Nothing short of a spectacle, Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2025 returned for the third edition with 40 categories. Honouring the visionaries and innovators shaping the future of food, travel, and lifestyle, the awards were held in Mumbai, and saw who’s who of the industries turn up for the celebration. The star studded event not only recognised the brilliance of established names but also the upcoming ones, all set to make their marks.
Here are the categories and winners at the third edition of Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2025
Best progressive Indian restaurant - Indian Accent, Mumbai
All about creative flavours and distinctive service, Indian Accent, Mumbai has emerged to be the winner in the category, ‘Best progressive Indian restaurant’. Just the perfect place to enjoy brilliant Indian food that marries global techniques, Indian Accent has been a much loved destination for patrons looking for innovation. From serving their Mishti Doi in a Cannoli to Tofu Medu Vadai with Gunpowder and Sambar Cream, the creativity at Indian Accent knows no bounds!
Best Regional Indian Restaurant - Comorin, Gurugram
Committed to preserving the regional cuisine, Comorin shines with its beautiful blend of authentic dishes and contemporary presentation. Winner in the category ‘Best Regional Indian Restaurant’, Comorin’s menu, crafted by Chef Manish Mehrotra, is all about traditional flavours using the freshest of ingredients. Their dedication to the roots is also visible in the spirits and drinks menu, with beverages like Khus Vermouth Negroni.
Best Coastal Restaurant - Karavalli, Bengaluru
Set in an old-fashioned bungalow with tiles and a lush green garden, Karavalli is just the place for seafood lovers. Winner in the category ‘Best Coastal Restaurant’, Karavalli has been charming patrons for more than 30 years now and offers an unparalleled culinary experience. The dishes at the stellar eatery represent the coastal southwest communities of Goa, Mappila, Havyaka, Konkani, Bunt, Namboodari, Syrian Christian, and Coorgi, offering you a chance to sample cuisines from all over.
Best Restaurant In A 5 Star - Dum Pukht, ITC Maurya, Delhi
With an impeccable menu, ultra-luxurious setting, and time-honoured cooking techniques, Dum Pukht at ITC Maurya, Delhi is the winner of the category ‘Best Restaurant In A 5 Star’. The restaurant has received multiple accolades before, and a taste of their irresistible Kakori Kebab, juicy Murg Chandi Tikka, Mildly Spiced Baghare Baingan, and legendary Dum Pukht Biryani, will simply explain to you why! The establishment has been committed to honouring the food from royal courts all across the country and is a great place to experience the flavours of the erstwhile kingdoms.
Best Designed Restaurant - Hosa, Goa
Set in a Portuguese bungalow that immediately takes you to a different era, Hosa in Goa is the brainchild of Rohit Khattar, the restaurateur known for his work at many other award winning establishments like Indian Accent (New York and Delhi), Comorin (Gurgaon), and Koloman (New York). With an outside patio where patrons may take in views of the Chapora River and the world-renowned St. Anthony's Church, gothic chandeliers, and the flooring done in classic Portuguese tile patterns, the eatery is a masterclass in tasteful design.
Best Concept Restaurant - Avatara, Mumbai
The vegetarian fine dining establishment that has ruled out paneer and mushrooms, Avatara, Mumbai is the winner in the category ‘Best Concept Restaurant’. It was the first vegetarian contemporary Indian restaurant among Dubai’s big Michelin starred eateries, and when it opened in Mumbai, quite naturally became a favourite among the city elite. The 14-course meal, featuring the most humble of ingredients, is an experience you have to believe.
Best New Restaurant - Kopitiam Lah, Bengaluru
Easy on the eyes, extensive menu, and great flavours, the new addition to Bengaluru’s culinary scene, Kopitiam Lah, is the winner in the category ‘Best New Restaurant’. The establishment is headed by pastry artist Kopitam Lah Tan, who has been working in Bengaluru for the last fifteen years, and head chef David D'Souza oversees the kitchen. Whether it is authentic flavours, or dishes heavily inspired by the traditional Malay cuisine, Kopitiam Lah is simply a culinary treat.
Best Cafe - Sienna Store & Café, Kolkata
A modern take on the city's nostalgia and history, winner of the category ‘Best Cafe’, Sienna is stunning and completely made in Bengal. Launched in 2016 on the ground floor of an ancient Bengali home by mother-daughter combo Shanta and Shuli Ghosh, with Shiuli’s husband Rewant and chef Auroni Mookerjee, this eatery takes inspiration from Bengal's abundant market and culinary traditions. Try their Nolen Gur Cappuccino, Belgian Chocolate and Sea Salt Ganache on toast to know what we are talking about.
