Sip, flirt, repeat: Inside New Delhi’s most discreetly delicious cocktail bar

February is the month of grand gestures—and for those who prefer their romance stirred, shaken, and served under low lights, The Love Hotel arrives as an ideal Valentine’s-season escape. Our idea of the perfect date night, experience lip-smacking cocktails, a great playlist, scrumptious food, and just a tinge of mischief. Nestled in Lodhi Colony, this 20-seater cocktail room is a playful homage to the sex hotels of Japan; it promises to stir up fabulous tipples and shake up the cocktail culture of the city with more than a few surprises.

This striking spot was inspired by the centuries-old love hotels (rabu hoteru) of Japan, as they were designed for discreet rendezvous between couples. The quintessential Japanese love hotels offered affordable rooms ideal for short stays, and entertained a unique subculture rooted in escapism and fantasy.

The Love Hotel, New Delhi, has recaptured the intimate vibe of these spaces in modern times, under the supervision of Ms Sabina Singh, the design director at the Olive group of restaurants, and co-curated by Shiva Kant Vyas, Saumya Gupta, and the brand team at the Olive group of restaurants. It exudes an atmosphere of sensuality with dim lighting, ‘love games’, and other edgy elements. Expect to have a fun, sexy time and unwind while savouring speciality cocktails paired with a grazing menu of small plates crafted to excite and intrigue. 

The cocktail menu is sensational—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami. With the fundamentals of taste as building blocks, each cocktail focuses on one sense, but enlivens all of them. Blending sensory elements with modern and time-tested techniques, it features memorable cocktails with bold flavours and a hint of mischief. From aromatic teases to delightful crunches, each drink revives your senses with a special surprise. Nitin Tewari, the brilliant co-curator of this multisensorial cocktail menu previously collaborated with the Olive group on the spectacular Ek Bar, a modern Indian bar that introduced the city to ‘Indian cocktails’.

‘Cuffing’, a martini-paloma lovechild is a tart and umami cocktail that will make you pucker up…and you won't mind being "tied" to it all night. ‘Love Bug’ teases the sense of touch, paired with a handmade chip and delectably crispy saltine. Love a picante? The ‘Dirty Little Secret’ is The Love Hotel’s refreshing approach, which changes colour and keeps you guessing on its secret ingredient as you sip along. For those who enjoy negronis, they have the deliciously red ‘Rooms By the Hour’, which contain rich flavours from toasted sesame and pandan that transform as the ice melts. For the spirit-forward drinkers, the bitter-salty, umami cousin of the old fashioned, ‘Oops! We Did It Again’, is the perfect go-to. ‘Hug Me Baby, One More Time!’ is a tea-infused drink with notes of hibiscus and jasmine, blended with soju. Another one for the books is ‘It’s Not Bedtime’, a tiramisu martini that comes with a tiny spoon for you to scoop up the choco-grapefruit foam! 

As for the bites, chef Saurabh Sharan prepares a modern menu of 12 small appetisers boasting Asian elements to complement the drinks. Think yellowtail shooters with virgin mary and a choice of exotic vegetables, sushi canapés with an option of salmon, avocado and palmheart, baby pork ribs with a soy-honey-mustard glaze, brie cheese and Bhavnagri chilli tempura, tuna and watermelon with a ume-ponzu dressing, and cold sobboro soba noodles perfect for summers. Every meal is served Kobachi-style—and there’s something for every palate. 

Whether you’re here for the cocktails, the chemistry, or the curiosity, The Love Hotel is your cue to check in, loosen up, and let the night surprise you. It’s the month of love, so book a table before it’s too late!

All images: The Love Hotel

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