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 venkatappa art Galley (Kasturba Rd.; Dickenson Rd.; 91-80/2559-4567; 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 D (kalghodaassociation.com; February) n inDi style com) is popular for biryanis and environment to spend an evening. Bombay electric ara brings out the best art in the Priya Kishore’s L 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 tockphoto.com; tockphoto.com; Prabhadevi; 91-22/2431-2956; October and Rajesh Pratap Singh. The a r u w a S 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. iane555/i If all you have is a couple of hours, halo-halo, made with candied fruit, D traditional Maharashtrian wedding. n niGhtliFe © head straight to 2680 F. B. harrison beans and pulses, coconut meat, o r e ; p a L n QuiCK Bites aer a; st. (Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, 114, L purple yam, leche flan (egg custard) in Pasay City. It’s a 1940’s 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 a mani 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 L S u 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. B 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 salcedo Market On Saturdays, mum L 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 a p a above: pick of the S L Jesus the entrance to have to wait to get a table though. thrilling metropolis, travel in a hote pearls. Below: the A-11; 63-2/832-9972) and corner of Tordesillas St., Salcedo Village, S 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.- on museum; marine S indigo (4 Mandlik Rd., Apollo Bandar; in non-peak hours (Mahalaxmi to B-20; 63-2/401-1194). 2 p.m.) has artisanal food products, Drive; aer, the ea 91-22/6636-8999; foodindigo.com) Churchgate; 11 a.m-2 p.m). S n Best-value BlinG home-made pâtés and spreads, rooftop bar at courte eft: L 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 y of four e from e from S 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 ockwi Marine Drive has always had the houses the old maps of Mumbai L 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.) eft: courte eft: sunset. Or visit rooftop bar Dome any traveller who wants to know L Sea pearls. Its most famous does great food and eco-friendly Bottom, c Bottom, top, from right: courte (Intercontinental Marine Drive Mumbai, Mumbai, this is the place to start. 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 Delhi 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. ghantewala’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, neW Delhi 91-294/252-8016) is great for light Palace, Jagmandir and Jagniwas and hong kong hong kong a i p u r ; S refreshments in an alfresco setting. offers completely different vistas. D delHi santushti shopping Complex on n unusual DininG n Culture Quest , u S S a n art havens (Chanakyapuri) is full of boutiques ea the Oberoi udaivilas, udaipur Bhartiya lok Kala Mandal is a local L S i The national Gallery of Modern and was one of the first designer V (Hardasji Ki Magri; 91-294/243- folk art institute where you can watch a i art (India Gate; 91-11/2338-4560; havens in the city. Of course, D 3300; oberoihotels.com) can arrange for puppet shows and tribal dances ngmaindia.gov.in) houses the best if you’re looking for high-end some stunning meals. the Floating including the bhavai where the dancer y of four y of four e r o i u S collection of modern art in the international labels look no further B Pavilion, a private floating island in balances nine pots on her head. country, while in Gurgaon, Lekha than DlF emporio (Vasant Kunj; the middle of Lake Pichola, lit by Bagore Ki haveli located on the and Anupam Poddar’s Devi art 91-11/4611-6666; dlfemporio.com). candles with low seating and live banks of Lake Pichola, and including Foundation (Sirpur House, Sector 44; Interior buffs should swing by y o f t h e o music makes the perfect setting for a the Gangaur Ghat, is a 300-year-old S 91-124/488-8111; deviartfoundation.org) Moonriver (D-16 Defence Colony; romantic dinner. Or, you can enjoy haveli that houses folk art, and the is an absolute must-visit.