasty enough, doesn't really live up to the hype. Time Out tip: Eat these fresh, right out of the fryer, or not at all. Holey Grail Donuts don't travel well.
Newsweek
18-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
American Express Launches New Style of Airport Lounge
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. American Express is launching a new style of airport lounge for travelers who are short on time. The new Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge, opening at Harry Reid International in Las Vegas (LAS) next year, will be open to customers from 90 minutes before their flight departs. Why It Matters The new lounge is designed as an alternative to American Express' The Centurion Lounge, and is aimed at travelers looking for quick access to quality food and drink. By limiting entry to those with flights departing within a short time frame, it could help ease crowding and manage demand across lounge spaces. American Express is launching a new style of lounge at Harry Reid International in Las Vegas next year. American Express is launching a new style of lounge at Harry Reid International in Las Vegas next American Express What To Know The Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge will cater to eligible card members who have limited time before their flights. The new lounge will be part of The Centurion Lounge Network, and will complement the main Centurion Lounge at LAS. The lounge will be complimentary for members who have access to the network, including those who hold an American Express' Platinum Card, Business Platinum Card, Centurion Card or the Business Centurion Card. The speakeasy-inspired space will offer gourmet small plates and signature cocktails curated by The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge. American Express has also announced that it is partnering with award-winning chefs including Mashama Bailey, Sarah Grueneberg, Kwame Onwuachi, and Mike Solomonov, to create the Culinary Collective menu. Bar Director Harrison Ginsberg will also join the team. Dishes from the Culinary Collective menu will change seasonally and will make up around half of the Centurion Lounges' items, while the other half will be cuisine inspired by the city in which the lounge is located. The introduction of the Sidecar lounge will make American Express the only credit card issuer with two lounges at the Las Vegas airport. What People Are Saying Audrey Hendley, the president of American Express Travel, said in a statement: "Many of our visitors spend less than an hour in our lounges, and we've created Sidecar specifically for them. "The first Centurion Lounge opened in Las Vegas in 2013, so it's fitting that we're launching this new lounge concept at LAS as we continue to innovate to meet our card members' needs." What Happens Next Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge is expected to open at Harry Reid International in Las Vegas in 2026. American Express has not yet confirmed whether this concept will expand to other airports.
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Travel + Leisure
17-07-2025
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
American Express Has a New Speakeasy-style Lounge Concept—What Travelers Should Know
If you're an American Express cardholder, your lounge experience is about to get a little bit more delicious. Travelers flying through Las Vegas will soon have a stylish new spot to unwind, as American Express plans to open Sidecar—a speakeasy-style lounge at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)—in 2026. When it opens, American Express will be the only credit card issuer with two lounges at LAS. 'Many of our visitors spend less than an hour in our lounges, and we've created Sidecar specifically for them,' Hendley said in the statement. 'The first Centurion Lounge opened in Las Vegas in 2013, so it's fitting that we're launching this new lounge concept at LAS as we continue to innovate to meet our Card Members' needs.' Access will be complimentary for card members who already enjoy access to the Centurion Lounges, and guests will be able to access Sidecar within 90 minutes before their flight departs. American Express also announced it is partnering with James Beard Award winning Resy chefs Mashama Bailey, Sarah Grueneberg, Kwame Onwuachi, and Mike Solomonov, as well as renowned Bar Director Harrison Ginsberg, to form The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge. The collective will create a menu of dishes and craft cocktails inspired by their renowned restaurants, and the new menu items will be available at all 15 Centurion Lounges in the U.S. starting July 29. Some recipes will be available at the new, intimate airport lounge at LAS' Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge. Eligible card members who have limited time will be able to grab a quick bite or drink, including gourmet small plates and signature drinks curated by The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge, in the speakeasy-style space. 'We know how much Card Members love the food and drinks at the Centurion Lounges and look forward to seeing what's new. With help from our Resy chef partners, we've brought together a group of some of the most exciting culinary minds in America to create incredible menus, available all in one place for the first time ever,' Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, said in a statement shared with T+L. 'You'd be lucky to make it to each of their celebrated restaurants across the country, but now visitors to our Centurion Lounges will be able to sample dishes created by these chefs.' The new curated menus from the Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge will include many dishes that change seasonally, along with dishes that are inspired by the local cuisine in the city where the lounge is located. Specific dishes will vary from lounge to lounge. 'The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge is so inspiring and works incredibly well because each of the chefs, and American Express, share the same ethos. We care about food, innovation and diverse flavors—key elements of this collaboration,' Mike Solomonov, one of the chefs in the collective, said in a statement. The Centurion Lounge is American Express' signature lounge program within the broader American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes complimentary access to a total of more than 1,550 lounges across 140 countries.
