It was only after a portion of a building on the first floor in Connaught Place's C-block collapsed last week that the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) acted against illegally run rooftop restaurants in the grand colonnades.
These open-air restaurants have been running for years without permission, and the NDMC closed 21 rooftop restobars on February 10, 2017.
The portion of the building that crumbled was above the well-known Jain Book Agency, and it was leased out to a restaurateur for a new pub.
According to senior officials, the Chief Architect's office had sent show-cause notices to these restobars for 'misuse of premises beyond sanction' under/Sections 250 and 252 of the NDMC Act, 1994.
According to norms, the NDMC bars the use of terrace/balconies in heritage buildings for any kind of commercial activity.
A senior official, said, "These restaurants have converted terrace space into dining areas and played loud music. These terraces were residential units earlier and cannot take excess load."
He added that the civic body's EBR department (responsible for sealing and demolishing unauthorised constructions) had earlier issued the owners notices to remove the 'illegally built structures'.
"Rajeev Sood, Chief Architect, NDMC, said, "After the EBR issued them notices, the owners submitted an affidavit to the civic body stating that they will not use the balconies/terrace for any commercial activity. However, they continued with the business, after which we had to seal the area."
The sealed restobars include Warehouse cafe in D-block, The Vault Cafe in F-block, Kinbuck-2 and Kitchen Bar in C-block, Lord of the Drinks, OPEN HOUSE CAFE, Jungle Jamboree, Boombox Cafe, Farzi Cafe, House of Commons, Hotel Palace Heights, Office Canteen Bar, Luggage Room, Cafe OMG, Unplugged Courtyard, Barbeque Nation, TC Bar & Restaurant, Teddy Boy Restaurant and The Niche Restaurant among others.
Charanjeet Singh, Operations Director, Warehouse Cafe, said, "We will appeal to the NDMC to allow terrace dining by bringing a change in norms. They can check the documents and procure certificates. We will sit on a protest if they do not listen to us."
Riyaaz Amlani, President, National Restaurant Association of India, said, "The collapse has got nothing to do with rooftop restaurants. The civic body must check structural stability certificates before issuing licenses. We have given them several representations requesting a change in norms. The government has to decide on a policy regarding what kind of a city they want. A blanket ban is just a lazy option to provide in the name of safety."
Last year, the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA), too, had written to NDMC Chairman Naresh Kumar to cap the number of restaurants on rooftops, citing "excess load on heritage structures."
Prraia is a unique take on the rooftop bar experience, in the Worli neighborhood of South Bombay. It has a spacious 15,000-square-foot rooftop which serves the comfort food and drinks in a casual atmosphere.
In order to restore the dining experience's heart and spirit, founders Kabir Luthria and Gaurav Dabrai envisioned a space that embodies their enduring passion of hospitality. Kabir aimed to recreate the carefree warmth and charm of a night out in Mykonos here in Mumbai.
The famous Sea Rock Hotel was once owned by Kabir’s family and Kabir is a second-generation hospitality entrepreneur.
"Prraia is our take on the neighborhood bar reimagined for SoBo—a place where you can kick back, share a laugh, and enjoy great food and cocktails without the frills. It’s not about dressing up or fitting in; it’s about feeling at home, whether you’re here for a casual drink or a long, laid-back evening with friends." says Gaurav Dabrai, Co-Founder, Prraia.
The area offers cabanas for private dining, couch seating for relaxing, open-air dining under large sail canopies with a view of the developing skyline, and an experimental part that will open the following year. While, the designer, Aarshie Singh, transformed Kabir's Greek idea into a multipurpose, daily rooftop experience.
By focusing on heart-driven hospitality, creative cuisine, and a soulful vibe, it offers an experience that breaks away from the stereotypes of SoBo rooftop bars.
Allamanda Terrace restaurant at Hotel Marine Plaza has reopened for its renowned customers at Marine Drive, Mumbai. With its stunning elevated views of the sea and Marine Drive, this rooftop jewel is perched high above the famous hotel and is a must-visit for foodies.
A remarkable dining experience is provided by Allamanda Terrace, which blends mouthwatering Indian cuisine, excellent service, and breathtaking views.
“We’re thrilled to reopen Allamanda Terrace and invite everyone to enjoy the amazing flavors of our Modern Indian menu, all while soaking in the stunning sea views. We can't wait for you to experience the magic and warmth of our restaurant. Your culinary experience here will be unforgettable,” shares Sanjeev Shekhar, General Manager of Hotel Marine Plaza.
Mumbai has got a new rooftop restaurant and all-day café Bustle located at the prime area of Mumbai suburbs.
A charming all-day rooftop gastropub that effortlessly combines luxury and cosy ambience, it oozes exuberant resort vibes, with its earthy decor, eclectic chic aesthetics and seating right under star-studded skies.
The immaculate decor sits in stark contrast with the panoramic view of the hustling and colourful city in the backdrop, giving the restaurant’s apt name a whole new meaning.
