DELHI
In the year since it opened, chic Japanese restaurant and bar Ai (2F, MGF Metropolitan Mall, Saket; 91-11/4065-4567) has become a magnet for the capital’s fashion set, attracting the Who’s Who of the design world with its breezy open-air terrace, creative cocktails, and small plates of Japanese cuisine. The sushi counter utilizes seafood flown in daily from Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market, while the red-and-gold jazz lounge hosts international musicians and guest DJs.
MUMBAI
Located in a warehouse in the up-and-coming Mumbai Mills area, home to dozens of renovated textile factories dating back to the late 1800s, Blue Frog (Mathuradas Mills Compound; 91-22/4033-2300; bluefrog.co.in) is the hottest place in town to sip Appletinis over live music. Celebrities and scions sit side by side in angled booths, staggered across the room and lit with blue LED lights to give the effect of a shimmering lake. Creative types will not want to miss the Sunday sessions, when the club hosts live comedy and theater as well as world movies.
BANGALORE
Following in the footsteps of sister branches in Mumbai and Goa, Shiro (3F, UB City, 24 Vittal Mallya Rd.; 91-80/4173-8861) threw open its doors last December and has fast become Bangalore’s most happening club. Local architect Sandeep Kosla was called upon to design the dramatic space, at the center of which stands a golden Buddha statue spanning three levels. The highlight of any visit, however, is a cocktail on the terrace, reputably the largest in town.
Recently madeover by U.K. design group Project Orange, I-bar (14/7 Mahatma Gandhi Rd.; 91-80/2559-4666) at The Park hotel offers a modern take on a Mughal palace. Traditional flourishes like jali screens and a wall of carved sandstone are given a new look with splashes of color, and the drinks are just as creative. Try the Wasp Sting—a gin cocktail flavored with tamarind and green chili.
