Where to eat this May…in Bengaluru

Temperatures are soaring in the otherwise pleasant Bengaluru, but the city’s dining scene is even hotter. Older favourites like Mai Mai, known for its East Asian offerings, and Kalpaney, with its imaginative all-vegetarian dining, come back for their second innings in the city.

Elsewhere, Bengaluru’s already crowded dining scene gets another boost. For morning people, Benedict’s in JP Nagar serves up different interpretations of breakfast classics. Night owls will gravitate to The Porcupine, a pet-friendly, spirit-forward bar with vinyls and Bangalorian club food in Indiranagar. Below, the hottest seats to book in the city.

The Porcupine, Indiranagar

The Porcupine, set within an amber-lit manor-like setting opens to an airy deck. Its exposed brick walls and hanging pendant lamps lead you to a ‘lived-in’ space with three distinct zones: a vinyl-led bar, a dedicated counter for Indian spirit-forward cocktails, and a beer pub. The menu celebrates Bengaluru’s club food—think gundu dosa, soft steamed dosa dumplings with chutney, lamb cutlets, bite-sized pulled lamb patties, while mains include Brinjal Pot, Karnataka’s very own vangi baath, and a coastal style fish curry rice. Behind the bar, the focus is distinctly India forward—we’re talking cocktails with Indian flavours and spirits. Like the Prickly Aam Reserve, with tequila and house-made raw mango cordial and the Pickleback Gin served with gin, a mixed pickle brine and tonic, and the Butterscotch No. 33 featuring a butterscotch-washed whisky and gondhoraj syrup.

Kalpaney, Indiranagar

Conceptualised by Avinash Kapoli and Chef Sombir Chaudary, this new launch is the restaurant’s second outpost in the city after JP Nagar. True to its name, Kalpaney (meaning ‘imagination’ in Kannada) gives you a dreamy welcome with double-height carved wooden doors and smoke billowing out of a giant brass vessel. Decked out in Kalamkari and Kaavi art, and with handcrafted ceramics developed by artisans from UP’s Khurja region, this vegetarian fine dining restaurant can easily pass off for an art space. The menu takes you on a journey across the world from Asian to Italian and Indian, all with unique twists. Their mushroom galouti with Zaffrani parotta will not make you miss your meat. Some of the hot favourites here are garlic truffle khichdi, avocado corn salad, and mathri makhana chaat. The mocktails are layered with regional ingredients—Preeti Prema features clear watermelon juice, and rose cordial with saffron tea, while Imli Ka Khajur blends tamarind-ginger extract, date molasses, green chilli, vegan foam and smoked Himalayan salt.

Mai Mai, MG Road

After receiving a warm welcome for its East Asian flavours at the 30-seater setting in Indiranagar last year, Mai Mai now opens its doors on MG Road in a much larger space. The menu serves old favourites like the Korean bibimbap and egg-wrapped fried rice alongside new additions such as juicy steamed Mala oil wontons, goguma karaage, and ginger scallion steamed fish. Their Sizzling Stone Bowls, including the oyako donburi and char sui roast pork noodles, as well as the Phuket Night Market kale fried rice are hearty. Wine, soju-led cocktails and a versatile sake selection pair perfectly with the cuisine. Cutting back on the alcohol? Mai Mai’s Zero-Proof Dry Bar does a delicious citrusy yuzu old fashioned and the gochujang gin sour which feels like a modern take on the Bloody Mary.

Pincode by Kunal Kapur, MG Road

The newest outpost of the Michelin-recognised restaurant from Abu Dhabi continues to draw inspiration from Chef Kunal’s food journeys through roadside eateries and family kitchens. After opening in Goa, the chef brings his pan Indian menu of must-order dishes like podi idli chaat, pesto pav bhaji, and the saag burrata to Bengaluru. The fiery kasundi sriracha fish tikka and the sweet and sour mutton ribs with inji puli will linger on your tastebuds, while the Pressure Cooker Chicken Curry will remind you of a comforting home-cooked meal on a Sunday afternoon. The non-alcoholic beverages come with surprising ingredients like Dabur Chyawanprash in The Booster and a thandai cordial in the House Sharbat. Round off the experience with desserts like the pansari kulfi, inspired by traditional paan flavours or doodh waali bread which pays tribute to the chef’s grandma.

No Shop Talk, Kadubeesanahalli

If Japan has a bar where people can gather to discuss quitting their jobs, Bengaluru has one where you are asked to refrain from any discussions of deadlines over dinner. Located at Embassy Tech Square, this intimate new space, wrapped in textured glass, blue accents, and mood lighting blends inventive cocktails and elevated comfort food, and urges you to disconnect after a long day at the office. The bar programme revolves around the concept of ‘Life & Afterlife’, where ingredients are explored in both their original and transformed forms. Signature cocktail pairings include grape & pomace, coffee & cascara, coconut water & coconut oil, and cheese & ricotta which deliver layered, unexpected flavours. The food menu draws from Indian and globally inspired comfort plates meant for sharing. There is a truffle burrata tart, Goan cutlet sliders, kimchi smash burgers, and the crowd-favourite Aslam style butter chicken.

Benedict’s, JP Nagar

This all-day diner is suited for everything from early breakfasts and solo coffee runs to long lunches and slow evening meals. The menu blends continental comfort food, Mediterranean influences, and select Parsi-inspired egg preparations, anchored by different interpretations of breakfast classics. You can expect Eggs Benedict, Turkish eggs served over garlicky yoghurt, shakshuka with a twist, and Japanese-style chawanmushi topped with comforting Parsi akuri. Beyond the egg specials, the broader all-day menu features crepes, waffles, fresh salads, crisp jaffles, burrito bowls, and indulgent burgers, which on boozy Sundays can be paired with sake, soju, wines, Mimosas, and Bellinis.