zeezest

Restaurants that honour the Japanese culinary traditions, flavours, cooking techniques and art of presentation while introducing diners to the simplicity of seasonal ingredients and diverse meal styles.

Best Japanese Restaurant

RRR - Rich, Regional, Ravishing. Like regional cinema, regional cuisine too is making waves across the country. Restaurants that place value on hyper-local and feature lesser-known regional cuisines

Best Regional Indian Restaurant

Beauty with function. Design is integral, the first thing we notice, engage with... it tells a story and stays long after we leave a place. From the door to the furnishing to the light fixtures that give you warmth and privacy to the architecture that doesn't disturb the past but merges with the functional needs of the present. 

Best Designed Restaurant

When you are not just a 'New' Restaurant but 'Neo' -The One, who despite being less than 6 months old has already grabbed the eyes, ears and tastebuds of the cognoscenti, press, critics and social media.

Best New Restaurant 

Deals, dates or diaries - a lot happens over a cuppa here! Apart from offering a variety of options and skilled execution in beverages, the food is well-paired with the beverage menu to offer a complete dining experience in a comfortable and cozy setting. 

Best Cafe

A restaurant that celebrates Asian culture in the truest form. From aromatic curries to perfectly grilled meats, the menu is a work of art that tantalises the taste buds and transports diners on a gastronomic journey.

Best Asian Restaurant

No 'beetling around the bush! Lettuce celebrate the menu with the green dot and find the G.O.A.T. minus the meat! 

Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Raising the bar - literally! An establishment which focuses on its bar before food. The bar and mixologists should be masters of classic cocktails as well as have an evolving beverage menu that focuses on customization, innovation and exemplary service. There should also be a focus on food that complements the drinks. 

Best Cocktail Bar

Ale is well! A craft beer assessed according to parameters of flavour, quality, aroma, colour and mouthfeel. 

Best Indian Craft Beer 

Have a Grinder-bender! Only the finest spirits assessed for flavour, quality, aroma, colour, finish and botanicals shall be put to taste and test.

Best Indian Craft Gin

‘A Royal Rum-ble, this. From the subtle sweetness of molasses to the complexity of oak ageing, an Indian rum brand with a distinctive character that sets it apart.

Best Indian Rum

Quaint over Quantity! A ​luxurious stay with limited rooms that ​excels ​in creating a personalised, immersive and unique experience with its distinct design, ​intimate atmosphere, ​and allows guests to savour the local ​culture through its art, food, culture and community. 

Best Boutique Hotel

Where the wild things are! A luxurious stay amidst a forest that lets guests experience and appreciate nature and wildlife while prioritising sustainable practices to minimise their impact on the environment. 

Best Wildlife resort

They mean Business! A hotel that reimagines the concept of hospitality with a distinctive blend of comfort, character, and convenience. 

Best Business Hotel

A kitchen that delivers exceptional culinary experiences without a dining room. This category celebrates innovation, consistency, and flavour that travel seamlessly from kitchen to doorstep. A true example of how great food needs no boundaries and only passion and precision. 

Best Cloud Kitchen

Luxe Alert! A resort that excels in every aspect—from personalised service and state-of-the-art amenities to exquisite design and gourmet dining. 

Best Luxury Resort

A celebration of authentic Thai flavours that transport you straight to Bangkok’s bustling streets and Chiang Mai’s serene kitchens. This category honours a restaurant that masters the balance of spice, sweetness, and soul in every dish. From comforting curries to zesty salads, it’s where Thailand truly comes alive on a plate. 

Best Thai Restaurant

A dining space that captures the rich culinary heritage of Europe with finesse and flair. From rustic Mediterranean fare to refined French classics, this restaurant blends tradition with innovation. A true passport to Europe’s most exquisite flavours. 

Best European Restaurant

Celebrating the epitome of fine dining where gastronomy meets grandeur. This award recognises a restaurant that redefines indulgence through impeccable service, exquisite plating, and an ambience of sheer sophistication. 

Best Luxury Dining Restaurant

This award honours a bakery or patisserie that crafts irresistible confections with artistry and precision. From delicate pastries to decadent cakes, every bite is a celebration of joy. 

Best Bakery

A restaurant that goes beyond the familiar idli, dosa, and upma to showcase the true depth of South Indian cuisine. From regional delicacies and heirloom recipes to inventive reinterpretations, it’s a journey through the southern states on a single table. A bold, flavourful homage to the South’s culinary diversity. 

Best South Indian Restaurant

A space where design and drink craft come together in perfect harmony. This award celebrates a bar that captivates with its ambience, thoughtful interiors, mood lighting, and aesthetic storytelling. A place where every sip feels elevated by the art of design.

