January 2006, New Delhi, India. Rocio, Susan and I couldn’t get a beer anywhere near our hotel, so we mistakenly thought that Delhi was a dry state.

We weren’t mentally and emotionally prepared for a dry state.

The next day, during the city tour, I proposed a bathroom stop at the The Oberoi New Delhi. And then, there it was, calling out to us like an oasis in the desert: THE HOTEL BAR.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhaaaaa…”

We told the driver to take the rest of the afternoon off and come back for us after a few hours.

An afternoon of mojitos at The Oberoi New Delhi! Me, Rocio Magana, and Susan Brandstetter.

We may have been grimy and underdressed, but we had credit cards.

Fast forward to 2015. Because of that failed city tour, I purposely booked a longer stay in Delhi so that I could become better acquainted with the city. Of course, I ended up aborting the city tour yet again, this time, to heed the call of sushi.

But I have become slightly better acquainted with New Delhi, specifically South Delhi. Following are some recommendations should you ever find yourself in this bustling, complex city.

WHERE TO STAY

Hauz Khas – Our hands-down favorite. But only because we had a superb apartment within Hauz Khas Village. Hauz Khas Village is a dizzying maze of cool bars, restaurants, and shops, with some ancient ruins thrown in for good measure. Lots of fab places to hang out.

Check out The Patio/Amour for dinner. Afterwards, head to Social for drinks.

Golf Links – I loved this place for its proximity to Khan Market, my favorite market in Delhi. It is also the most expensive. All the best shops are there: Anokhi (which I prefer over Fabindia, which is also at Khan Market), Anita Dongre, Gobal Desi…

Rosan Cruz and me, inflicting maximum damage to our credit cards at Khan Market.

Nicolas loved it for its proximity to The Delhi Golf Club, with its exotic course, featuring random ruins and varied wildlife.

We stayed at Ahuja Residency Golf Links. It looked promising from the outside, like a modern apartment complex, but the interiors were disappointingly dated. But the owner and staff were extremely kind and helpful. I would definitely stay there again, especially before exiting the country for some last-minute shopping at Khan Market.

Defence Colony – Loved this residential expat enclave. Alan and I fantasized about owning our own apartment here. The apartment we rented was spitting distance from the Defence Colony Market and its assorted restaurants and coffee shops. Alan loved Sagar, the South Indian restaurant, and ate there almost everyday. I preferred Swagath, from the same owners of Sagar. It may have been pricier but, at least, it had a non-vegetarian menu. I also liked Colonel Kababz.

A quick rickshaw ride away is Lajpat Nagar (Central Market), which is a proper Indian market featuring clothes, accessories, fabric and household ware. Excellent for bargain hunters. And the fancy shops are not too far away either.

WHERE TO EAT

Town Hall
Reservations recommended: +91-11-4359-7166
60-61 Khan Market, Middle Lane
New Delhi

Rosan and I stumbled upon Town Hall at Khan Market because we were desperate for some sun and wanted to eat on a rooftop.

It was a cold and chilly day, but when Rosan and I saw the umbrella on the rooftop, we thought, “That’s where we want to be!” 2 March 2015.

We were pleasantly surprised to find out that the restaurant’s executive chef and managing partner is Filipino. Augusto Cabrera is from San Fernando, Pampanga, and was the master sushi chef at the Oberoi for nine years! Before that, he was master sushi chef for close to four years at the Towers Rotana Hotel in Dubai.

When I took Nicolas there, he was all India-ed out (- yes, Town Hall was the reason my second Delhi tour was aborted) and was skeptical about how good it could possibly be. As soon as he took his first bite of sushi, he swooned. He said that he felt like he was slipping back inside his skin and that his taste buds were coming alive again. My poor dear really was all India-ed out. He enjoyed the food so much that we ate there again the next day, before our flight back to Manila.

Indian Accent
Reservations a must: +91-11-4323-5151
The Manor
Friends Colony (West)
New Delhi

I wasn’t sure what Indian Accent was all about, except that it was supposed to be one of the best restaurants in Delhi. Nicolas was suspicious. He certainly wasn’t looking forward to more Indian food.

We both ordered the tasting menu. We were hooked with our very first bite, and quickly upgraded to the menu with paired wines.

Of all the times to forget my camera and phone! The following photos are some of the food that I remember having. They were taken from Indian Accent’s Facebook page:

I wish I could tell you what they were but, typically, I didn’t take notes, and I’m pretty sure that the menu on their website now isn’t the same as the one that we had in April.

This was a sorbet served in a mini replica of a pressure cooker.

By the end of the meal, Nicolas was almost in tears. He declared it the best meal experience he ever had. Upon congratulating Chef Shantanu Mehrotra, Nicolas confided, “I now understand Indian food. French food is like making love, but Indian food is like rough sex.”

Um, yeah, that was meant to be a compliment. I think the chef was a bit shocked.

Indian Accent’s food is undoubtedly Indian, but elevated to the nth degree. Truly an amazing experience.

WHERE TO SHOP

Here’s a good quick guide to Delhi’s best markets: “8 Best Delhi Markets for Fabulous Shopping”. I’ve also already mentioned some of my favorite stores and shopping areas above.

For men’s clothes, check out Zod! Clubwear. Nicolas loved their shirts. Had he known how comfortable they were, he said he would have bought more shirts. The material, he says, is lightweight and perfect for hot weather.

BEST WAY TO GET AROUND

Ola is India’s version of Uber, with the service available in select cities. Download the app or call customer service. The telephone number is the same in every city where it is available: 3355-3355, with only the area code changing. For Delhi, it’s 011.

For a private taxi and driver, contact Pramod Kumar at +91-99-58-497919. The rates are high, but he took very good care of me and Rosan while we were shopping. He kept an eye out for us and never left his spot, not even to have lunch!

This blog post is dedicated to my India travel buddies, Alan Montelibano and Stephen Matti, who are leaving for India again this September. I am absolutely envious and wish I could join you, but my next trip to India will have to wait. Have fun! And I can’t wait to see your latest tela-novelas!