Leisure Activities at Metro Cities
DelhiNight life  Bars & Live Music: More and more bars stage live music at least once a week (usually on weekends), which ranges from jazz and Latin to hip hop and 1980s disco. The Maurya Sheraton, Diplomatic Enclave, has the lively Dublin bar, with an Irish theme, while Rick's, situated in the Taj Mahal Hotel, 1 Mansingh Road, offers a swish modernist style. Outside the 5-star hotels there are a mushrooming number of commendable bars, the pick of the bunch in Connaught Place being Q'BA, 42 E-Block, which sometimes has live music. Another good choice here is DV8, 13 Regal Building, which has comfortable leather chairs, a big-screen television and a top range of domestic and imported beverages.In Greater Kailash I's N-Block Market is the trendy Shalom Med Lounge Bar, which sports an inventive drinks menu and tasty Lebanese food. Meanwhile, in Vasant Vihar's Basant Lok Complex, there are two excellent watering holes: ultra-stylish Kylin and the more informal Hookah Bar & Lounge. Espresso bars are becoming increasingly popular and can be found in many areas of the city. The most prolific chains are Barista, Costa, Subway and Cafe Coffee Day. Clubs Most discos are in the luxury hotels and many of them operate a couples-only policy, as well as a dress code. Places tend to come and go rather frequently, so to find out the in-vogue discos during the time of your visit. Shopping Gemstones, carpets, antique furniture, handicrafts, fabrics, spices...the emporiums of Delhi are filled with a treasure trove of goods from the far corners of the Indian subcontinent. The intrepid will head for the rambunctious chowks and alleyways of Old Delhi, while the more cautious will stick to the well-trodden round of Connaught Place and the orderly state government handicrafts emporiums on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, with perhaps an excursion in the direction of Hauz Khas Village, Sunder Nagar Market, and the shopping enclaves of South Extension and Chanakyapuri's Santushti. The most central of the government-run handicraft centres is the Central Cottage Industries Emporium, on Janpath, which is well stocked with a wide assortment of handicrafts as well as textiles and jewellery. On Baba Kharak Singh Marg, there is a long line of fantastic state emporiums, from Himachal Pradesh to Tamil Nadu, which stock quality items at fixed prices. Give yourself a few hours to peruse the many shops here. Located in south Delhi, Hauz Khas Village has a centralised collection of furniture and art shops, along with a hip selection of boutiques selling designer clothes in both Indian and Western styles. There is no shortage of shops selling carpets in Delhi but the visitor would be well advised to exercise caution, by sticking to the reputable, fixed-price, non-commission establishments. It is advisable to shop around before making a purchase as quality and prices can vary dramatically. Delhi's markets come crammed with goods, people and aromas. The colourful bazaars of Chandni Chowk are piled high with everything from nuts and spices to silks and essential oils, and are worth visiting for the spectacle alone. The wholesale Spice Market, on Khari Baoli, in the Old City, is where, for centuries, the culinary traditions of North Asia, China, Persia and the Middle East have worked their influence on local cuisine. Sunder Nagar Market, off Mathura Road, is open Monday to Saturday and is a good place to search for antiques and jewelry, as well as boasting a tremendous variety of other knick-knacks and artifacts spilling out of the shops. This market also has two very good tea shops. One of Delhi's most prestigious markets, and a regular haunt of the city's ex-pats, is Khan Market, just south of India Gate, open Monday to Saturday. There are a number of excellent bookshops here as well as home ware and fashion shops. Except in the government-run shops, haggling is usually the order of the day - it is the only way for shoppers to ensure they do not pay too far over the odds. Most shops tend to open around 1000 and close between 1800 and 1900. Some shops close on Sunday while others remain open daily. Restaurants Traditionally, all the best restaurants in Delhi were to be found in the 5-star international hotels. To an extent, this is still the case, although beyond the confines of the big hotels, the prosperity of Delhi's enormous middle class has ensured that a huge number of excellent restaurants have sprung up where you can be assured of delicious food at a fraction of the price charged in the big hotel dining rooms. Alcohol (domestic and foreign) is widely available at most places, except budget eateries which often lack the requisite liquor license. The price of alcohol is variable, with the fancy places charging as much as triple the price of a mid-range eatery. Indian wine does exist and although it has come a long way in recent times, it is still not on par with most international labels. Indian beer is excellent, with Kingfisher long being lauded as the national favorite. When it comes to food, you can find everything from traditional Indian curries to a commendable assortment of international fare. There are also a large number of restaurants in Delhi that are wholly vegetarian. Indeed, the city is a culinary