KOJAK Opens in Juhu as a Mystery-Led Cocktail Bar Redefining Storytelling Through Spirits

KOJAK Opens in Juhu as a Mystery-Led Cocktail Bar Redefining Storytelling Through Spirits

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 20, 2025

Juhu’s nightlife welcomes a distinctive new address with the opening of KOJAK, an immersive cocktail bar that blends narrative, craft, and mystique into a carefully layered drinking experience. Inspired by the legend of a man known only as Kojak, the space invites guests into a world shaped by hidden stories, coded details, and a quiet sense of intrigue, offering something refreshingly different to the neighbourhood’s hospitality landscape.

The concept takes shape around a fictional artefact believed to be Kojak’s original leather notebook, filled with cryptic sketches, fragmented thoughts, and experimental cocktail formulas. This imagined discovery forms the foundation of KOJAK’s identity, guiding its narrative-led approach to modern mixology. The bar speaks to a new generation of guests seeking experiences that go beyond aesthetics, where creativity and intention are as important as flavour.

Designed by Esquisse Design, the interiors feel like stepping into Kojak’s own mind. A deliberate play of darkness and light, textured surfaces, and sculpted glows create a cinematic atmosphere that shifts seamlessly from moody and intimate to breezy and open, with an unexpected alfresco element. Every corner reveals subtle clues, encouraging guests to explore the space slowly and intuitively.

At the heart of the experience is the Cocktail Lab, led by Head Mixologist Ratan Upadhyay. Here, drinks are crafted using advanced techniques such as clarifications, fat-washing, and distillation, each cocktail unfolding like a chapter from Kojak’s diary. The menu features evocative creations such as Page 17, Tangier Heat, Velvet Code, and The Fifth Secret, inviting guests to taste, decode, and uncover the legend one sip at a time.

Complementing the cocktail programme is a thoughtfully curated food menu by Culinary Director Suheb Chawdhary. The kitchen reimagines global bar cuisine through a refined contemporary lens, offering dishes that balance bold flavours with restraint. Highlights include Tuna Tartare with avocado cream and gochujang, Turkish Lamb Kebab with garlic yoghurt and roasted peppers, Butter Chicken Gnocchi with garlic bread, Togarashi Crusted Sea Bass with lemon cream, and Roasted Pepper Coulis with Charred Zucchini. Each dish is designed to complement the cocktail-led experience, ensuring a seamless dialogue between food and drink.

Behind KOJAK are two female promoters who choose to remain anonymous, mirroring the quiet mystery that defines the brand. Their vision is brought to life by Founding Partner and COO Khalid Ansari, with narrative development shaped in collaboration with The Alkemist Project. Together, the team has created a space where mood, storytelling, and craftsmanship take precedence.

“KOJAK is more than a bar, it’s a feeling,” says Khalid Ansari. “We wanted to create a place where every element, from the cocktails to the design, carries intention. It’s a world built on curiosity, quiet elegance, and the belief that the best stories are the ones you discover slowly.”

As Juhu continues to evolve as a hospitality destination, KOJAK positions itself as a refined yet approachable space for guests who value thoughtful craft and immersive experiences. Designed to evolve with new menus and unfolding narratives, KOJAK ensures that the mystery never truly settles, making every visit feel like a return to a story still being written.

  • Address: 1st Floor, Hotel Kings International, 5, Juhu Tara Road, above Alfredos, opposite St. Joseph’s Church Road, Juhu, Mumbai
  • Timings: 12:00 pm to 1:30 am


Banaraswala Opens Two New QSR Outlets in Rohini, Bringing Authentic Banarasi Flavours to Delhi

Banaraswala Opens Two New QSR Outlets in Rohini, Bringing Authentic Banarasi Flavours to Delhi

By Hariharan U

Published on August 26, 2026

Banaraswala – Ghat Se Ghar Tak has expanded its presence into New Delhi with the opening of two new QSR outlets in Rohini, bringing the authentic flavours and culinary traditions of Banaras to the capital.

The bootstrapped food brand, which began its journey with its first outlet in Varanasi, has expanded beyond its home city with the aim of making traditional Banarasi food more accessible to urban diners.

The two new outlets are located at Amba Tower, DC Chowk, Rohini Sector 9, and Pocket B4, Pocket 4, Sector 7B, Rohini. The outlets combine the convenience of a quick-service restaurant with recipes and flavours inspired by the food culture of Varanasi.

The menu features several popular Banarasi specialities, including Tamatar Chaat, Bedmi Puri Sabzi, Dahi Bhalla, Launglatta and Banarasiya Lassi. The offering also includes other traditional North Indian preparations, giving diners an opportunity to explore regional flavours in a contemporary QSR format.

Banaraswala's concept is built around preserving the character of traditional Banarasi cuisine rather than significantly altering classic recipes. The brand draws inspiration from the food found across the ghats and streets of Banaras, translating familiar regional dishes into a format suited to modern urban lifestyles.

The expansion comes amid growing interest in regional Indian cuisines, with consumers increasingly seeking food experiences rooted in local traditions and culinary heritage. Banaraswala aims to address this demand by combining authentic recipes with the accessibility and convenience of a QSR format.

The brand's journey has been entirely bootstrapped, growing from a single outlet in Varanasi into a multi-city food business. According to the company, customer response and loyalty in its home market played a key role in giving it the confidence to enter Delhi.

