As the countdown to 2026 begins, why not swap Delhi’s chaos for culinary fireworks in the city’s finest dining rooms? From fire kissed Japanese delights to Mediterranean charm and bold, modern Indian creations served with a splash of opulence, these restaurants promise a feast worth remembering. With festive vibes, perfectly paired wines, and decadent hospitality, Delhi’s top spots offer more than a meal, they deliver a sensational start to the year, one bite at a time.
Cena Pranzo
A slice of Italy has landed closer than you think. Cena Pranzo, meaning ‘Dinner Lunch’ (because why choose?), is where tradition meets urbane flair, effortlessly blending old-world Italian charm with a laid-back atmosphere that feels more like a warm hug than fine dining. Helmed by third-generation culinary maestro Chef Mauro Ferrari, whose 40 years of experience simmer in every dish, this restaurant isn’t just about eating, it’s an ode to Italy.
Start with the lush, creamy Burrata, dive into homemade Tagliatelle that tastes like a grandmother’s recipe zipped through time, and finish with a spoonful of their Tiramisu, a dessert so divine it feels cheeky.
Chef Mauro calls the cuisine ‘a heartfelt tribute to Italy’s essence,’ and honestly, you taste every word. Add General Manager Tarun Seth’s mantra of ‘Simply Italian,’ and you’ve got a dining experience that’s elegance without the ego.
Pro tip: Ring in the new year with their Capodanno Italiano set menu, it’s the edible equivalent of a fresh start.
Where: Grand Hyatt Gurgaon, Golf Course Road, Sector 58, Gurgaon
Call: +91 124 503123
Cost For Two: INR 15,000++
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Indian Accent
Step right up to where Chef Shantanu Mehrotra’s new tasting menu strikes a perfect balance between nostalgia and reinvention, a brilliant spot to ring in the New Year if your resolution includes joy, indulgence, and unforgettable flavours.
Take the ‘rawa crusted sea bass’, for instance, a masterpiece where the crisp crust crunches like autumn leaves, revealing fish so tender it feels almost illicit. Bathed in tangy ‘sol kadhi’ and paired with gentle, sticky ‘koshihikari rice’, it’s not just a dish; it’s an experience, quiet, refined, and utterly delicious.
This is what Indian Accent does best, a fine dining space that exudes elegance with its marble floors, crisp white linens, and glowing onyx bar, a scene-stealer worthy of a Bollywood blockbuster. But on New Year’s Eve, there’s an extra buzz, clinking glasses, shared laughter, and dishes like ‘cheddar and caramelized onion naan’, warm and comforting like a celebratory hug for your taste buds. Chef Shantanu’s food doesn’t shout, it unfolds like a story worth savouring.
Where: The Lodhi, Lodhi Road
Call: +91 1166175151
Cost For Two: INR 15,000++
Spice Route
After three decades of culinary prestige, this mural cloaked gem has reinvented itself with a bold menu that’s like slipping into silk slippers, opulent and effortless. Its iconic walls, alive with temple-like paintings handcrafted over seven years, whisper stories of the past. The food speaks of travels across South and Southeast Asia, each dish a passport to indulgence. Chef Mustian Gadang, an Indonesian maestro leads with an incredible culinary team of regional virtuosos.
The Gindara Miso Cod arrives with quiet confidence, velvety, caramel glazed perfection, commanding attention without ever trying too hard. The Bak Mie Goreng, meanwhile, is luscious chaos, silky noodles spring to life under fiery minced chicken, peanuts crackle with whimsy, bok choy slips fresh on the tongue. Dining here? It’s indulgence with jet set flair, and worth every moment. And when New Year’s Eve rolls around, The Imperial Hotel knows how to party. As midnight nears, guests will spill into The Atrium for Delhi’s first ever ‘15,000-balloon drop’, a spectacular riot of colour to ring in 2026.
Free flowing champagne, A live DJ, and promises of a spectacular year ahead will keep spirits soaring well past midnight. Truly unforgettable!
Where: The Imperial New Delhi, Janpath, New Delhi
Call: 91-11 -23341234/91-11-41501234
Cost For Two: INR 15,000++
The Fio Table
Step into a Mediterranean daydream where every bite feels like a passport stamp. The Fio Table is a feast for the senses, whisking diners from Spain’s sun soaked plazas to Greece’s olive grove dotted hills.
Imagine the scene, hands tearing into gloriously fluffy pita, the hiss of a cocktail being shaken, and the hum of good company filling the air. Start with mezze that rivals a Mediterranean sunset, spicy whipped feta, falafel crisp as the first crack of spring, and warm pita begging to be dipped.
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Or, dive into the indulgence of Truffle Potato Agnolotti swimming in a velvety rosé sauce. For New Year’s celebrations, their ‘Holiday Cosy Edit’ menu makes sharing centre stage, think hearty four cheese lasagna, golden roast chicken with all the trimmings, and sticky toffee pudding draped in nostalgia. Pair with a Winter Martini or a classic mulled wine, and you’ve got yourself the perfect cold night oasis. Rustic elegance, festive cheer, and unforgettable flavours, what more could you want?
Where: Ground floor, The Kitchens, Global Gateway Towers, MG Road, Gurugram
Call: 093118 47292
Cost For Two: INR 7,000++
Kioki
Kioki doesn’t just serve food, it’s a stage for culinary theatre. Chef Vikram Khatri’s izakaya is like the love child of Tokyo tradition and big city cool, perfect for those countdown vibes. Imagine walking into a warm glow of izakaya style intimacy, where the flicker of the robata flames whispers promises of smoky, fire kissed indulgence.
Chef Vikram Khatri spins Japanese traditions like a DJ remixing old school classics, timeless, yet thrillingly unexpected. And oh, the menu. Chasu Ramen is the edible hug you’ll want as the clock strikes 12, silky noodles swimming in a broth so rich it could moonlight as currency. Edamame hummus, cheekily paired with nori rice crisps, brims with playful elegance, while the indulgent Nama Chocolate sends the evening into decadent overdrive, like fireworks for your palate. But the drinks? Pure New Year magic.
Sip a yuzu sake tini that feels like liquid sunshine, or raise a shiso spiked cooler to toast the possibilities ahead. Kioki doesn’t just celebrate the New Year, it ‘curates’ it. With food this good, who needs resolutions?
Where: 32nd Avenue, Sector 15 Part 2, Sector 15, Gurgaon
Call: +919810912407
Cost For Two: INR 7,000++
