New Delhi — Picture this: you’re at Indian Accent, halfway through Chef Manish Mehrotra’s iconic Daulat ki Chaat with foie gras, when your server casually mentions there’s a hidden rooftop bar upstairs serving dirty martinis and smoked olives. What? Since when? Welcome to “Upstairs” — Delhi’s newest posh after-dinner plan that no one saw coming, and everyone now wants in on.
There’s Now a Martini Bar Above Indian Accent, and It’s Not Just for Show
So here’s what’s going down. Indian Accent, the internationally celebrated restaurant that’s practically a rite of passage for serious Delhi foodies, just launched “Upstairs” — a suave rooftop martini lounge nestled above its Lodhi estate location. This move marks the first time the brand has ventured beyond pure dining and into the realm of cocktails, deliberately moving from “just dinner” to “dinner and drinks.” Expect a menu crafted to match Indian Accent’s trademark flair: smoked gin martinis, kaffir lime dirty-tinis, clarified cocktails with pickled mango foam… you get the drift.
The bar is conceptualized to elevate the classic aperitif and digestif experience into something distinctly Indian, yet globally luxurious. It’s all very hush-hush in tone but high in intent. No DJ battle, no loud thumping bass — think ambient jazz, conversation that doesn’t require shouting, and an impeccable bar team that genuinely cares about whether your gin is local or Japanese.
It operates from the early evening well into the night, making it a sophisticated pitstop pre- or post-dinner. And no, this isn’t the same old “terrace bar with fairy lights” formula. It’s a meticulously designed lounge that feels like it was built less for Instagram and more for that 10:30 p.m. Negroni you absolutely deserve after dodging traffic at Ashram Chowk all evening.
Why This Changes Your South Delhi Drinking Game
If you’ve been relying on Sly Granny in Khan Market or the overpriced Negronis at Cirrus9 in The Oberoi to satisfy your palate for upscale cocktails, this shifts the playing field. Finally, we have a high-end space that’s not pretending to be European or “New York-inspired” — it’s rooted in Indian sensibilities, without being kitsch.
For the corporate crew fresh out of Defence Colony offices or lawyer types winding down after Supreme Court hours, your post-work Martini just got a serious upgrade. Even for South Campus students who occasionally pool in for a luxury meal, this offers a taste of cocktail culture without pandering. Plus, the bar focuses heavily on Indian-made spirits, giving a little “Make in India” twist to your post-dinner buzz.
And here’s a pro tip if you’re plotting your social calendar: Skip getting a table inside the restaurant. Start with small plates and signature cocktails at Upstairs, then walk downstairs for dinner, and return for a final whisky cloud at the bar. Yes, they allow that.
Indian Accent Has Always Been a Trendsetter — This Isn’t New
The move to launch Upstairs might seem sudden, but if you’ve followed Indian Accent’s journey, you’ll see this is par for the course. When it first opened at The Manor in Friends Colony back in 2009, Delhi had never seen modern Indian food plated like French fine dining. Now with an outpost in New York’s Midtown and accolades from everyone from Time to TripAdvisor, they’ve proven they’re not afraid to rewrite dining rules.
Since relocating to The Lodhi, many regulars missed that casual yet class-forward vibe of the original space. The new bar seems like a correction—not a pivot, but a return to that elegance-meets-accessibility vibe that made Indian Accent a legend.
Also, remember what used to be “above” Indian Accent? Exactly — no one does. That floor was underutilized, and turning it into Upstairs is a smart way to make full use of prime Delhi real estate. Props to them for using space with precision instead of flash.
📍 Spot Check: Located inside The Lodhi, just a 5-minute auto ride from Jangpura Metro Station. Close to landmarks like India Habitat Centre and Khan Market. Heck, even Pragati Maidan’s mess of a traffic situation is worth the trip.
The Final Word
We’re calling it: this is a win. Indian Accent’s Upstairs is exactly what Delhi needs more of — quality drinks that don’t need a theme party, a VR headset, or a fog machine to impress. It’s setting a new standard for what high-end drinking in Delhi can look like.
So, would you ditch your usual 32nd Avenue plans in Gurgaon just to sip a Vietnamese coffee martini at Lok Kalyan Marg? We would — even if it means waiting for that elusive reservation.
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