paradise for the non-meat-eater, as even the categorization of eating houses (‘veg' and ‘non-veg') suggests a presumption in favor of vegetarianism. Most ‘non-veg' restaurants offer a wide variety of ‘veg' dishes. We have selected 12 restaurants, which we have divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. Gastronomic Masala Art The principal joy of Masala Art is the so-called ‘interactive' Indian eating experience. Diners sit at a bar, behind which the chefs ply their trade. There are several set menus to choose from, each comprising up to around a dozen small dishes. Diner and chef can discuss the courses as these appear, with guests being treated to tailor-made variety. The dining room is modern and unfussy, the food fabulous. Taj Palace Hotel, Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave Website: www.tajhotels.com Bukhara Bukhara is widely touted as the best place in Delhi for Mughal and North-West Frontier specialties. Indeed the restaurant boasts many domestic and international accolades including a place in the World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2007. The food is phenomenal and everything its reputation suggests - one particularly recommended item is the kastoori kebab, while the delicious dhal makes a super side dish. Diners sit on benches, at elegant low tables. The Maurya, Diplomatic Enclave Website: www.itcwelcomgroup.in Business Sakura Sakura is in the swanky Hotel Metropolitan Nikko, a stone's throw from Connaught Place. It is an award-winning Japanese restaurant, airy, spacious and minimal, which serves top-notch cuisine. The sushi is irresistibly fresh and succulent and the service is suitably obeisant. Lunch at Sakura is the perfect antidote to a brain-draining morning business meeting, or, hectic shopping spree in Connaught Place. Metropolitan Hotel, Bangla Sahib Road Website: www.hotelnikkodelhi.com The Spice Route The Spice Route rustles up scrummy South and South-East Asian cuisine that includes Thai, Vietnamese, Keralan, Sri Lankan and Malaysian. The interior décor is uniquely eye-catching, with dramatic design styles such as lavishly painted wooden pillars and panels. The food is innovative and skillfully prepared and the ambience up-market, making this restaurant ideal for business or leisure. The Imperial, Janpath Website: www.theimperialindia.com Trendy La Piazza An old favorite, located in the plush Hyatt Regency hotel, La Piazza is the place to come for authentic Italian food, prepared with the finest ingredients and following traditional recipes. Menu items range from crisp wood-fired pizzas to tender (imported) lamb chops and an enticing range of magnificent pasta dishes. The fresh salads and wickedly rich desserts should not be missed. Hyatt Regency, Bhikaiji Cama Place, Ring Road Website: www.delhi.regency.hyatt.com Ego Thai Serving very commendable Thai food in a smart-casual setting, Ego Thai attracts Delhi's fashionable crowd who come here after quaffing cocktails at the adjoining lounge-bar. The food gets a round of applause for authenticity, particularly the traditional Thai curries, and there are some positively sublime Thai soups that are so satiating they can replace a meal. 53 Community Centre, New Friends Colony Budget Karim's Established in 1913, Karim's is something of a Delhi institution. It serves robust Mughal food in rudimentary but clean surroundings off a courtyard that is close behind Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. The tandoori chicken and tandoori burra (mutton) are both highly recommended, as are the succulent kebabs. There is an interesting selection of traditional Indian breads, from stuffed naan to paper-thin romali roti, which are perfect for mopping up every last drop of the lip-smacking curry sauces. They also have branches at Nizammudin and Noida. Unlicensed. Website: www.karimhoteldelhi.com Saravana Bhavan Saravana Bhavan is arguably the best place in town for flavor-packed inexpensive (vegetarian) South Indian fare. It does a tremendous job of dosas, idlis and uttapams and also prepares awesome thalis. There is a range of excellent take-away namkin (savoury snacks) and mithai (Indian sweets) at low prices. So popular is this restaurant that you may have to queue for a table. Unlicensed. 46 Janpath (smaller branch at 15 P-Block, Connaught Place) Website: www.saravanabhavan.com Kwality Restaurant This iconic restaurant has been going strong for around 70 years thanks to its consistently good, primarily North Indian food. Attracting a predominantly middle-class crowd, Kwality deserves kudos for its variety of dishes, from chunky meat curries to delicate paneer creations. There is a pleasing variety of veg and non-veg dishes to choose from. 7 Regal Building, Connaught Place Website: www.kwalitygroup.com Personal Recommendations United Coffee House Retaining much of its 1940s interior design flourishes, the unpretentious United Coffee House has an upbeat yet easygoing ambience and is a wonderful spot to recharge your batteries. The menu is incredibly long with a mishmash of Indian, Western and Chinese offerings, as well as light bites such as grilled sandwiches and soups. The food is reliable and the service is courteous. 15 E-Block, Connaught Place |
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