Oktober Fest, Munich's Iconic Beer Festival

Oktober Fest, Munich's Iconic Beer Festival

By Author

Published on September 17, 2023

Oktoberfest is a world-famous beer festival and traveling carnival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is the world's largest Volksfest (folk festival), running from mid- or late-September to around the first Sunday in October, with more than six million international and national visitors attending the event.

Oktoberfest originated on October 12, 1810, in celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (who later became King Ludwig I) to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The festival concluded five days later with a horse race held in an open area that came to be called Theresienwiese. The following year the race was combined with a state agricultural fair, and in 1818 booths serving food and drink were introduced.

Today, Oktoberfest has evolved into a massive and internationally recognized event. Oktoberfest is a two-week celebration of Bavarian culture, featuring beer, food, music, and dancing. There are 14 large beer tents, each run by a different Bavarian brewery, as well as numerous smaller tents and booths serving food and drinks. 

Key features of Oktoberfest include:

Beer Tents: The festival is famous for its large beer tents, each run by different Munich breweries. These tents serve a variety of traditional German beers, with the most popular being Märzenbier, a strong, amber lager. Märzenbier is the traditional beer served at Oktoberfest. It is a strong lager that is brewed specifically for the festival.

Traditional Food: Alongside beer, Oktoberfest offers a wide range of traditional Bavarian foods such as sausages, pretzels, roast chicken, pork knuckles, and sauerkraut. Bratwurst, pretzels, and sauerkraut are some of the most popular food items at Oktoberfest. Other popular dishes include roasted chicken, pork knuckles, and dumplings.

Live Music: The beer tents feature live music, including traditional German bands and modern music acts. It's common for attendees to dance on the benches and tables to the music.

Carnival Rides and Games: In addition to food and beer, Oktoberfest grounds include an amusement park with various rides and games, making it a family-friendly event.

Traditional Clothing: Many visitors and even some of the locals dress in traditional Bavarian attire, such as lederhosen (leather shorts) for men and dirndls (traditional dresses) for women.

Parades: There are often parades, including the grand opening procession and traditional costume parades.

Cultural Events: Oktoberfest showcases Bavarian culture with events like dance performances, craft exhibitions, and more.

Massive Crowds: Millions of people from around the world attend Oktoberfest each year, making it a truly international celebration.

It's important to note that while the Oktoberfest in Munich is the most famous and largest, similar Oktoberfest celebrations are held in many cities worldwide, often with a focus on German beer, food, and cultural traditions.


Café Swasthya Opens Its Second Outlet in Kailash Colony, New Delhi

Café Swasthya Opens Its Second Outlet in Kailash Colony, New Delhi

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on February 2, 2026

Café Swasthya, a wellness-driven café inspired by Ayurvedic principles and conscious living, has opened its second outlet in South Delhi. Launched on January 20, 2026, at Kailash Colony, the new café marks the brand’s next phase of growth following a year of steady engagement, collaborations, and expansion.

Spanning approximately 1,400 sq. ft. with seating for 43 guests, the Kailash Colony outlet continues Café Swasthya’s signature design language rooted in Indian architectural heritage and sustainability. Designed as a natural extension of the brand’s first café, the space offers a calm, grounded, and thoughtfully curated environment that encourages mindful dining.

The interiors feature a handcrafted bamboo ceiling inspired by traditional bamboo thatched roofs, selected for its renewability, strength, and natural temperature-regulating qualities. Teakwood furniture adds warmth and durability, while jute-matted seating highlights the use of biodegradable, locally produced natural fibres. Rajasthani upholstery with Charbagh-inspired floral prints introduces colour and cultural depth to the seating areas.

A standout feature of the café is its signature mud wall, inspired by sand plaster techniques. Serving as both a visual focal point and a storytelling element, the wall displays Café Swasthya and Butterfly Ayurveda’s curated range of teas, cookies, and wellness products. Terracotta lighting, drawing from architectural traditions dating back to the Indus Valley Civilisation, casts a soft and calming glow across the space.

Alongside the new outlet, Café Swasthya has significantly evolved its food and beverage offerings over the past year. Responding to consistent customer feedback, the brand has refreshed its menu to reflect changing preferences while staying true to its wellness philosophy. The updated menu features refreshing coolers and shakes, traditional Indian classics such as the Thali, and a selection of Indian desserts.

Addressing customer demand, the café has also introduced multigrain pancakes, expanding its breakfast and all-day dining options. Special gluten-free dishes, including an amaranth salad, further reinforce the brand’s focus on inclusivity, nourishment, and mindful eating.

The second outlet follows a year of key milestones for Café Swasthya. In 2025, the brand participated in the Asia Tea & Coffee Expo, sharing the story behind Café Swasthya and Butterfly Ayurveda. It also served as the Chai and Food Partner for the Wellness & Chai event organised by WomenListed, where it curated a 13-item Ayurvedic menu aligned with traditional practices.

Café Swasthya was also invited to the Global Happiness Festival in Jaipur, where it engaged visitors through a food and tea stall and conversations around Ayurveda and holistic well-being. Further collaborations included serving as the health partner for a skating tournament at Vivekananda School and providing curated cookie packs for Lady Shri Ram College’s international academic conference.

