The success of restaurants in the city doesn’t just depend on the food anymore—ambience plays an equally important role—which is why many new restaurants are coming up with their own unique themes to complement the gastronomical experience.
Here are our picks for the best of them.
Completely adorned with the colours of the jungle, Jungle Jamboree in Gurgaon features one of the most unique themes around the city. With a separate area for kids, and a rooftop Sky Garden thrown in to the mix {yes, all jungle themed}, we recommend this one for family dinners and casual hang-outs alike.
Nestled in the crowded streets of Daryaganj lies Chor Bizarre, a themed restaurant set-up in the style of a thieves market. All the cutlery, furniture and general set-up of the place is intentionally inconsistent, to go with the theme, and honestly, it works quite well.
Everything in this fabulously done up restaurant looks like it was stolen from someone, including the vintage car right in the middle of the restaurant, though we really hope that’s not the case.
Imly is that restaurant you visit for both its food as well as the experience. Done up in the style of a train, complete with screens depicting the passing scenery of a journey across India, Imly in Rajendra Place is one of our favourites. Its menu features a versatile mix of street food from across the country, and we’d recommend trying as many different things on it as you can.
38 Barracks in Connaught Place is inspired by the day-to-day life of a retired colonel, and the badges, guns and other army memorabilia on display leave no stone unturned in making that clear. The theme is also reflected in their menu, with dishes like Battalion Samosa Butter and 0.04 Magnum Boti Kebab further lending to the military-like aura.
There aren’t many people in Delhi who don’t know where Odeon is, and Odeon Social still exudes quite a bit of what Odeon once used to be, combined with the unique style of Social. The theme here is a blend of school and rustic, timeless beauty, with various things—like old tables from actual schools and a Principal’s Room—there to complete the look.
Despite the slew of Pan Asian restaurants constantly cropping up in the city, Mamagoto remains high on our list, especially as far as their theme is concerned. Whether it’s the Manga-inspired art on the walls or its authentic south-east Asian street food vibe, there’s nothing we don’t like about this place.
