The Love Hotel is Delhi’s newest dirty little secret

Red flap curtains. Handcuffs for play. A playlist with sexy songs. Kinky love games. And tables for two. No, this isn’t a scene from the next instalment of Fifty Shades of Grey, but a new cocktail bar in Delhi by the OG Zaddy of the restaurant world, AD Singh. The Love Hotel, hidden away in the lanes of Lodhi Colony, is as intimate as it gets.

Obscured by a delicate curtain, the 20-seater ‘secret cocktail bar’—a cheeky nod to Japan's sex hotels—glows in red, making it appear playful and risqué. The capital finally has its ideal third date spot, setting the mood for the ultimate nightcap.

Love hotels, or rabu hoteru as they are known in Japan, have been around since the Edo period. In the absence of privacy in compact homes, couples end up in these ‘discreet establishments’ to live out their carnal dreams. The trend also harbours a unique subculture rooted in escapism, fantasy, and the pursuit of unique experiences. The Love Hotel is Delhi’s PG footsie version, capturing the mood without the rest.

Singh, a self-proclaimed Japanophile, opened his first Japanese restaurant, Ai, in Delhi’s MGF Metropolitan mall way back in 2008. The summer terrace—one of its most wanted nooks—was originally called The Love Hotel. The party spot, which could accommodate as many as 500 people, closed in 2012. In its brand-new avatar, The Love Hotel is all about sensational experiences minus the large crowd. Rendered in shades of reds, the space oozes passion, pleasure, and the forbidden—all sprinkled with love. Don’t we love a cosy bar with dim lighting that screams mischief? The best part: it’s not too dark but allows you to ‘stay hidden’ if you like. 

Right opposite Guppy, the space that is now The Love Hotel has seen various concepts over the years. Singh recalls, “I had India's first poké bar here and then a Franco-Japanese concept. This time, we wanted to create an intimate bar, with a lot of mood and vibe, and of course, Japanese food and drinks.” So, the restaurateur revisited his obsession with the love hotels of Japan and created this cosy cocktail bar. The stripped-back den joins the growing crop of XS eateries like Papa’s in Mumbai or Bengaluru’s Wine in Progress, where craft and cuisine take centre stage in teeny tiny spaces. 

“In the last couple of years, there has been a desire for small bars and restaurants, and private experiences,” notes Singh. Also having a moment are private clubs, with Delhi launching its first members-only Aztec bar recently. “Earlier, diners wanted to go to big places to be seen. The emerging new trend, especially for a sophisticated audience, revolves around privacy and strong concepts that are executed well,” highlights Singh. 

At the heart of The Love Hotel is its cocktail programme by leading mixologist Nitin Tewari, co-curated with brand manager Shiva Kant Vyas and the team at Olive Group of Restaurants. It’s short, sweet and sinful—just like a one-night stand, but way more ’grammable. The ‘naked bar’ with its red glossy tiles and suggestive little props (furry pink handcuffs among them) is where all the action is at. Here you can watch the bartender whip up mischievously named concoctions, giving your cocktail a good shake or puckering it up with a gorgeous garnish. 

Sink into its comfortable chairs and indulge your guilty pleasures. Whisper sweet nothings into your amour’s ears, follow provocative prompts scribbled on coasters (‘Kiss your partner for the length of a song’ or ‘Bite their lips like a hot chilli’), or gamify your date with a play of roll-the-dice (and follow the instructions to suck, bite, kiss, lick, grab, caress) while sipping on trendy cocktails. 

This amorous haven may not give you Rooms By The Hour, but you can certainly order it in liquid form. Yes, this deliciously red cocktail with flavours of toasted sesame and pandan will blow your mind. It’s always Cuffing season here with this martini-paloma lovechild that you won’t mind being tied to all night (it even comes with a handcuff). And if you want to be bitten by The Love Bug, the salty-sweet-umami potion with aged rum, miso, pineapple and white chocolate, topped with sparkling wine will do justice. Secretly craving a good tease? Nothing works better than The Dirty Little Secret. Fashioned on the hot-selling picante, it changes colour and keeps you guessing on its secret ingredient as you sip along. 

Oops! We Did It Again is a nod to all those times we’ve been guilty of humouring fuckbois. A whisky-based cocktail, it’s familiar yet leaves room for some mystery (#hellohookups). Don’t miss Hug Me Baby, One More Time! (truly as comforting as a hug) with its tea-inspired ingredients of hibiscus and jasmine blended with soju. Round off the evening with a perfect pick-me-up, It’s Not Bedtime. A tiramisu martini, it comes with a little spoon for you to scoop up the choco-grapefruit foam. 

To mirror the drinks, chef Saurabh Sharan (of Guppy and The Fatty Bao fame) has put together a Kobachi-style menu. Graze on sushi canapés with an option of salmon, and avocado and palm heart, or sink your teeth into brie cheese and Bhavnagri chilli tempura (new chakhna alert), and add on the Wakame seaweed salad for a refreshing summer nibble. Ditch the alcohol shots for yellowtail shooters with virgin Mary and exotic vegetables (you can thank us later) or choose indulgence with the baby pork ribs glazed with soy-honey-mustard. 

Seal your playdate with some more fun. While paying the bill, put your hand in the cookie jar for a little surprise for some sexy time after-hours.

Meal for two: ₹4,000 (with alcohol)

Timings: 6 pm to 1 am (open all days)

Address: Main Market, 28, Lodhi Road, Block 13, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi 110003

Reservations: +91 92112 36969