Snapshots
A recent trend in India's restaurant market is celebrity-owned establishments, where popular Bollywood actors share their unique culinary preferences with fans. From posh steakhouses to laid-back cafés, these eateries provide you with more than just tasty food—they give you an opportunity to feel the stars' hospitality for yourself. Want a deep dive into your favourite celebrity’s restaurant? Keep reading to know more!
Scarlett House - Malaika Arora
Who: A 45-cover facility that provides a combination of world cuisines with an Indian touch while utilising locally produced ingredients has just opened its doors thanks to Dhaval Udeshi, Malaika Arora, Arhaan Khan, and Malaya Nagpal.
Why you need to visit: A 90-year-old villa in Bandra's Pali Village now serves as the homely Scarlett House, a restaurant with an emphasis on health. The cuisine focuses on clean, wholesome foods, and the light nooks and corners make it seem like an extension of your living room. There is a shop area, a wine and cheese room, and a coffee bar on the lower level of the restaurant, which covers two stories.
The upper floor has a reading nook, a cocktail bar and a live sushi bar. Beena Noronha's signature dishes include matcha waffles, chicken ghee roast wraps, and salmon mille-feuille. Various skin care, sedative, and digestive health elixirs are available at the Water Bar. At Scarlett House, there is a store where visitors may purchase small-batch goods made in the area, such as millet snacks and freshly churned nut butters.
Jolene By The Sea - Amrita Arora
Who: Ankit Tayal, Amrita Arora, Shakeel Ladak, chef Suvir Saran, and chef Amrita Arora Ladak are the newest high-profile additions to the busy Anjuna stretch with Jolene By The Sea. Devi, one of Saran's restaurants in New York City, has won Michelin stars and raised the bar for Indian cuisine during the last 20 years.
Why you need to visit: With its picture-perfect beachfront location, easygoing tropical ambience, and creative food and drink menu, Jolene by the Sea is the ideal seaside hangout. Imagine a peaceful but chic Nikki Beach mingling with a hip bohemian living room. The apartment, designed by Ayushi Malik, has an impression of effortless luxury with its combination of warm, earthy tones and metallic elements. There is a veritable feast of towns, locations, and anecdotes on Jolene's menu. Traditional Indian fare serves as an inspiration for many recipes, which then undergo transformations to become both familiar and daring.
For instance, Ed's Brooklyn to Bombay Wantons pays homage to the late chef Ed Schoenfeld, who was well-known for his work at Red Farm, a prominent Chinese restaurant in New York City. Schoenfeld had a profound effect on Suvir as a chef; the wantons served at Saran's restaurant are a recipe that Suvir inherited from his instructor. Goan prawn stew with poee gets a chic makeover in dishes like Madrid to Morjim Prawns, which showcase the merging of tapas-style dining with the comforting seafood aromas of India's Konkan coast. This philosophy is reflected in dishes such as misal ramen and lobster cornettos, which combine sincerity, consideration, and a true appreciation for heritage.
Akhoi Kitchen - Lin Laishram
Who: Lin Laishram, model and actress, is the founder of Akhoi, a cloud kitchen in Mumbai that celebrates the vibrant flavours of Manipuri cuisine. Named after the Manipuri word for “us,” Akhoi reflects Lin’s mission to bring the essence of her homeland to a wider audience.
Why you need to visit: Inspired by her childhood in Imphal’s iconic Ima Keithel market, Lin blends tradition with passion, crafting a menu rooted in authentic recipes and locally sourced ingredients. Operating exclusively for delivery and takeout, Akhoi offers signature dishes like the Manipuri Thali—featuring Singju (spicy salad), Uti (creamy dal), Arumba (veggie mash), and a choice of curry—along with unique bites like Boha, a garlic snack. Lin’s personal connection to Manipuri food shines through in every detail, making Akhoi not just a culinary venture but a heartfelt tribute to her roots.
Blondie - Shilpa Shetty
Who: Right by Khar, Mumbai, Shilpa Shetty's Bastian Hospitality has launched their newest venture, Blondie, the city's only matcha bar. With the help of Chef Shreya Aggarwal and Natasha Hemani, the café has taken a fresh, inviting approach to serving all-day meals, matcha, and coffee.
Why you need to visit: Blondie, located in the heart of Khar, is more than just a trendy coffee shop; it's a carefully planned gathering place where you can enjoy speciality beverages, innovative food and meaningful conversations with your neighbours. The coffee experience at Blondie is where its heart is. The cafe's innovative menu shakes up the usual fare by combining beloved classics with fresh takes on old favourites. Coffee connoisseurs may indulge in the ideal cortado or enjoy a variety of hand-brewed drinks at the coffee shop's Slow Bar, including V60, French Press and AeroPress.
Fruit Funk Anaerobic Naturals and Cask-Aged Whisky Barrel Brew are two of the top beans from Chikmagalur. They also utilise dramatiques from Ethiopia and Costa Rica that are single-origin. Those with more daring taste buds may enjoy monthly specialities like the Blondie Sunrise, Vietnamese Coconut Coffee, and Mango Sticky Rice Latte, which provide a seasonal twist.
Mercii - Arpita Khan Sharma
Who: Arpita Khan Sharma debuted in the hospitality industry at Mercii, a chic European restaurant at 81 Crest, Khar. The restaurant's cuisine combines European methods with foreign flavours; it was created in collaboration with Ketul and Gaurav Parikh and Anuj and Vicky Chugh.
Why you need to visit: The restaurant's artificial skylights transform the area from a sunny day to a dark night sky, creating an ever-changing ambience. Whether it's a quiet lunch or a romantic evening, this function lets the atmosphere change to suit the occasion. A unique private room, with space for up to thirty people, is available inside the restaurant for more intimate gatherings. Coconut Lobster, Truffle Pasta, and Potato Mille Feuille with Périgord truffle are just a few of the seafood and meat dishes prepared by Group Culinary Director Dennis Koll.
Vegan choices are abound, but the star clearly is the mushroom ceviche. Heet Mango Margaritas and Smoky Terrains are just two examples of the creative cocktails on the menu that are sure to pair well with the inventive food. With its ever-changing artificial skylights, Mercii's decor is perfect for both everyday meals and more formal occasions.