Bangalore – India’s latest fine dining hub

The country’s exciting culinary scene has a new entrant – IT city Bangalore now teems with fine dining restaurants that add panache to a city used to fast food joints.

This has been part of India’s growth story all over the country. Wherever offices for IT and MNCs spring up, small food joints follow. The demographic working here normally comprises younger persons who are used to fast food that arrives within minutes of ordering it. This is a class of people that likes to eat at its desk, so it prefers simple, no-fuss meals. This has been the prevailing trend in Bangalore – the city’s IT centres teem with casual eating joints, where one may nip for a quick bite with colleagues before heading back to work. 

But every kind of work culture is subject to change over time. Bangalore is no different in this regard. Home to ‘darshinis’ and dhabas across such areas as Indira Nagar and Whitefield Road for years now, techies love the array of dosas, pizzas, sandwiches, parathas and milk shakes that many restaurants here regularly dish out. But these places are fine for a quick bite in the middle of a work day – what happens when one wants to go out with their families and friends?

And so, fine dining restaurants in Bangalore slowly gained in importance over the last few years. Today, fine dining restaurants have become an essential part of the dining experience in the IT city. 

The change did not happen overnight. Normally, fine dining restaurants are more expensive to run, and they also hire experienced talent in the food and beverage industry. A certain amount of regular clientele, or bookings, are required daily to keep operations afloat. Bangalore did not previously have what is known as the ‘food mass’ required to anchor fine dining restaurants in most places. The trend started changing when, spurred by job opportunities offered by MNCs setting up base in the city, techies moved bag and baggage to Bangalore. 

This influx of tech talent needed supportive infrastructure like housing and transport to grow further. Capitalising on the growing demands for the kind of lifestyle that the prominent metros enjoy, restaurants started flying in renowned chefs from other locations to create Bangalore-specific menus and add international cuisines for world travellers.

Bangalore is also a prominent hotspot for international conferences and business meetings. Bangalore Palace Hotels and their convention rooms are also booked for these. The Leela Palace Bangalore is a prime example – it has a range of 284 royal, deluxe and conservatory rooms, apart from 29 well-appointed suites. The national and international delegates attending business events love to unwind at the hotel’s spa and tuck into delectable delicacies at its many restaurants. 

For delegates wishing to explore Bangalore city and its thriving fine dining scene, we recommend such restaurants as the High Ultra Lounge, Shiro, Grasshopper and Rim Naam (at The Oberoi).