Where to eat in August…in Delhi

August is giving us plenty of reasons to step out (even if the monsoon is making a very convincing case for staying in). From new restaurants opening across Delhi-NCR to old favourites showing up in new neighbourhoods, there’s a lot happening on the city’s food and drink scene right now.

This month brings a little bit of everything, from Nepali comfort food at Gurugram’s Jimbu Thakali and Latin beats with margaritas at Latoyá in Malviya Nagar’s Eldeco Centre, to Japanese-inspired bakes and matcha at Harajuku Bakehouse in Defence Colony and design-led dining spaces like Colosseum in Noida. There are also new bars, seasonal specials, and plenty of reasons to turn “just one drink” into dinner plans.

Whether you’re chasing a new dinner reservation, looking for your next coffee haunt or simply need an excuse to meet new friends over drinks, here’s what’s new and worth checking out in Delhi-NCR this August.

New openings

Jimbu Thakali, M3M 65th Avenue, Gurugram

If Nepal has been sitting on your food bucket list, this new Gurugram opening is a good place to begin. Jimbu Thakali, a Kathmandu favourite that has served over 3 million Thakali thalis since its inception in 2016, has opened its first Indian outpost at M3M 65th Avenue. Named after jimbu, a fragrant Himalayan herb, the restaurant brings Nepal’s mountain cuisine to the city with its signature Thakali thali, featuring jimbu-tempered lentils, fermented gundruk, timur pepper, and seasonal sides. The menu also goes beyond the thali to include buckwheat fries, chicken choila wings, juicy momos, and timur chicken. The interiors carry the same Himalayan warmth, with brick walls, Newari-inspired woodwork, and cosy corners that make it an easy spot for long lunches and leisurely dinners.

Let’s Kiss, GK-3

Remember when your favourite bartender knew your order before you even said it? That’s the feeling Let’s Kiss (Keep It Short and Simple) is chasing. The new GK-3 bar skips the usual cocktail menu and puts the conversation first. Tell the bartenders a flavour you like, a mood you’re in, or simply let them take over, and they’ll create something from a repertoire of over 100 cocktails they know by heart. The space follows the same understated approach with raw concrete interiors and a low-key vibe, while the food keeps things playful with bites like Shrimply the Best, a desi take on kataifi prawns, and Toasterrr, lamb on toast topped with pesto and burrata.

Harajuku Bakehouse, Defence Colony

Harajuku Bakehouse has a new address in DefCol, and it’s bringing more than just its signature fluffy pancakes and matcha. The Japanese-inspired cafe has expanded its drinks list with Kokoro Blends, which include iced banana hojicha latte, sakura cream soda, and strawberry cheesecake matcha latte. There’s also the new Ikigai Club, featuring protein coffees, mushroom coffee, and matcha-based functional drinks for those looking for a little more from their daily cup. If you’re grabbing something between meetings, the new grab-and-go menu covers salads, poke bowls, sandwiches, and bakery favourites. And for anyone who wants to take the Harajuku mood home, there’s now a first-ever merch collection of graphic tees, totes, and lifestyle pieces inspired by Japanese pop culture.

Colosseum, Noida

Noida has a new all-day dining spot, and design lovers might want to bookmark this one. Colosseum, which has opened in Sector 117, pairs soaring double-height ceilings, elegant arches, and gallery-like interiors with a menu that travels from the Mediterranean to Asia, with a few Indian favourites in between. You’ve got everything from mezze platters to maki rolls, tikkas, and kebabs. The real draw, though, is the bakery—fresh breads, flaky viennoiseries, handcrafted pastries, and desserts made in-house. Pair that with specialty coffee and an all-day offering, and Colosseum works equally well for a morning meeting, an afternoon coffee break or a leisurely weekend meal.

Afeto, Rajouri Garden

Coffee, croffles, and cosy interiors come together at Afeto, a new neighbourhood cafe in Rajouri Garden founded by pastry chef Ashima Gupta. Built around a 100 per cent in-house kitchen, everything from breads and granola to desserts and beverages is made from scratch. The cafe goes beyond the staples, with lentil pancakes, hearty breakfast plates like tofu bhurji scramble, and all-day meals along with what Afeto says is Delhi’s first dedicated croffle menu featuring combinations like eggs and chilli, avocado and cheese, and parmesan and garlic mushroom. There’s also nitrobrew, matcha, and specialty coffee, plus a dedicated post-workout section with protein-forward drinks like Coconut Rebuild Shake and Dark Cacao Muscle Reset.

Aure Heer, Panchshila Rendezvous, Malviya Nagar

If your idea of a great meal involves smoky kebabs, rich gravies, and sinful desserts, Aure Heer needs to be on your radar. The new Malviya Nagar restaurant by chef Mahabir puts north Indian cuisine in the spotlight, drawing from decades of recipes, techniques, and kitchen memories. The food moves between playful and nostalgic, from Samosa Golmaal and Cheesy Mushroom Bomb to clay-grilled kebabs, the chef’s signature butter chicken and Heer’s Magic Handi, a slow-cooked mutton preparation made for sharing. Save room for desserts like deconstructed Shahi Tukda and Saffron Phirni Brûlée, and wash it all down with Kokum Banta and Aam Panna Banta.

