insider | expert

Bangalore’s Jagdeep Nambier Vignettes front office manager, The Leela palace, Kempinski Bangalore Clockwise from Asia’s New Concierges left: Jagdeep Six service pros from leading hotels across Asia offer their top tips, from buzz- Nambier; inside Bangalore kebabs. The modern Spanish cuisine the swish worthy hot spots to off-the-beaten-track experiences. By Samai Singh and Lara Day n Culture Hot Spots at Caperberry (48/1, The Estate, 121, Cinnamon; Venkatappa Art Galley (Kasturba Rd.; Dickenson Rd.; 91-80/2559-4567; Venkatappa Art Gallery. 91-80/2286-4483) showcases works caperberry.in) is a huge draw. by M.F. Husain and Yusuf Arakkal. n Local Chic The rustic, garden setting of the For ensembles made from hand- Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath picked fabrics swing by Soch (1st (Kumara Krupa; 91-80/2226-1816) is Floor, Forum Mall, Hosur, Main Rd.; the perfect place to soak in culture. It 91-80/2206-7660). Cinnamon (11 is also the venue for exhibitions and Walton Rd.; 91-80/2222-9794) is the Dastakar Nature Bazaar. a one-stop shop for designerwear, n Regional Cuisine artefacts, crockery and candles. Mysore masala dosa, bisi belle bath n Pub Crawl (hot lentil and rice dish), and raqi The capacious Fuga (1 Nagarjuna mudde (finger millet flour steamed Bldg., Castle St.; 91-80/4147- balls) at MTR (14 Lalbagh Rd.; 8624; fuga.co.in) is popular with 91-80/2222-0022; malvallitiffinrooms. the youngsters. While Hard Rock Valencia Albuquerque com) are worth trying, and should be Café Bengaluru (40 St. Marks Rd.; concierge supervisor, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai followed with piping hot filter coffee. 91-80/4124-2222; hardrock.com) has n Fine Eats the perfect rock ’n’ roll atmosphere. Mumbai 135 Marine Drive; 91-22/3987-9999; Specialty restaurant Jamawar (The The Japanese-inspired Shiro’s n Culture enclaves ichotelsgroup.com) and see the city light Leela Palace, Kempinski Bangalore, 23 (UB City Mall; Vittal Mallya Rd, Kala Ghoda Art Festival

The up while you sip your glass of wine. ay Airport Rd.; 91-80/2521-1234; theleela. 91-80/4173-8864) offers a refined (kalghodaassociation.com; February) n Indi Style com) is popular for biryanis and environment to spend an evening. brings out the best art in the Priya Kishore’s Bombay Electric city. However, when it comes to (1 Reay House, Best Marg, Colaba; experiencing culture, Utsav at 91-22/2287-6276; bombayelectric.in)

Ravindra Natya Mandir (P.L. is the place to hit if you’re looking a . l Leo Hidalgo Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, for ensembles by Manish Arora concierge, Peninsula Manila d l ara tockphoto.com;

Prabhadevi; 91-22/2431-2956; October and Rajesh Pratap Singh. The a r u w a to March) showcases the festivals collections are hand-picked to d MANILA n Halo-Halo Havens o n n of the state through song and ensure you’ll find unique pieces and ll One-Stop Shop The quintessential Pinoy dessert is dance. They also have a morphed the staff is extremely helpful. If all you have is a couple of hours, halo-halo, made with candied fruit, traditional Maharashtrian wedding. n Nightlife s d iane555/i head straight to 2680 F. B. Harrison beans and pulses, coconut meat, o r e ; p a n Quick Bites Aer (Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, 114, l St. in Pasay City. It’s a 1940’s purple yam, leche flan (egg custard)

The best place to try a range of Dr. E Moses Rd., Worli; 91-22/2481- a n g a compound, and at the back you’ll and finely shaved ice, doused with b Elco Market Razon’s street food is (Hill Rd., 8000) is a great addition to k i find five houses occupied by three evaporated milk. Try it at Bandra; 91-22/2645-7677). Try the Mumbai’s legendary nightlife. Great s friends. Albert Avellana shows (22 Jupiter St., Makati; 63-2/899-

Mumbai’s ragda pattice, pani puri and dahi puri. views and music make it the best contemporary Philippine artists at 7841; halo-halos for two USD 4). ai Mantras Sample dosai, uttapams, and filter place to party in the city. Avellana Art Gallery (House A-19; 63- n Weekend Markets

