The freshly unveiled dining destinations here feel like a story unfolding, with old characters reinvented and new ones making their debut. Naturally, I couldn’t resist pulling up a chair. Let’s start at ‘The Peacock Lounge’, the sort of place that could make a gossip column blush. Intimate and impossibly chic, it’s reserved for villa guests and private members, though ‘reserved’ here feels more like ‘exclusive club of culinary bliss.’ Breakfast is not your standard buffet, thank heavens. Instead, it’s made to order plates that arrive looking so perfect, you briefly consider not eating them. Lunch is a Mediterranean love affair, plush bites with a flavour passport from Sicily, Morocco, and Rome. By evening, though, the Peacock sheds its feathers and transforms into a sultry fine-dining retreat.
The lighting? Just this side of golden hour. The ceilings? Mirrored elegance. The cocktails? Oh, the cocktails. Try the ‘Casablanca’, a smoky-spicy wonder, or the ‘Santoori’, which tastes like summer vacation bottled and poured into a crystal glass.
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Dining In Royal Splendour
Then there’s ‘Jamavar’. If any dining room deserves an entrance score, it’s this one. Walking in feels like stepping into an illuminated jewel box, its walls alive with 350,000 hand-cut Thikri mirrors that glimmer under flickering candlelight. Gold-leaf ceilings stretch above graceful arches adorned with intricate ‘jaalis’ and motifs, offering the kind of interiors you’d expect in a royal whisper. Breadcrumbs of its former Mohan Mahal identity remain, but this version waltzes to a broader tune. Gone is the Rajasthani ‘thali’; instead, the menu draws inspiration from royal cuisines across India, elevating classics to ceremonial brilliance. ‘Kofta- e-Jamavar’, ‘Dal-e-Jamavar’, and the indulgent ‘Gosht ki Galouti’ are highlights, plated so beautifully they’re practically heirlooms of Mughal artistry. And there’s a delightful touch of nostalgia on the table, plates drawing from ‘Parchinkari’, the intricate Mughal inlay craft, proving that here, even dining can be a lesson in history.
Regal Meets Revelry
Perched atop the same hillocks as the majestic Amber Fort, The Amber Terrace is Jaipur’s newest open air dining jewel, framed by the rugged beauty of the Aravalli Range. Think royal chhatris, intricate jaalis, and honey hued jharokhas, this is Rajasthan’s architectural romance bottled into an alfresco space.
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During the day it sways to mellow tunes under a forgiving sun, but by evening, it transforms like a cocktail poured over ice, edgier and groovier. Speaking of cocktails, their mixology is alchemy, blending science and spirit with effortless finesse.
It’s ‘Root to Fruit’ philosophy reimagines Indian herbal wisdom and transforms it into liquid artistry. Every drink is a tribute to a part of the plant, think bark, leaves, seeds, or flowers, with flavours you didn’t know could work. The ‘Peepli Picante’ balances bold heat, while the ‘Ker Sangri’ cocktail (yes, the famed vegetable in a drink!) is sinful proof that innovation pays off. With a rotavap on hand, basically science’s gift to mixology, the bar extracts delicate flavours with precision, delivering nuanced sips that surprise at every turn. Pair those creations with Pan Asian bites like sushi, dim sum, teppanyaki, and robata grills, and you’ve got a culinary line up that strays far from predictable.
Elegance In Every Detail
Step into the Aravali Dining Room, and the reverie continues, this time wrapped in Palace inspired elegance. Stepping through the ‘Threshold of Bloom’, a floral walkway bursting with blossoms and soft drapery, you’re transported to a dining hall that feels straight out of a lived-in palace. It is bright and inviting during the day and hums with subtle elegance and closeness at night. There are many thoughtful areas, such as the majestic ‘Chamber of Grace’ for parties, the secret ‘Treasure Vault’ for dining, and the tranquil ‘Shadow Garden’ for seclusion. The menu? A globe-trotter’s dream, where every dish tells a story worth savouring all of this tips the scale toward indulgence (and it will), the spa’s ‘Aujasya’ wellness program steps in to restore balance.
Leaning into ancient Indian philosophies but refreshed for busy modern lives, it’s designed to renew energy, spark mental clarity, and bring you back to centre, all built on the idea of ‘ojas’, or vital life force. At Amber Terrace and its neighbouring spaces, life unfolds with a rare balance of extravagance, elegance, and soulfulness, a story you’ll want to keep living.
Fact Box
Where: The Leela Palace Jaipur-Delhi Highway, NH11, Kukas, Jaipur
Call: +916350492085
