Imagine sitting in a garden, sipping a cup of coffee or a glass of wine along with some snacks and food. Traditionally, people used to visit gardens and parks with families, carrying food from their homes. Such gatherings were called picnics. However, now many gardens have made restaurants to save you the burden of preparing meals. So visit them, enjoy with friends and family, and indulge in delicacies served in those restaurants and cafés. Delhi NCR offers several garden restaurants and cafés open from morning till night for people of all age groups. Moreover, if you want to take your beloved out for a fancy meal, there is nothing like a meal in a garden. Even if you want to spend some time alone, away from your home, such restaurants and cafés can be an ideal option to unwind. We have a list of five such restaurants and cafés to explore.
Toast Garden Lounge, Gurgaon – When you are tired of professional meetings and are bored of your daily work schedule, this is a must go-to place, offering an atmosphere perfect for unwinding in, along with lip-smacking food. You can choose to sit inside, where they have the bar, or in the splendid green garden. The music played here complements the ambience perfectly. The restaurant is well spaced, and the lighting and effects enhance the experience. Serving North Indian delights and great alcohol, you can sit here for hours without any disturbance. If you choose to sit in the garden, you can book one of the canopies in the garden or sit around the tables to feel the air gushing through your hair.
Lodi – The Garden Restaurant, Lodhi Road – A tranquillising, romantic experience is what Lodi – The Garden Restaurant is known for. Tucked in between natural surroundings, the restaurant is located in the middle of the Lodhi Gardens. Adorned in elegant, earthy interiors, the plush green landscape complements the outdoor area brilliantly. If you are not in a hurry to eat and leave, Lodi is the ideal place to go. The highlights of the restaurant are the serene botanical gardens, pebbled walkways, furniture done in wood and cane, and the bamboo railings. The seating is split into five sections, namely the atrium, the bar, the terrace, the garden and the ground. Serving an array of European dishes, as well as an extensive selection of wines, the garden bar is also popular for its innovative cocktails. You can also be a part of their weekly events, such as fusion night. The private canopies need to be booked in advance.
Roots – Café in the Park, Gurgaon – Surrounded by greenery, Roots is open on three sides, in the middle of the Rajiv Gandhi Renewable Energy Park. Does it not sound strange? A café in a renewable energy park? But, on visiting the café, your senses will be completely blown away. You can never imagine such a bustling café to be located there. Shadowed by youth and families, the café offers seating outside in the park or in a small cosy shack for those willing to sit indoors, subject to the weather. And, indeed, the correct time to visit this place is on a rainy day. Right from breakfast to lunch and dinner, you can find a number of dining and drinking options. Recommended delights to try here would be the mushrooms on toast, Bombay egg bhurji on toast and the Nutella hot chocolate.
FIO Country Kitchen and Bar, Garden of Five Senses, Saket – Spread over a vast area of the Garden of Five Senses, FIO Country Kitchen and Bar is a European establishment in Delhi. A romantic hotspot in the middle of a garden sounds rejuvenating. It calls for a date, especially in the evenings. FIO is rated as one of the best romantic places in and around Delhi. Nestled between fresh acacia, bamboo and frangipani trees, FIO offers fulfilling country cooking, classified by the main dishes, grills and desserts. If you want to stroll in the garden post that heavy meal you want to digest, there is a magnificent garden with gigantic lawns for that as well. For weekend couples, a Sunday brunch is also laid out at the restaurant, serving a myriad of grills, live stations, freshly made eggs and various other preparations. So, in winter, a Sunday brunch can be the right time to visit this place.
Gardenia Food & Grill, Gurgaon – Relax in the midst of greens, or celebrate special occasions with families, friends and loved ones at Gardenia Food & Grill in Gurgaon. The restaurant is located at Moulsari Avenue, DLF Phase 3. With changing specials on the menu, you will always be delighted to visit this place. It is a dimly lit area, with Italian interiors and soothing soulful music; you can choose to sit in the restaurant or outside in the lawn. As night progresses from day, the scenic beauty of Gardenia also enhances, and it is a perfect setting for a candlelight dinner. Serving unconventional dishes, the cuisine served is multicuisine. Some dishes that deserve special mention include grilled chicken peri peri, crispy konjee lamb, bacon-wrapped prawns and Spanish garlic mushrooms in starters. Main course preparations are a mix of grills, Italian dishes and North Indian fare.
It has been observed that people are switching from five-star dining options to open-air restaurants, such as garden cafés and restaurants, for fancy meals. In summer, the right time to visit these places is in the evening, while in winter, the afternoon is the best time to dine at such joints. However, for those willing to experience the fresh breeze chill, evenings can also be exciting. And every garden café or restaurant has the option to sit indoors as well.