Mamagoto Nomikai, Cyber Hub, Gurugram

Your post-work plans just got a little more interesting with Mamagoto’s newest concept, Nomikai, inspired by the Japanese tradition of getting together over food and drinks after a long day. The Cyber Hub space borrows its playful energy from 1970s Hong Kong mahjong parlours, while the food and drinks take a trip across Asia. Expect Korean roll-on-a-stick, tempura nori tacos, krapow sliders, and Japanese highballs. It’s the kind of place made for evenings that somehow turn into dinner, with plenty to share along the way.

D’Glasshouse at Dramique, Vasant Kunj

If your idea of a night out doesn’t always involve a DJ, a packed dance floor, and shouting over your own conversation, D’Glasshouse might be your kind of place. The new space within Dramique in The Grand New Delhi, Vasant Kunj, takes a more intimate approach to Delhi nightlife with a glass-enclosed setting, plenty of greenery, and lounge-style corners made for slow evenings.

The bar’s Garden-to-Glass cocktails bring fresh botanicals and unexpected flavours into the mix. The King combines tequila, mezcal, raw mango cordial, dry vermouth, and petrichor, while The Rebel takes a rum base and layers it with pineapple, falernum, absinthe, amaro, lime, grapefruit, and grenadine. The food follows a global route too, with plates like spinach and tofu goma-ae, spicy salmon aburi, lobster thermidor, and lamb ragout.

New menus and specials

Seasonal chaat tasting menu at Indian Accent, Lodhi Road

Forget the usual chaat trail. Indian Accent is taking street-side favourites and giving them a table-worthy makeover with a limited-period chaat tasting menu by executive chef Shantanu Mehrotra. The line-up revisits familiar flavours, from nadru ki chaat inspired by Lucknow, puchka, and five waters with fruit-filled variations to aloo tikki hash and dal samosa. There’s plenty of nostalgia built in too, with desserts like orange chuski and aamras poori, and gud batasha bringing back memories of summer treats and childhood cravings. Available only for lunch until August 31, it’s a playful take on the chaats many of us grew up eating, presented with Indian Accent’s signature flair.

Cabaret evenings and a new menu at Addoni’s, Green Park

Addoni’s is giving dinner plans a little more drama with its new cabaret evenings, where live singing, dance, and storytelling unfold between courses. The new menu is just as adventurous, travelling from chermoula sole and Canadian scallops to Wazwan mutton seekh, pepper duck curry and saikyo miso-glazed Alaskan black cod. There are plenty of surprises in between, including vegan-friendly plates and desserts like Russian honey cake and matcha popsicle.

The Millennial’s Cocktail Diary at Fio Table, Gurugram

Your childhood snack drawer just found its way behind the bar. The Fio Table in Gurugram has turned millennial nostalgia into cocktails with The Millennial’s Cocktail Diary, a playful collection inspired by Peppy chips, cola gummies, Nutties and classroom games we never got tired off. Fashioned like a journal with handwritten notes and illustrations, the menu blends Mediterranean flavours with modern techniques, bringing together house-made infusions, syrups, and unexpected ingredients. Try the Peppy Pepper Soda, a smoky tequila and whisky cocktail finished with a Peppy chip, the Breakfast Manhattan with peanut-butter-washed whisky and Nutties, or TFT Cola inspired by the classic cola gummy. A little throwback, a little grownup, and a good excuse to revisit some old favourites in cocktail form.

Burma Burma: PaukSe and Palata, multiple outlets

Move over, regular bread baskets. Burma Burma is putting Burmese breads in the spotlight with PaukSe & Palata: Windows to Burma, a limited-period offering until August 31, inspired by the lively tea shops of Yangon. These are the places where people gather over flaky flatbreads, pillowy steamed buns, and endless cups of tea, and that same rhythm comes through here. Go for PaukSe buns filled with flavours like tofu and scallion or spicy curry, alongside flaky Palata paired with comforting curries and playful creations like the Palata sando. Add Burmese pulled teas, house-made sodas and desserts like Tea Shop Cream Puff, and you’ve got a taste of Burma’s tea shop culture without leaving the city.

Literary Mixology, Vol 2 at The Library Bar, The Leela Palace New Delhi

A good book and a good drink have always known how to make people linger. At The Library Bar at The Leela Palace New Delhi, the latest edition of Literary Mixology turns celebrated works of literature into cocktails, with each creation inspired by the mood and world of a different book. The collection brings together compositions such as Beloved, a blend of pandan-infused vodka, pineapple and coconut; Infinite Jest, built with truffle-fat-washed rye and layered savoury notes; and Cosmos, a brighter combination of citrus, botanicals and tropical flavours, among others. Each cocktail comes with its own story, making this a reading list best explored one drink at a time.

Bodega Wednesdays at Latoyá, Eldeco Centre, Malviya Nagar

Somewhere between a bar night and a neighbourhood hangout is where Latoyá’s Bodega Wednesdays finds its place. Inspired by the bodegas of Latin America—corner spots known for easy drinks, small plates, and good company—the weekly series brings that same relaxed energy to Delhi. The evening revolves around margaritas, Latin beats, and snacks made for sharing (and disappearing quickly). Order the tequila-based Feels Like a Shore, with cucumber and melon juice, raspberry cordial, coconut and citrus liqueur, or Margarita al Pastor, a smoky mix of raw-mango-infused tequila, mezcal, smoked pineapple, and spiced passionfruit. Don’t miss the Bodega Style Dirty Chips either, topped with Peruvian huancaína sauce, salsa criolla, habanero spice, toasted corn, and charred lime.

Echoes of Rain at Hikki, Eldeco Centre, Malviya Nagar