India (Frommer's, 4th Edition) (204 page)

14 Lal Bagh Rd.
080/2222-1706.
mavallitiffinrooms.com
. Typical meal Rs 75; individual items Rs 5–Rs 20. No credit cards. Tues–Sun 6:30am–noon, 12:30–2:30pm, and 7:30–9pm.

Paparazzi
FUSION The head will surely spin as you enter this fabulous rooftop restaurant with its one of a kind two-story-high bar—enough to make teetotalers do a rethink! High ceilings swathed in fabric, dim lighting, candlelight, great music and the views couldn’t get any better—alas, it isn’t open during the day but the night lights look magnificent through the large plate-glass windows; the best way to experience the Bengaluru traffic. For those not brave enough to dive headlong into quintessential Indian, Chef Rana Dominic Gomes comes to the rescue with contemporary fusion food which is not always top class but certainly a welcome break from the “same old same old.” For starters go in for the delectable
chicken chanduri
(chicken tossed in peri peri sauce) and then head straight for the terrific
chicken tikka risotto—
our favorite; the
tandoori salmon
and the
chicken roulade makhani
are also good.

Royal Orchid Central, Dickenson Rd.
080/2558-4242.
www.royalorchidhotels.com
. Typical meal Rs 1,500 without wine and dessert. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 12:30–3pm and 7:30–11:45pm.

Swinging in the Hip City of Bengaluru

The following hip spots are all basically close enough to each other to paint the town red with a number of venues; just call a cab. Start (or end) with Park.hotel’s
i-BAR
, still one of Bengaluru’s most happening spots, particularly on frenetic Friday’s, which are dedicated to Bollywood. Alternatively, head for
13th Floor
(Ivory Tower Hotel; Barton Centre, M.G. Rd.;
080/4178-3333;
www.hotelivorytower.com
; dress code for men), a sexy 120-seater rooftop cocktail lounge where you get a large dose of the Bengaluru skyline—this is definitely the place to be if any day-night cricket matches are going on at the near-by Chinnaswamy Stadium, where everyone downs a few extras with every six hit, irrespective of which side scored—to console or celebrate! Nearby, in a century-old stone building, is what once used to be part of the Blighty Tea Rooms, a popular British hangout, and now the location of the local
Hard Rock Café
(St. Mark’s Rd.;
080/4124-2222
) with its “Love All, Serve All” motto, tons of memorabilia and great rock. Aside from i-BAR, a “must-do” is the stunning
Taika
(Church St.;
080/4151-2828
) with its summery look and totally chilled vibe; skip merrily between the two choices in hand—Club Above, tapping to popular music, and Club Beyond with its special theme every night (single entry charge for both clubs). And of course no visit to Bengaluru would be complete without having a couple at
Shiro
(Third Floor, UB City Mall, VM Road.
080/4173-8861
)—gigantic Buddha sculptures in an ultra-spacious roof top setting make it a winner visually, and with an 80s pop loop, hip crowd, and amazing fig mojitos, this is currently the flavor.
NASA
(1/A Church St.;
080/2558-6512
) is worth a giggle: Staff is decked out in pilot outfits, and the interior is like the inside of a sci-fi space module; the bar is called the “Fuel Tank” and the loo is known as the “Humanoid Disposal” area. It‘s good for an afternoon pint, but happy hours draw massive crowds. For mean metal and a crowd that likes to sing along, look no further than
Purple Haze
(M.G. Rd., near Richmond Circle;
080/2221-3758;
www.purplehaze.co.in
). If you don’t care much for a pub hop, then zero in to
Kosmo