Al fresco dining finds favor as Delhi warms up to eating out again

Delhi is not known to be a city of al-fresco dining. The moody weather and the extremities of climate have kept this pleasure away from Delhi and its people. The pandemic however is changing that, one new restaurant at a time.

Back in the autumn of 2020, when restaurants were finally given the permission to open, the guideline was clear: they could operate only in the open-air format. The set-up ensured better social distancing and was considered safer than indoor dining. While the other metro cities already had plenty of al-fresco set-ups and open spaces to work with, it was a new concept for Delhi, a city that battles extreme temperatures. It helped that winter was on its way and the time was perfect to go outdoors. And so, most new restaurants that had been waiting for the pandemic to ebb before opening quickly redesigned their spaces to include plenty of open seating.

Fabcafe’s pop-up restaurant inside Sunder Nursery was one of the first such outlet. Opened in an al-fresco only format, it was also the first one to have come up with the meal-tray: a concept where the guests could pick up food in single use trays and containers (all biodegradable). Self service allowed them to minimize human contact and portability gave them the option to sit either at the tables laid out by the café or anywhere else in the park. The idea became an instant hit and set precedence for many others. In the wake of the pandemic, restaurants world over have seen a similar trend – while the colder countries have resorted to concepts like tents and igloos, warmer places have gone open-air – and people are lapping up the new experiences that come with novelty as well as safety.

“We are looking at having al-fresco seating for all our restaurants in some capacity,” Mr. Julian Ayers, the General Manager at Hyatt Regency, Delhi informs us when we visit their latest restaurant that is completely outdoor. A pop up version of the old classic, Aangan, which incidentally means the courtyard, it comes with a live show kitchen. The action in the kitchen keeps the guests engaged while also reassuring them of its safety. The other restaurants at the hotel meanwhile have either moved to partial al-fresco seating model already or are in the process of migration. "We want to use our open spaces to create a fluid dining area where guests can be assured of their safety and have a good time," adds the GM. Many other establishments across the city are adopting similar practices and have similar plans.

Going al-fresco is not just limited to high-end, fine dining places; compact cafés, co-working spaces and casual diners have adopted the model too. At Roasted by Roseate, a café cum co-working space in Vasant Kunj, open seating is integrated into the design. Tables are set far apart in a large patio and patrons can choose self-service in single-use trays. With open spaces and ample distance, the place sees many locals spending their days dining and working under the sky.

Industry experts worldwide believe that until the fear of pandemic looms, open-air dining will continue to see takers. While it may have been a seasonal phenomenon earlier, especially in the capital, it will become a permanent feature of dining out. With the number of al-fresco places opening up and the way Delhi is warming up to them, we agree that al-fresco dining is surely here to stay.

Coolest new al-fresco restaurants in Delhi:

The Hub: Set in the middle of the busy Connaught Place, inside the recently opened Connaught Hotel, The Hub is a quaint new space that is as chic as it is cozy. The elaborate menu offers world cuisine and the bar at hand promises exciting cocktails as well as classic martinis.

Aangan: The Indian restaurant is a tribute to the legendary Dilli ka Aangan. This pop-up space in the heart of Delhi brings back classics like Butter Chicken, Murgh Afghani, Raan e Aangan, Paneer Gulistan and much more.

Roasted by Roseate: A co-working space cum cafe serves all-day-breakfast with clean and guilt free options along with the classics. Pinsa Pizza, helthy meal bowls, pumpkin aranchini are among the best offerings.

Syrah:Inspired by the former Iranian capital, Shiraz, Syrah offers food inspired by Levant region in Eastern Mediterranean like salads, grills and expansive mezze platters. The space is a blend of traditional and al-fresco seating.