On the operations front, the café has strengthened its capabilities by upgrading bulk cake, muffin, and cookie packaging, enabling safe long-distance delivery of freshly baked products across multiple parts of India within 24 hours.

Commenting on the expansion, Akshi Khandelwal, Founder of Café Swasthya and Butterfly Ayurveda, said, “Café Swasthya is more than just about good food. It is about lifestyle transformation. We intend to integrate Ayurvedic wisdom into your everyday life to help you eat better, and live better.”

With its second outlet now open, Café Swasthya continues to create spaces that blend mindful food, traditional wisdom, and sustainable design. The brand is also open to select franchise and collaboration opportunities with partners aligned with its values of wellness, integrity, and sustainability.

Address: HS-37, 1st Floor, Kailash Colony Market, New Delhi – 110048 (Landmark: Above Madonna Salon).


Coffee Island Expands Its House Fresh Menu Across Delhi NCR Cafés

Coffee Island Expands Its House Fresh Menu Across Delhi NCR Cafés

By Hariharan U

Published on February 2, 2026

Coffee Island has announced the expansion of its House Fresh Menu across select cafés in Delhi NCR, following a successful initial launch at its GK 2 outlet. From 30 January onwards, the refreshed all-day menu is now available at Coffee Island’s cafés in Delhi’s Netaji Subhash Place and Gurugram’s HQ27 and AIPL Joy Central, Sector 65.

Rooted in its Greek origins and loved globally, Coffee Island continues to strengthen its food-forward café experience with a focus on freshly prepared dishes, generous portions and familiar, comforting flavours. The House Fresh Menu has been designed to cater to multiple dining occasions, whether it’s a relaxed breakfast, a working lunch, or an unhurried evening spent over coffee.

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Available across Coffee Island outlets, the menu features a range of café classics spanning pastas, flatbreads, melts and desserts. Pasta offerings include well-loved Italian favourites such as Spaghetti Aglio Olio, Italian Arrabbiata Penne and Three-Cheese Mac. Flatbreads bring together flavour-packed combinations like Basil Pesto Veggie, Italian Margherita and Chicken Jalapeño Melt Flatbread.

The menu also includes indulgent melts and sandwiches served on brioche or flatbreads, with options such as Chilli Cheese Mushroom, Ham & Cheese Brioche and Chilli Cheese Brioche. Desserts round off the experience with choices like Basque-style cheesecake, Biscoff cream cheese and chocolate mousse jars, along with soft tea cakes in almond, choco-banana and cinnamon pistachio flavours.

Exclusive to Coffee Island’s Gurugram outlets at HQ27 and AIPL Joy Central, the House Fresh Menu also introduces an all-day breakfast selection. Guests can enjoy Islander eggs prepared scrambled, boiled, fried or as an omelette, along with Akuri toast and indulgent French toasts served with Nutella, berries or classic maple syrup, making these locations ideal for leisurely mornings and brunch-style dining.

Alongside the refreshed food offering, Coffee Island continues to showcase its coffee expertise with a wide selection of hot and cold beverages, signature blends and non-coffee options such as boba teas and milkshakes, ensuring a complete café experience for every guest.

With the rollout of the House Fresh Menu, Coffee Island reinforces its commitment to freshly prepared food and relaxed café dining, positioning its Delhi NCR cafés as go-to destinations for everyday meals and extended catch-ups.

Event Details:
What: House Fresh Menu at Coffee Island
When: From 30 January 2026 onwards

Where:
• Delhi – PP Towers, Netaji Subhash Place | Open 24 hours
• Gurugram – HQ27 | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
• Gurugram – AIPL Joy Central, Sector 65 | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM


When Chocolate Becomes a Love Letter: BELAGIO Unveils Its Valentine’s

When Chocolate Becomes a Love Letter: BELAGIO Unveils Its Valentine’s

By Hariharan U

Published on February 1, 2026

This Valentine’s Day, BELAGIO is redefining romance with chocolate that speaks straight to the heart. Introducing the Hearts & Roses Collection, a limited-edition Valentine’s special where love is baked, sculpted and savoured, transforming classic symbols of romance into elegant dessert creations.

Known for its emotion-driven craftsmanship and refined aesthetic, BELAGIO brings together flavour, form and feeling in a collection designed to delight not just the palate, but the senses. Each dessert is crafted as a love letter in chocolate, turning familiar Valentine motifs into luxurious, share-worthy indulgences.

At the heart of the collection is the Choco Berry Heart, a striking heart-shaped creation layered with dark chocolate mousse, tangy berry compote and almond chocolate sponge. Finished with a radiant red glaze and delicate gold accents, the dessert balances richness with brightness, offering a bold yet romantic expression of flavour.

Equally aptivating is the Chocolate Truffle Rose, a chocolate truffle cake crowned with a meticulously hand-crafted chocolate rose. Designed as a modern tribute to Valentine’s flowers, the edible rose adds both visual drama and sentimental charm, making it as memorable to gift as it is to savour.

Every dessert in the Hearts & Roses Collection is created as a thoughtful conversation between texture, taste and emotion. Whether shared between couples, friends, or enjoyed as a personal indulgence, the collection celebrates love in all its forms.

Available in limited quantities, BELAGIO’s Valentine’s special transforms everyday moments into romantic celebrations, offering chocolate that doesn’t just taste indulgent, but feels meaningful.

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