Just like how Lal Bagh's glasshouse showcases flora and fauna at its finest, The Conservatory, whose space is inspired by the said glasshouse, showcases the finest when it comes to all things food. The year-old pop-up space (located inside The Courtyard) is Bengaluru's happening spot when you want not just to enjoy culinary treats from Goa to Spain, but also rub shoulders with the chefs who are bringing you the same. But before we talk about the pop-ups, a 30-second read about the space is a must.
The space features a jungle-green finish with a high-ceiling complete with a glass chandelier and a glass roof. We love the glass roof—there's no better way to enjoy Bengaluru's weather—rain or shine. You'll find native foliage peppered all around the space, and even the seating upholstery features birds and greens. In short, it's beautiful, relaxing, and (excuse our use of the term) Insta-worthy. Once you've taken in all of that, you'll shift your focus to the open kitchen that reminds you of the Ralph Fiennes-starrer The Menu. The only difference is that it's got a pass, which extends to a chef's table/bar seating. It's why it's our favourite spot to catch all the action.
Coming back to the pop-up culture at The Conservatory, the whole space is designed not just to host culinary pop-ups, but workshops, and events all themed around food. From the first event that featured Chef Gautam Krishnakutty of Cafe Thulp and The Smoke Co. fame to a pop-up from No Borders that featured a book reading session, The Conservatory has hosted it all. The ticketed events sell out like hotcakes and this writer has been to a few including in recent times the izakaya pop-up by Navu Project. The chefs that have graced the space include everyone from Kavan Kuttappa of Naru Noodle Bar, Lakhan Jathani of Mizu Izakaya, and Hussain Shahzad of The Bombay Canteen. Oh yes, it's not just Bengaluru-based restaurants or chefs but from across the state borders.
In recent times, a permanent fixture is in place with Wine In Progress, a wine-tasting and appreciation event in association with Tarini Kumar of Wine In A Million and Chef Karan Upamanyu.
