Good Bars and Cafes in South Delhi/South-East Delhi (New Delhi)

Thai Wok

Flaming orange walls with cushioned seating under wind-blown canopies, wonderful ambient music and a magnificent view of the Qutub Minar, create a great ambience for diners at Thai Wok. This rooftop Thai restaurant in the Ambavata Complex in Mehrauli, is one of the best places in Delhi to sample Thai cuisine. Pad Thai, pork spareribs marinated in Thai herbs and topped with honey and garlic sauce, stir-fried prawns with green chilies and sweet basil, red snapper in chili-sour sauce, batter-fried vegetables and deep-fried filet of sole tossed in chopped garlic and freshly crushed black pepper, are on offer. Thai Wok also has a mix of delightful cocktails and an extensive wine list including vintages from across the world.

Lizard Lounge

Located in South Delhi's commercial district, Lizard Lounge is a Mediterranean food joint-cum-nightclub. Dimly lit atmosphere, Arabian music, exotic hookahs, potent cocktails and Mediterranean classics like shawarmas, shish kabab create a tavern like ambience. In the evenings, the restaurant turns into a club with the in-house DJ spinning tunes—mostly lounge and hip-hop. Lizard Lounge also features belly dancing once a week. The crowd is mostly young and hip and this resto-bar is apt for anyone who enjoys good food in an ethnic decor.

Café

Located at the pool level with an adjoining waterfall, Cafe at the Hyatt Regency is the perfect place for those in the mood for a good hearty breakfast, in the midst of lush trees and beautiful flowers. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the cafe serves European and Indian cuisines with their own special twist on the flavors. Succulent kebabs, pastas and other mouthwatering dishes served in a la carte make your day! Not just this, sip on a hot cup of aromatic coffee or taste the flavored Indian tea. Good food anytime, at this place. Cafe is popularly known for hosting international food festivals very often.

Polo Lounge

A trip down the British lane is what you can look forward to at 'Polo Lounge' at the Hyatt Regency. With a traditional English decor complete with leather chairs, wood paneling and just the right amount of lighting make it charming. The drinks menu features an exhaustive collection of international spirits like malt whiskeys, a selection of liqueurs and exotic cocktails and mocktails for the teetotalers. The perfect place for morning coffee, afternoon tea and drinks in the evening—everything about this place screams 'unwind'! All in all, a good place for meeting friends on lazy weekend evenings.

Lounge Bar

As you enter the lobby of the Sheraton New Delhi Hotel, you surely cannot miss this chic lounge. Lobby Lounge is the ideal stop to while away time or socialize with your friends over a cup of coffee. In the mornings join in for delicious pastries savored with a brewing cup of coffee. The lazy afternoons can be spent with the appetizing fare complemented with hot tea. To raise your spirits, the lounge offer an exclusive selection of premium wines and drinks. And with elegant interiors and comfy lounge chairs, this place enlivens your mood on any occasion.

Threesixty

Threesixty, as the name suggests, offers the finest selection of world class cuisine from across the globe. This restaurant at The Oberoi, creates a 'revolution' in fine dining. The smoked oak wood floors and well-lit interiors gives this place a rich international feel. The appetizing menu includes international cuisines cooked in three interactive kitchen stages. Diners can experience the joy of the fresh food prepared in front of their eyes. Dedicated sushi-lovers get thrilled at the sushi bar serving traditional sushi, sashimi and sakator. If sushi is not what you like, select from the wood-fired delectables like pizzas and croissants. For smoked and grilled fare head to the restaurant's Yakitori Grill for heavenly delights dipped in tantalizing sauces!

Travertino

Looking for Italian flavors in Delhi? Head to Travertino, at The Oberoi. This opulent and tastefully designed restaurant spells luxury in every manner. And to complement this, the place serves exquisite Italian cuisine prepared with genuine olive oil and vinegar. The restaurant boasts of premium wines for the delighted diners. All in all, this place assures you of a royal rendezvous!

Urban Pind

If you have received a shout out from The New York Times, then you know you are onto something. Urban Pind, Delhi's lounge bar which aims to blur the line between the old and the new, has interiors which boast of murals inspired from the Khajuraho Temples, spacious and hookah-den inspired ethnic charm; all blended with a contemporary, minimalist ambiance. The music varies from jazz and salsa to Bollywood fusion and house music, which is played every Thursday night (Costa Del House). The food is light and scrumptious and the bar has something to offer everybody. All this and more, in the club that combines urban and village aesthetics, and new and old world charm.

Baci Bar

Located in New Delhi's bustling Sunder Nagar marketplace, Baci Bar stands out with its well done, contemporary and minimalist interiors and atmosphere. Referred to as Baci by locals, this resto bar has its in-house pub located on the ground floor, and the restaurant serving Delhi's best Italian food on the upper two levels. Lauded by critics and foodies alike, Baci's Italian fare is authentic, complemented by the finest wines handpicked by well trained staff, and can be customized to suit one's palate. And if the dining experience is exemplary, one will not be disappointed by the nightlife here either. The bar on the ground level is a welcome relief for those who wish to unwind after a long day, or just want a night of revelry and good times!

Manre

When it comes to being Delhi's most expensive, most chic and most luxurious restaurant and bar, Manre takes the cake- and how! Its exclusivity is apparent by the fact that booking a 'special' table can lighten your pocket by as much as Rs 20,000 - 50,000, or that it boasts of a clientele consisting of the creme de la creme of society. The elaborately priced menu apart, Manre's impeccable service has also been given a notable mention by critics, and for those who are willing to drop a heavy cheque at this restaurant, it will be an experience never forgotten- with its differently themed twin terraces, its world class Bar Manre, or its catering arm named Manre Maison. Manre is also well known in society circles for playing the best music, from rock and lounge to Bollywood and deep house- its DJs churn out the best mixes you could ever listen to.

Magique

If there ever was an oasis in the midst of a bustling, overpopulated city, it would have to be Magique. Located far away from the upper class localities in New Delhi, this restaurant and bar can be difficult to spot for first timers, but once there, one would immediately be taken in by the tastefully-done, Moroccan-inspired decor. With candles, traditional lanterns and a very ethnic feel to Magique, you cannot help but soak in the lounge-like atmosphere, sit back and know that you have the pleasure of a one of a kind experience coming your way. With its global menu offering mostly fusion food, Magique has been raved about by critics, and its wide array of spirits helps add a lovely touch to a great evening. A perfect place for a romantic meal, Magique is just what it claims to be; pure magic.

Smoke House Grill

Smoke House Grill is one of the most favored continental restaurants of south Delhi. Located in the posh suburb of Greater Kailash, this place serves amazing grilled food and award winning 'smoked' cocktails. Contemporary European style dishes, ham and salmon delicacies are its specialty. The interiors of the restaurant are brightly lit and the ambiance is ideal for an evening brunch or a cocktail party. Smoke House Grill is not just popular but has also set exemplary standards in the Delhi food scene.