Best All Day Dining Restaurant - Fenix, The Oberoi, Mumbai
Refined, casual, and inviting, Fenix at The Oberoi, Mumbai is the winner of the category ‘Best All Day Dining Restaurant’. This South Bombay restaurant, perfect for every meal of the day, has so much to choose from. Whether it is a lavish breakfast buffet you desire, or an easy evening sushi dinner, Fenix has it all.
Best Asian Restaurant - Seefah, Mumbai
With a combined 30 years of experience in the industry, the co-owners Karan Bane and Seefah Ketchaiyo bring the streets of Bangkok and Tokyo to you in this Mumbai suburban eatery. Situated in Bandra, the winner of the category ‘Best Asian Restaurant’, Seefah is a crowd favourite, always bustling with patrons. Their angy Raw Papaya Salad, Wasabi Prawns, and the gin based cocktail called Seefah come highly recommended.
Best Restaurant In A Non-Metro - The Johri, Jaipur
This Jaipur eatery, which happens to be the second venture of Siddharth Kasliwal from the very renowned Gem Palace and hospitality renegade Abhishek Honawar, together, is the winner of the category ‘Best Restaurant In A Non-Metro’. The menu features both traditional dishes like Palak Kofta Curry, as well as modern takes like Jamun Kulfi Sorbet, well encapsulating the vibe of the Pink City. Right bang in the middle of Johri Bazaar, this is an experience you should not miss.
Best Sustainable Restaurant - OMO - Soul Food Community, Gurugram
With rustic vibes, minimalist design, and a thoughtfully curated menu by Chef Vanshika Bhatia. OMO in Gurugram is the winner of the category ‘Best Sustainable Restaurant’. An all-vegetarian restaurant, OMO makes an effort to use fresh, organic ingredients for their much-loved fare. Their dishes use locally sourced seasonal produce, and the coffee is artisanal, made fresh with Arabica beans. Need we say more?
Best Vegetarian Restaurant - Shree Thaker Bhojanalay, Mumbai
Founded in 1945, this Mumbai establishment has seen many changes, but still has an old world charm. The family owned eatery that focuses on Gujarati vegetarian fare is the winner of the category ‘Best Vegetarian Restaurant’ and will have you waiting in lines to enjoy its thalis on weekends. The portions are large, the taste is unmatched, so you better go prepared for an absolute feast.
Best Vietnamese Restaurant - Nho Saigon, Mumbai
One of the newer Vietnamese eateries in the country, Nho Saigon marries the colonial French influence and local Vietnamese cuisine for a fare like no other. The Mumbai based restaurant, which is the winner of the category ‘Best Vietnamese Restaurant’ is a perfect place to sample a wide variety of dishes, such as Poached Prawns with Mangoes and Rice Vermicelli, Dumplings in Saigon style, skewers of different kinds of meat cooked over coal on sugarcane sticks, and so much more.
Best Legacy Restaurant - Tunday Kababi, Lucknow
If you are visiting Lucknow, and haven’t feasted on the fare at Tunday Kababi, what are you even doing! The winner in the category ‘Best Legacy Restaurant’, Tunday Kababi enjoys an unparalleled fandom in the city, and over the years has opened branches as well. Despite that, long queues to enjoy their succulent kebabs are very common.
Best Cocktail Bar - ZLB23, Bengaluru
The Kyoto style speakeasy in Bengaluru is the winner of the category ‘Best Cocktail Bar’, and with their stellar menu, it is easy to see why! Their selection of the spirits in unparalleled, and the cocktails as creative as they get. Add to it the jazz music in a vintage-style setting, and you have an experience you will cherish for a long time.
Best Luxury Resort - Kumaon, Almora
Understated luxury in the Himalayas, expansive views, and peace of mind? The winner of the category ‘Best Luxury Resort’, Kumaon in Almora, has it all. Whether you soak up the views from the suites' floor-to-ceiling windows, go for a trail amidst the oak and rhododendron forests, or indulge in some Dolce Far Niente, this resort in the foothills of the Nanda Devi range will have you mesmerized.
Best Boutique Hotel - Dolkhar Resort, Leh
The quaint boutique resort in the Union Territory is a beautiful property offering you the best of the Ladakhi hospitality. Winner of the category ‘Best Boutique Hotel’, The Dolkhar is a collection of seven two-storey villas situated on a block of land that was formerly owned by Rigzin Wangmo Lachic's grandmother and was redesigned for patrons to experience being at home in Ladakh. From design elements to food to the building materials as well, come from the region, with the focus being on the local sustainable practices.
Best Wildlife Resort - Utsav Camp Sariska, Sariska Tiger Reserve
About 7 kilometres from Sariska National Park's Gate No. 2 is the Utsav Camp Sariska, offering a great mix of luxury and access to wildlife. Perfect for a break from the hustle and bustle of life, the camp, which is the winner of the category ‘Best Wildlife Resort’, also offers safaris, amongst other local experiences.