Clockwise from coffee at Café Madras (King’s Circle, n Only in Mumbai ace, kempin 2/833-8357), Eric Paras has fabulous On Saturdays, Salcedo Market top left: Valencia l Matunga; 91-22/2401-4419 ). You’ll To glimpse a different side of this Leo Hidalgo at work. interior pieces at A-11 Design (House (Jaime C. Velasquez Park, L. P. Leviste,

Albuquerque; y of the penin s u l a mani a; © a p a Above: Pick of the s the entrance to have to wait to get a table though. thrilling metropolis, travel in a l pearls. Below: The A-11; 63-2/832-9972) and Jesus corner of Tordesillas St., Salcedo Village, e e Dr. Bhau Daji Lad n Fine Dining local train. I recommend you travel l busy Salcedo Market. “Jojie” Lloren designs couture (House Makati; 63-2/899-6509; open 7 a.m.- l mum b on s hote Museum; Marine Indigo s Drive; Aer, the (4 Mandlik Rd., Apollo Bandar; in non-peak hours (Mahalaxmi to B-20; 63-2/401-1194). 2 p.m.) has artisanal food products, rooftop bar at 91-22/6636-8999; foodindigo.com) Churchgate; 11 a.m-2 p.m). n Best-Value Bling home-made pâtés and spreads, y o f t h e the Four Seasons specializes in international and n Personal Favourite s At Greenhills Shopping Center organic coffee and coco sugar, Hotel Mumbai. fusion cuisine. The all-time favourite Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum (Byculla; (Ortigas Avenue, San Juan; greenhills. and Filipino drinking chocolate. y of four s ea y of four

here is the lobster and shallot risotto. 91-22/2375-7943; bdlmuseum.org) is s com.ph; 63-2/721-0572), go to the On Sundays, Legazpi Market (Rufino n Scenic City the oldest museum in the city and tiannge, a scrubbed-up flea market of St. (formerly Herrera), corner of Legazpi

Marine Drive has always had the houses the old maps of Mumbai courte l eft: s e from ockwi sorts, where freshwater pearls go for St., Legazpi Village, Makati; 63- best views of the city especially at showing the seven islands. For a song compared to pricier South 2/899-6509; open 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.) sunset. Or visit rooftop bar Dome any traveller who wants to know Sea pearls. Its most famous does great food and eco-friendly Bottom, c l Bottom, top, from right: courte (Intercontinental Marine Drive Mumbai, Mumbai, this is the place to start. courte l eft: top customer is Queen Sofia ofS pain. product lines.

000 Travel+Leisure august 2010 august 2010 Travel+Leisure 000 insider | expert

Mahipal Singh Shekhawat concierge, The Oberoi Udaivilas, udaipur Revealed Udaipur Uncovered Clockwise from left: Clockwise from At Yellow Brick Udaipur hunting lodge where live kebabs and right: Mahipal Singh Road; inside the n Local Flavour curries make up the menu. Shekhawat; National Gallery of To sample a traditional Rajasthani n Lake Views Sajjangarh; a view Modern Art; of Lake Pichola. ’s thali dine at Natraj Restaurant The city of lakes is surrounded by popular halwa; (New Bapu Bazaar; 91-294/242- the Aravalis. Sajjangarh or Monsoon Jama Masjid; Lakshay Nirula. 1249). Ambrai Restaurant (Amet Ki Palace, is located on top of a hill Haveli; 91-294/243-1085) near Lake overlooking Lake Pichola and offers Pichola serves up pan-Indian cuisine a breathtaking view of the city. and specializes in Rajasthani fare. A sunset cruise on the lake in a

Lakshay Nirula Sunset Terrace (Fateh Prakash Palace; traditional shikara sails past the City chef concierge, Taj Mahal Hotel, 91-294/252-8016) is great for light Palace, Jagmandir and Jagniwas and

a i p u r ; refreshments in an alfresco setting. offers completely different vistas. d

Delhi Santushti Shopping Complex on s hong kong n Unusual Dining n Culture Quest , u s s

n Art Havens () is full of boutiques a The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal is a local l i

The National Gallery of Modern and was one of the first designer v (Hardasji Ki Magri; 91-294/243- folk art institute where