Bustle is owned by Sunny Rachwani, a vibrant restaurateur whose family has been in the restaurant industry for 40+ years. After successfully running the crowd-favourite 90ft Above, Bustle is Sunny’s newest passion project and his best one yet!
“We are extremely grateful for the success of 90ft Above, but after 7 years, we knew it was time to reinvent ourselves. With Bustle, we’ve gotten a whole new team, created an atmosphere that caters to people across ages but is youth-centred and brought in global vegetarian food that not a lot of other restaurants cater to,” he added.
The restaurant specialises in 100% vegetarian global food, headed by Chef Vinayak Mohite who’s previously been associated with names such as London Taxi and Woodside Inn.
Rooftop bar and restaurant KA.01 has launched at ibis Bengaluru City Centre. Having a capacity of 54 seats, the bar serves food out of a truck, and the drinks are prepared in a converted van.
Irfan Khatry, General Manager, ibis Bengaluru City Centre, said, “KA.01 embodies a clear idea starting with the name, to the look and feel of the place. We wanted guests to remember the joys of heading to their favourite eatery after a night of partying, where there was always good company and great food.”
“At KA.01, we have curated the best popular after-hours dishes from across India, served with amazing cocktails at affordable prices. Bengaluru sees an influx of people from across India moving here for work. Everyone misses the taste of home, and we are offering them exactly that, familiar food, in a welcoming ambience that will not burn a hole in your pocket,” he further stated.
Anthony Tamang, Head Chef at KA.01, stated, “Since we are serving popular after-hours food, there is a familiarity associated with the taste of every dish. We are proud to say that every dish is authentic, and our guests will love them. What makes it better is having your snack paired with the perfect drink in your hand.”
Courtyard By Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal has announced the launch of its much-awaited rooftop restaurant Nazaara. Promoting North West cuisine and innovative cocktails, this outdoor venue offers a stunning view of the Bengaluru skyline and the Nagavara Lake and is all set to be the most favoured destination for Bengaluru’s glitterati.
“Set in an enchanting city offering a wealth of dining options, ‘Nazaara’ which translates to a beautiful scenic view stands true to its name. Offering expertly prepared dishes by a team of skilled chefs, elegant indoor & outdoor settings that are complemented by striking views of Bengaluru, we aim to redefine North West cuisine for the city dwellers. Nazaara offers alfresco dining areas with rustic lounge seating to kick back and enjoy the view of the city,” adds Shiv Bose, General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal.
Executive Chef Gaurav Anand adds, “We are thrilled to launch our most awaited restaurant – Nazaara. Overlooking the picturesque skyline of the city coupled with a specially curated menu and cocktails it is sure to keep patrons coming back for an experience that both delights and surprises them. The menu draws inspiration from our team's creativity, travels, ingenious ideas and innate experiences. We have selected diverse regional cooking styles with the choicest of ingredients with the aim to tantalize our guest palates.”
Salient features of Nazaara include; an exclusive private dining area and a beer tasting room. A unique micro-brewery will soon be launched as well. The lounge also offers an extensive selection of international wine-by-glass menu, unique cocktails and an array of delectable North-West Indian cuisine catering to the eclectic tastes of guests.
Signature dishes on the menu include Amritsari Fish Tikka, Lamb Galotti Kebab, Classic Awadhi Style Mutton Curry, and the Signature Dum Biryani. Desserts include the much-loved Phirni, Gulab Jamun, Jalebi Rabdi and other North Western cuisine favourites.
Mumbai’s wait to enjoy the crisp winter while dining at a rooftop restaurant just got longer, much, much longer. The local municipality’s (BMC) roof-top restaurant policy has become the latest casualty in the tussle between the Shiv Sena and the BJP. With the BJP taking on the Sena over the de-silting scam and the Sena hitting back by opposing the meat ban, the latter has decided to defer the policy for now, reported DNA.
The rooftop policy backed by Aaditya Thackeray, grandson of the party’s founder & son of its current president, was to come up for approval before the civic general body this month.
“We are not tabling the policy right now. It has been put on hold indefinitely. We will table it when the time is right,” said Shiv Sena leader Trushna Vishwasrao.
Already, the BMC’s parking, open spaces and illegal banner policies are pending clearance from BMC corporators for over a year. The BJP has opposed the roof-top restaurants policy and it has been rejected twice over the last two months. With both the ruling parties battling each other, the BMC is seeing a policy paralysis of sorts. As the Sena-BJP oppose new policies, opposition parties disrupting debates and creating a ruckus even during crucial meetings, development work has come to a standstill.
Similarly, while the Sena hit out at the BJP over installation of white LED lights at Marine Drive, the BJP has ensured that Thackeray’s plan to revive the city’s nightlife never takes off.
Civic officials said that they are skeptical about proposing anything new. “All policies are being stalled. Even small ward-level proposals are mired in controversy. We have stopped getting innovative ideas. The atmosphere is such that everything will be opposed by at least one party, so we are just focusing on routine matters,” said a senior civic official.
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