Best Business Hotel - Andaz Delhi By Hyatt
With great connectivity to both Delhi and Gurugram’s commercial hubs and hotspots, Andaz Delhi by Hyatt is the winner in the category ‘Best Business Hotel’. The property also offers great meeting and event facilities, making it perfect for everything from intimate business gatherings to grand conferences or unique parties. It is also home to Juniper - India’s first gin bar, and AnnaMaya - offering a unique farm to table experience.
Best Indian Craft Beer - Effingut
Easily one of the most famous craft beers in the country, Effingut is the winner of the category ‘Best Indian Craft Beer’. Offering 16 different varieties in multiple settings across Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata, Effingut has quite a following. At any of their brew pubs, enjoy their take on Bavarian Wheat Beer, often called Hefeweizen with a variety of lip smacking accompaniments.
Best Indian Craft Gin - Stranger & Sons
Made with garden fresh ingredients and full of lively, citrussy flavour, Stranger & Sons is the winner of the category ‘Best Indian Craft Gin’. Whether it is their limited edition Sherry Cask Aged Gin that was aged for more than a year in ex-Amontillado and Oloroso sherry barrels or the newly launched Perry Road Peru which promises to be season’s best, the brand is always upto something fun!
Best Indian Rum - Old Monk Coffee
The first time you had rum, odds are it was Old Monk. The iconic brand needs no introduction, and their Old Monk Coffee XO Rum has quickly become a crowd favourite. The brand is well known for its talent for combining age-old rum-making methods with innovative taste infusions, and this one is no different. Spending more than 7 years in development elevates the coffee infusion to a new level of excellence.
Best Mixologist - Avinash Kapoli, SOKA, BLR
With 17 years in F&B industry, SOKA, BLR’s mixologist Avinash Kapoli was the winner of the category ‘Best Mixologist’. He has has worked with some of the biggest liquor brands in the world before helping establish leading bars across India while growing his own projects Jamming Goat, Cocktail Kompany, and SOKA.
Best Male Chef Of The Year - Nikhil Nagpal
A member of the founding team of the multi award winning Avartana at ITC Grand Chola in Chennai, Chef Nagpal is well known for his creative approach. Under his leadership, the restaurant has successfully expanded to new branches around the country and continues to flourish in the culinary circles.
Best Female Chef Of The Year - Mythrayie Iyer
An Avartana alum, Chef Mythrayie Iyer is an influential name among the young chefs in the country. A regional winner of the global San Pellegrino Young Chef competition, Chef Iyer now heads the Farmlore in Bengaluru after multiple prestigious culinary internships worldwide.
Unlimit Iconic Music Band Award - Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean needs absolutely no introduction! The famous Indie band has been delighting music lovers for decades, and is recognised widely as the pioneering rock band in the country. The brand is also famous for their take against record labels, which has led them to release their music online for the past few albums. Gutsy, stylish, and always soulful, Indian Ocean won the Unlimit Iconic Music Band Award this year.
Unlimit Icon - Hemant Oberoi
Chef Hemant Oberoi is one of the stalwarts of the Indian culinary scene, and in the 40 glorious years of his work, has been hailed for his creative approach to Indian food. He has led a team of over 1,000 chefs and oversaw 23 hotels across the globe, and one of the legends.
Unlimit Trailblazer Award - Ranveer Brar
Chef Ranveer Brar does it all! Judge cooking shows, run great restaurants around the world, and make more and more people fall in love with cooking and storytelling on his YouTube channel, he does it all. The trailblazer that he is, Chef Brar is also quite committed to brining forth the culinary prowess of India to the forefront.
Unlimit Best Actress for Impactful Roles - Nushrratt Bharuccha
Making it big with an out and out commercial entertainer like Pyaar Ka Punchnaama, Nushrratt has slowly found her calling with films that let her make an impact. Whether it is her strong role in Janhit Mein Jaari, or making heads turn in Dream Girl, the actress never fails to deliver.
Best Actor in a Comic Role, Stree - Aparshakti Khurana
His comic timing is simply unmatched, and with a bunch of skills under his belt, actor Aparshakti Khurana has managed to carve his space beautifully in the world of cinema. Bringing comic relief to our screens with Stree, Bhediya, and Stree 2, Khurana has been a treat to watch.
Best Actress in an OTT Comic Series, Sunflower - Adah Sharma
When she’s not making heads turn in impactful roles like The Kerala Story, actress Adah Sharma is making us roll with her comic timing. In her OTT series too, the actress easily turned ordinary into outrageous, keeping everyone entertained throughout.
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