Commenting on the expansion, Vibhanshu Mishra, Founder & CEO, Banaraswala – Ghat Se Ghar Tak, said, "Banaras is unique in terms of its cuisine in the entire country. Each dish is associated with history, culture, and emotions that people have grown up with."

He added that the brand was created to take authentic Banarasi dishes beyond the ghats and introduce them to diners who may not have experienced the cuisine in its original setting.

With its Delhi expansion, Banaraswala aims to build an emotional connection with diners through the flavours of Banaras while developing a scalable regional food brand rooted in authenticity and culinary heritage.

Outlet Details:

Outlet 1: Shop No. 29, Amba Tower, DC Chowk, Rohini Sector 9, New Delhi
Outlet 2: Pocket B4, Pocket 4, Sector 7B, Rohini, Delhi – 110085
Cuisine: Banarasi & North Indian
Format: QSR


Eatinn' Love Trattoria Opens in Jayanagar with Pala Romana Pizza

Eatinn' Love Trattoria Opens in Jayanagar with Pala Romana Pizza

By Hariharan U

Published on August 26, 2026

Eating Love has entered a new chapter with the launch of Eatinn' Love Trattoria in Jayanagar, Bengaluru, bringing its sourdough-led approach to a broader Italian dining experience inspired by the warmth and simplicity of traditional Roman trattorias.

The newly renovated restaurant moves beyond the brand's identity as a pizza destination, creating a more complete neighbourhood dining experience built around fresh ingredients, scratch-made preparations and an emphasis on thoughtful cooking.

Designed to evoke the character of a lived-in corner of Rome, Eatinn' Love Trattoria features a warm and understated setting intended to feel welcoming and familiar. The concept reflects the brand's philosophy of slowing down the dining experience and placing greater emphasis on craftsmanship, quality and authenticity.

A key highlight of the new restaurant is the introduction of Pala Romana pizza, a Roman-style pizza known for its light, airy texture and distinctive rectangular format. The category remains relatively underrepresented in India, and Eatinn' Love Trattoria aims to introduce it to Bengaluru diners through a focused approach rooted in traditional Italian techniques.

The Pala Romana offering has been developed to provide a different experience from conventional pizza, with an emphasis on balance, texture and flavour. The restaurant has adapted the style carefully while retaining its connection to authentic Italian culinary techniques.

The launch also introduces a more focused menu designed around depth rather than variety, allowing individual dishes to receive greater attention in terms of ingredients, preparation and presentation. Sourdough continues to remain central to the brand's culinary philosophy.

Reflecting its commitment to inclusive dining, Eatinn' Love Trattoria offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free pizzas, providing options for a wider range of diners.

The restaurant's identity is expressed through an understated logo featuring two angled hearts, representing the care and intention behind the food and hospitality experience.

With its focus on patient cooking, fresh preparations and Roman-inspired dining, Eatinn' Love Trattoria positions itself as a neighbourhood destination for diners looking for a more relaxed and authentic Italian experience in Jayanagar.

Restaurant Details:

Venue: Eatinn' Love Trattoria, Jayanagar, Bengaluru
Timings: 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Contact: 8660700642
Cuisine: Italian
Dietary Options: Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free Pizzas


Zega at Sheraton Hyderabad Unveils Mizuwari Series Inspired by Samurai Virtues

Zega at Sheraton Hyderabad Unveils Mizuwari Series Inspired by Samurai Virtues

By Hariharan U

Published on August 25, 2026

Zega at Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel has unveiled the Mizuwari Series, a new collection of seven signature cocktails inspired by the Japanese tradition of Mizuwari, meaning “cut with water,” and the seven virtues of the Samurai.

Rooted in the principles of balance, restraint and refinement, the new beverage concept combines bold flavours, subtle dilution and considered craftsmanship. Each cocktail is designed around a distinct virtue, translating elements of Japanese philosophy into a contemporary drinking experience.

The collection features Makoto, Chu, Ikigai, Rei, Jin, Yu and Meiyo, with each creation offering its own flavour profile and personality.

The journey begins with Makoto – Honesty & Sincerity, combining vodka, Aperol, yuzu lime and fizz. Chu – Duty & Loyalty brings together bourbon whisky, lime, sesame and Angostura bitters in a characterful highball.

Ikigai – The Secret to a Long & Happy Life combines gin, cherry cordial, hibiscus and sparkling elements, while Rei – Beauty in Imperfection takes a more unexpected approach with vodka, pickled ginger, kaffir lime, cucumber and watermelon.

The collection continues with Jin – Compassion, a blush-pink highball featuring gin, passion, strawberry sweet vermouth, citrus and fizz. Yu – Heroic Courage combines gin, cherry wine, Campari, lime and fizz, while Meiyo – Honour brings together white rum, pineapple, Campari and lime for a more layered profile.

Together, the seven cocktails create a beverage experience that goes beyond individual flavour combinations, inviting guests to explore the stories and virtues represented by each creation.

Through the Mizuwari Series, Zega continues to explore contemporary Japanese-inspired beverage experiences, bringing together traditional philosophy, modern mixology and thoughtful presentation. From refreshing and delicate profiles to richer and more complex combinations, the collection encourages guests to pause, discover and savour each cocktail.

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