Ninkasi is offering a fresh perspective on the city's bar culture by combining heritage-inspired interiors with a cocktail programme built around storytelling and craftsmanship. Located in Panchwati, Udaipur, the bar takes its name from the Sumerian goddess of beer and brewing, creating a space that feels more like a lived-in home than a conventional hospitality venue.

Every corner of Ninkasi is filled with carefully collected pieces that reflect history and character. From antique brass structures and vintage typewriters to war shields, flags, silver jewellery, tin cigarette boxes, paintings, and handcrafted wooden décor, each object has its own story. Rather than following a curated design trend, the interiors embrace a layered, maximalist aesthetic that encourages guests to discover something new with every visit.

Inspired by India's rich architectural and artistic heritage, the space celebrates texture, detail, and craftsmanship while moving away from the simplicity of modern minimalist design. The result is an atmosphere where conversations often begin with the objects surrounding the table as much as the drinks being served.

Complementing the interiors is a cocktail programme led by Shubham Narke, which focuses on balance, flavour, and technique. The menu is organised around four themes: Desire, Fortune, Glory, and Indulgence, with each section featuring a curated selection of cocktails that showcase thoughtful combinations rather than theatrical presentation.

Among the signature creations is Addiction, which combines clarified vodka and cola with nachos and a salsa cocktail to create an interactive tasting experience. Surrender brings together brown-butter-fat-washed whisky with dark-roast coffee, pineapple, orange, vanilla, warm brown-butter cream, and a mini croissant. Legacy offers a fresh interpretation of the classic Negroni using pink guava, Campari, sweet vermouth, tequila, and aged camel cheese, paying tribute to Rajasthan's culinary heritage. Bliss highlights fermented mahua with tender coconut water, Sidr honey, kaffir lime, and pink peppercorn for a distinctive regional twist.

With its blend of immersive interiors and carefully crafted cocktails, Ninkasi presents a destination where every object, every drink, and every detail contributes to a memorable experience, offering guests a different way to explore Udaipur's evolving dining and bar scene.

• Location: Ninkasi, Panchwati, Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Carbon has introduced a refreshed chapter for its signature bottled cold brew collection with the launch of three new flavours: Tropical Monk, Berry Bold, and Mango Passion. Alongside the expanded range, the café has also unveiled a completely redesigned look for its bottled beverages, highlighting its continued focus on specialty coffee and innovation.

For nearly a decade, Carbon's bottled cold brews have been among the café's most popular offerings. The latest additions join existing favourites: The Original, Whiskey Barrel, Mint Lime, and Vanilla Orange, bringing the collection to seven unique flavours, each with its own flavour profile and brewing process.

Rather than using a standard brewing method, Carbon develops every cold brew individually. Depending on the intended taste and character, extraction times range from 18 to 96 hours, allowing each bottle to deliver a balanced and carefully crafted coffee experience.

The three new flavours reflect the brand's approach to combining specialty coffee with distinctive ingredients. Tropical Monk blends kaffir lime, coconut, and honey for a tropical-inspired profile. Berry Bold brings together blueberry and honey notes for a rich and layered taste, while Mango Passion offers a bright, fruit-forward flavour inspired by tropical summers.

The collection has also received a complete visual refresh. Every bottle now features a cleaner and more contemporary design, with bold typography, monochrome labels, and flavour-led graphics that make each variety easy to recognise while reinforcing Carbon's premium identity.

What started with just The Original and Whiskey Barrel has steadily grown into one of Carbon's most recognised beverage collections. With the earlier additions of Mint Lime and Vanilla Orange, and now the launch of Tropical Monk, Berry Bold, and Mango Passion, the collection continues to showcase the brand's commitment to craftsmanship, creativity, and flavour innovation.

New Delhi-based bean-to-bar chocolate and artisanal coffee brand Savorworks has achieved double recognition at the Indian Craft Chocolate Competition 2026, winning Double Gold with Direct Trade recognition and securing qualification for the global final.

The achievement marks a significant milestone for India’s growing craft chocolate industry, with Savorworks’ 85% Dark Chocolate receiving the highest recognition in the High % Plain/Origin Dark Chocolate Bars – 85% and Over category and achieving the highest dark chocolate score in India.

The award highlights Savorworks’ commitment to craftsmanship, precision, and its approach towards creating high-quality bean-to-bar chocolates through careful sourcing and in-house production.

Savorworks received recognition across multiple categories at the competition:

• Double Gold – 85% Dark Chocolate – High % Plain/Origin Dark Chocolate Bars (85% and Over) along with the Highest Score in India
• Gold – Direct Trade Recognition
• Silver – 72% Dark Chocolate – Gin & Tonic – Dark Chocolate Bars with Infusion/Flavouring
• Silver – Cashew Nut Tom Kha Dragée, White Chocolate Dragées, and Enrobed Whole Nuts
• Bronze – 72% Dark Chocolate – Micro-Batch Plain/Origin Dark Chocolate Bars

A key differentiator for Savorworks is its unique approach of applying specialty coffee roasting expertise to cacao. Leveraging its coffee-roasting background, the brand roasts cacao beans in-house with the same precision and attention used for specialty coffee production.

This process allows the team to develop customised roast profiles that enhance the natural flavours, aromas, and complexity of each cacao bean, resulting in chocolates with distinctive flavour profiles.

The brand was also recognised with a Gold award for Direct Trade sourcing practices, reflecting its commitment to building strong relationships with cacao farmers and ensuring quality, transparency, and traceability throughout the bean-to-bar journey.

Commenting on the achievement, Paweena Withyasathien, Co-founder and Master Chocolatier, Savorworks Coffee & Chocolate, said, "For us, these recognitions are a reminder to keep roasting, refining, and reimagining what Indian bean-to-bar chocolate can be. We're just getting started, and we can proudly say that Savorworks is becoming the best dark chocolate maker in India."

Founded in 2019 by Baninder Singh, Co-founder and Head Roaster, and Paweena Withyasathien, Co-founder and Master Chocolatier, Savorworks has built its identity around craftsmanship, experimentation, and uncompromising quality.

By combining the discipline of specialty coffee roasting with the artistry of chocolate making, the brand continues to create distinctive bean-to-bar chocolates that celebrate Indian innovation in the global craft chocolate landscape.