Chica Delhi Isn’t Chasing Instagram Anymore

Once upon a time, Chica was among Delhi’s most Instagrammable dining destinations – an ethereal, floral European garden complete with fountains and a thoughtfully curated menu of Mediterranean and Asian favourites. It was a space adored by Gen Z, a visual playground designed for the grid as much as the palate. Today, Chica enters a new chapter, marked by a carefully curated makeover. Still unmistakably Instagram-worthy, but now with a more sophisticated, self-assured identity.

Located at One Golden Mile, the restaurant has undergone a striking transformation, one that feels distinctly grown-up. The once overtly floral aesthetic has given way to a grounded, earthy sensibility. Drawing inspiration from Pantone’s Mocha Mousse palette, the space now unfolds in warm browns, ambient lighting, natural textures, and generous accents of lush greenery. The iconic fountain court remains, albeit reimagined with warmer, more refined décor elements. By day, sunlight filters gently through the branches, creating a serene outdoor setting ideal for lingering lunches and unhurried conversations. By night, the same space turns intimate and soulful, perfectly suited for deeper conversations over thoughtfully crafted food and drinks.

My Introduction To Chica

My first visit to Chica dates back nearly three years, prompted by my teenage niece who insisted I take her there for “aesthetic pictures” for Instagram. I happily obliged! After all, winning the title of coolest aunt comes with certain responsibilities. The Chica I remembered from then was vastly different from the one I encountered this December. This time, I returned with my husband, driven purely by curiosity about the renovation. Back then, my takeaway had been simple: come for the Instagram pictures. Today, I can say this with honesty – you arrive for the ambience, and you stay for both the ambience and the food.

If Looks Could Kill

As we stepped in, there was little that felt familiar, yet the space was instantly calming. We settled into an outdoor table, and a perceptive staff member promptly wheeled over a heater, clearly aware that I had dressed more for fashion than for Delhi’s winter chill. Around us, couples and groups of friends were cocooned in their own conversations, immersed in food, drinks, and the mood of the evening. A few spirited guests flitted about, capturing photos and videos at every picturesque corner. I admired their enthusiasm but lacking the energy for such commitment, we instead called over the manager and surrendered ourselves to his recommendations.

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Where The Real Transformation Lies

The renovation at Chica goes far beyond refreshed interiors and design. What has truly shifted is the restaurant’s point of view.

The new avatar leans confidently into ingredient-forward cooking and a cocktail program that feels almost cinematic – each drink designed as a memory, a place, a moment in time. It’s less about reinvention for spectacle and more about storytelling through flavour.

Small Plates, Big Personality, Bigger Flavours

We began with the Chica Signature Salad, a dish that feels comforting at first glance but surprises with nuance. Granny Smith apples bring sharp freshness, candied walnut crumble adds warmth, and grape gel ties it all together with a playful sweetness.

Crisp, tart, sweet, and textural – it was exactly how I like my salads to behave: lively, not performative. The Burnt Garlic Chicken Dimsum arrived next, smoky and assertive, the garlic lending a deep, almost charred aroma that instantly won me over (I remain, unapologetically, a committed non-vegetarian). The Wang Vegetable Dimsum was lighter, gentler, and my husband’s clear favourite.

Then came the Truffle Parmesan Fries, and I must say, these were some of the crispiest fries I’ve had in recent memory – still audibly crunchy even fifteen minutes in. The white truffle aroma was intoxicating: earthy, garlicky, slightly musky, lingering just long enough to feel indulgent without tipping into excess.

The Cottage Cheese Somtom, with charred cottage cheese, mango relish, and raw papaya, was visually stunning and texturally flawless. Slightly sweeter than my personal preference, but balanced and thoughtfully composed, it worked beautifully as a palate reset before moving into richer territory.

Where Comfort Meets Creativity

The Tandoori Salmon Sushi was good, too, for those who prefer desi flavours: moist, flaky salmon with a gentle heat from Indian spices that kept the flavours bold yet balanced, never overpowering the fish. Alongside it, the Avocado Sushi surprised me most. For someone cautious about raw textures, this was comforting – fragrant rice, perfectly sticky, and spiced avocado delivering just enough heat to keep things interesting.

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Despite the generosity of the earlier courses, we pressed on because restraint felt impossible at Chica. The mains were a global tour in themselves: Wild Mushroom Risotto, Chicken Pad Kaphrao, Butter Chicken with Butter Garlic Naan, and Gochujang Lime Prawn.

The risotto deserves its own reverie. Earthy, aromatic, and luxuriously textured, it felt like Italy served in a big bowl – imagine a century-old estate in a quiet Florentine town. Assorted mushrooms, truffle oil, and goat cheese came together in a way that felt soulful. The Butter Chicken was divine – silky gravy, balanced richness, tender chicken. The Gochujang Lime Prawn delivered heat, freshness, and punch in equal measure, while the Chicken Pad Kaphrao, with its crisp stir-fried chicken, basil, and jasmine rice, was comfort food at its finest – honest, homely, and deeply satisfying.

Cocktails That Travel

Cocktails, here, are treated as journeys rather than accompaniments. The new cocktail menu is built around movement across eras, geographies, and moods and it shows. Harvest Horizon felt like sunshine in a glass: vibrant, fruit-forward, and joyful, with Tanqueray gin, mixed berry lager, passionfruit, and orange lifting the spirit instantly.

Sunset in Oaxaca was more introspective – floral, gently bitter-sweet – evoking mountain sunsets and a sense of belonging I didn’t expect to feel through a drink.

Golden Hour in Mumbai, with Grey Goose vodka, saffron, Alphonso mango, and ice cream, was as nostalgic as it was beautiful. Midnight Express leaned into dessert territory – Baileys-led, comforting, perfect for long winter nights.

Zen Route transported me back to my time in Japan with vanilla gin and matcha, while Vienna’s Journey – nutty, bitter-sweet, and robust felt like a European winter evening spent in cafés along cobbled streets.

A Sweet Wrap

And finally, dessert. By the time we reached this point, restraint felt necessary, so we chose just one, sensibly so. The Boozy Tiramisu was the perfect full stop: coffee-soaked almond sponge layered with mascarpone cream and finished with a glossy coffee glaze. Indulgent without excess, it was neither cloying nor heavy but just refined enough to feel celebratory. It tasted like Christmas in an elegant dessert bowl, with the lingering aroma of coffee keeping us pleasantly alert long after the last bite, despite the generous feast that came before it.

Fact Box

Where: One Golden Mile, Block A, Netaji Nagar, Near Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi

Cost Per Person: ₹1500 + Taxes (Without Alcohol)

Timings: 12 PM – 1 AM

Reservations: +91-9990019981 / 82