Best Designed Cocktail Bar

Celebrating a homegrown spirit that captures the essence of India’s terroir, tradition, and craftsmanship. This award honours a label that redefines local distilling with authenticity, innovation, and character. A true toast to the spirit of India—bottled with pride.

Best Indigenous Spirit

A vodka that stands out for its smooth texture, refined flavour profile, and impeccable distillation. A crystal-clear expression of sophistication, perfect neat or in a timeless cocktail. 

Best Vodka

Celebrating the finest in the art of brewing—where passion, precision, and patience create perfection in every pour. This award honours a brand or brewer that elevates the craft through innovation and quality. A true embodiment of brewing excellence, one sip at a time. 

Best in Brew

A storyteller in his own right, Rakesh is best known for taking people on a journey through his culinary and travel explorations. His interests lie in food history and practices and its interaction with socio-cultural norms. He is also a Zee Zest host for two successful shows—Highway Dreams and 100% South Indian.

Rakesh Raghunathan

Kevin Rodrigues

Chef Natasha Gandhi, a dynamic culinary talent and cocktail enthusiast, gained widespread recognition as a Top 5 finalist on MasterChef India Season 6. With a passion for blending traditional and contemporary flavours, she is the founder of House of Millets, a platform dedicated to promoting nutritious, millet-based dishes, and Drinks with Nats, where she creatively crafts cocktails with a distinct Indian twist. Natasha’s innovative approach to both food and drinks celebrates the richness of Indian ingredients, offering an exciting fusion of flavours that highlight her expertise in the culinary world and her flair for mixology.

Natasha Gandhi

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With over 40 books to her name, Rashmi Uday Singh has established herself as a leading authority on food writing and is a familiar face as a TV anchor, sharing her insights on global cuisine. A recipient of prestigious accolades, including the Chevalier Knighthood and the World Gourmand Award, Singh’s influence extends beyond her writing and television work. She is also the founder of Hospitality Hope, a nonprofit global job portal aimed at empowering the hospitality industry, further showcasing her dedication to both food and social impact.
"

Rashmi Uday Singh

Priya runs Red Scarab Travel & Media with her husband Anurag Mallick and creates content for the tourism and hospitality industry as a travel influencer and consultant. As a writer, she contributes to various​ leading national and international publications and has also co-authored several travel books and guides such as Michelin, Rough Guides, and for Outlook Traveller.

Priya Ganapathy

Sadaf Hussain

With a career spanning two decades, Anurag is one of the leading travel writers in India and the founder of Red Scarab Travel & Media. His contributions as a travel writer and co-author of reputable travel guides have undoubtedly enriched the travel community by providing valuable travel advice, recommendations, and insights for a diverse range of travellers. Some of his co-authored Outlook Traveller guides include 52 Weekend Breaks from Bangalore, Kerala Guide, 100 Holidays in the Hills & Trekking Guide to India.

Anurag Mallick

Kirti Bhoutika

Tejaswi Chandela

Rahul Akerkar

AD Singh

Priyanko Sarkar is a beverage expert known for his storytelling-focussed approach towards drinks. An avid bar enthusiast, Sarkar is often found travelling the breath of the country to try the best food and cocktails that the country has to offer. He also conducts beverage-themed heritage walks primarily in Mumbai with a wide variety of audiences in attendance. Sarkar is also the person behind the drinks programme by Mumbai-based Chrome Hospitality's properties such as Gigi, Lyla and Donna Deli along with an upcoming new bar at Todi Mills. 

Priyanko Sarkar

Sneha Singhi Upadhaya

Nitin Tewari

Karishma Sakhrani

Parth Bajaj

Ajay is a chef and food consultant. He’s the managing director of Zion Hospitality which is involved in content, culinary training and mentoring food brands. He is also a host of Zee Zest’s shows, India’s 50 Best Dishes, Papad Pickle Aur Pyala and Pattay Ki Baat.

Zee Zest Unlimit Awards

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Jury Panel

Rakesh Raghunathan

Kevin Rodrigues

Natasha Gandhi

Rashmi Uday Singh

Priya Ganapathy

Sadaf Hussain

Anurag Mallick

Kirti Bhoutika

Tejaswi Chandela

Rahul Akerkar

AD Singh

Priyanko Sarkar

Sneha Singhi Upadhaya

Nitin Tewari

Karishma Sakhrani

Parth Bajaj

Ajay Chopra

Mendi

Somanna Muthanna

Ruksana Kapadia

Doma Wang

Saloni Kukreja

Guntas Sethi