5 restaurants across India to go to for an al fresco date

Going out for a meal with your partner to a restaurant you both like and frequent might feel like a warm, comforting hug, but sometimes it pays to move out of your comfort zone and try something different. Especially if it involves enjoying a hot meal basking in the winter-spring sun. There’s something undeniably charming about enjoying a date with your partner outdoors, and if you’re sold on the prospect and are already searching for potential options in your city, we’ve rounded up some of our favourites across Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru.

Fig & Maple, Delhi

Fig & Maple has a cosy terrace seating that will make you feel you’ve stepped into someone’s home. Done up in Bohemian style—think twinkling fairy lights above and a wall garden—it makes for the perfect place for an evening date. Dig into chef Radhika Khandelwal’s fare that is all about championing local produce and using sustainable techniques. The comfy seating is a big plus!   

Dastaan, Chandigarh 

Contemporary Indian food meets Bohemian interiors at Dastaan, an Indian fine-dining spot in the city. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining, but it’s the al fresco area, complete with rattan furniture, plant-covered walls, and cane lamps that will instantly become your favourite spot. Dig into familiar dishes that are given a fun twist—the kurkure (crispy) bhindi salad features both crunchy slivers of the vegetable as well as kurkure, the popular packaged snack. Sevpuri is served in cornettes and idli gets turned into a sandwich. The classics are there, too, like Thai curries and the iconic Parsi berry pulao. 

Lupa, Bengaluru

Chef Manu Chandra’s Lupa has become a favourite restaurant for Bengaluru residents since it opened last year, and its al fresco dining area—a charming courtyard—will transport you straight to a breezy lunch in Italy with its terracotta-tiled roofs and chic wall niches. Inviting cushioned seating, lush greenery, larger-than-life pots, and a bubbling fountain complete the setting. Make the most of Bengaluru’s year-round sublime weather and head to Lupa for a chill lunch with your partner. 

Cecconi’s, Soho House, Mumbai

Soho House has undeniably the best view of Mumbai’s sunsets; the same goes for its Italian restaurant Cecconi’s that is located on the ground floor balcony of the members-only club. Donning wood, rattan, and brass interiors interspersed with greenery, the place is at once chic and relaxed. Savour their classic Italian fare—think saucy pastas, hearty meat dishes, and perfectly-cooked pizzas—as you admire the setting sun and the sea breeze. Don’t miss out on their cocktails too!

Paro, Jaipur

Paro is a new rooftop lounge in Jaipur, nestled within a pre-Independence era building on the famous MI road. Billing itself as a modern Indian bar, its beverage menu features cocktails that pay homage to Indian flavors, while the food receives a similar treatment, with traditional dishes receiving a modern makeover. The highlight, however, is the ambiance, boasting lime-plastered walls and a monochromatic scheme that exudes sophistication. So, if you're considering a drinks date with your partner, Paro should definitely be on your list!
 

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