Trip.Gourmet Unveils Top Global Restaurants and Exciting New Features at Global Awards

Trip.Gourmet Unveils Top Global Restaurants and Exciting New Features at Global Awards

By Nishang Narayan

Published on August 26, 2024

Trip.Gourmet, Trip.com Group's renowned food travel guide, celebrated a significant milestone at the Trip.Gourmet Global Rebrand Launch and Trip.Best Gourmet Awards held at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands. The event unveiled the refreshed gl

obal ranking of top restaurants and introduced a suite of new features, underscoring the growing importance of food tourism in today’s travel experiences.

A Culinary Journey: New Themes and Global RankingsFounded in 2016, Trip.Gourmet has become a one-stop guide for food enthusiasts, offering global restaurant rankings, travel-focused content, and convenient reservation options. The latest global rankings now include four new themes that perfectly blend travel with dining: Fine Dining (Black Diamond, Diamond, and Platinum), Local Restaurants, Light Bites, and Restaurants for Views & Experiences. This enhanced selection covers over 10,000 restaurants in more than 300 cities and regions worldwide.

These rankings are curated based on restaurant quality, user reviews, relevance to the theme, and the destination's popularity, with a strong emphasis on the travel attributes of the restaurants, making it a unique guide for global travelers.

Trip.Best Integration and Easy Reservations

In a major update, Trip.Gourmet is now fully integrated with the Trip.Best lists on the Trip.com app, allowing travelers to seamlessly explore top accommodations, activities, dining, and nightlife in one place. This integration makes Trip.Gourmet a comprehensive guide for those seeking the best travel and dining experiences.

Furthermore, Trip.Gourmet now supports direct reservations at over 50,000 restaurants globally, collaborating with leading booking platforms like The Fork in Europe, Chope in Southeast Asia, OpenRice in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions, OpenTable in North America, and TableCheck in Japan. This feature ensures that securing a table at top dining establishments is just a click away for travelers.

Celebrating Culinary Excellence

The awards ceremony highlighted several top fine dining establishments from the Asia-Pacific region, including Odette, Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda, and CUT by Wolfgang Puck in Singapore; Kubu at Mandapa in Bali; Potong and Le Du in Bangkok; SÉZANNE and RyuGin in Tokyo; and La Yeon and Bicena in Seoul.

On the prestigious Black Diamond list, nearly 49.12% of the top restaurants hailed from France, China, and Japan, reflecting these countries' dominance in the fine dining scene. European entries like Core by Clare Smyth (UK), L'Oiseau Blanc (France), and Disfrutar (Spain) also made a strong impression.

Luxury hotel dining was prominently featured, with 41% of Trip.Gourmet's rankings dedicated to hotel restaurants, highlighting a rising trend among affluent travelers. Notable mentions include Lai Po Heen at the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur, JAAN by Kirk Westaway in Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore, and Ossiano at the Atlantis, The Palm Dubai. The Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton brands stood out, hosting multiple top-rated restaurants in cities like Hong Kong, Paris, Tokyo, and Osaka.

image

A Love for Local Delights

Trip.Gourmet has also launched a new Food Guide Channel on both Trip.com and Ctrip platforms, designed to uncover local culinary gems. This feature recommends speciality food lists and must-try dishes, inspiring travelers to explore unique flavors across diverse destinations. Additionally, in collaboration with Shangri-La, the "Taste the Season" campaign has been launched, offering hotel stays, signature dishes, and food vouchers, further enriching the culinary travel experience.

To support this rising trend, Trip.Gourmet produced a mini-drama series, now available on social media, showcasing the unique blend of travel and dining.

About Trip.Gourmet

Since its inception in 2016, Trip.Gourmet has been committed to providing objective and fair food guides amid a vast array of restaurants catering to diverse user tastes. Leveraging years of user data and authoritative culinary opinions, Trip.Gourmet continues to select the best dining experiences worldwide. The Global Rebrand Launch and Trip.Best Gourmet Awards mark the next step in delivering practical, accurate, and efficient food guides for global travelers.

For more information and to explore the top restaurants, visit Trip.com.

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider, offering a wide range of travel products and services across its platforms. Founded in 1999, the company is dedicated to helping travelers make informed and cost-effective bookings, while enabling partners to connect their offerings with users through a comprehensive travel content and resource platform.

For more details, visit group.trip.com.


Carvel - The Brand That Invented Soft Serve, Just Opened at DLF Promenade

Carvel - The Brand That Invented Soft Serve, Just Opened at DLF Promenade

By Hariharan U

Published on March 7, 2026

If you've ever had soft serve ice cream and let's be honest, who hasn't , you have Carvel to thank for it. The American brand that literally invented soft serve is now in Delhi, and it just got a lot more accessible with a brand new outlet at DLF Promenade.

This is Carvel's third location in the capital, joining its existing stores at Connaught Place and Elan Miracle Mall in Gurugram. The new spot spans 200 sq. ft. and sits right inside one of Delhi's busiest and most loved shopping destinations, making it a natural pitstop for anyone in the mood for something indulgent.

90 Years of Soft Serve, Now in India

Founded in 1934 by Tom Carvel in New York, the brand has spent over nine decades perfecting the art of soft serve. It's the kind of ice cream that's rich, thick, and unapologetically indulgent — no watered-down versions here. Carvel entered India in August 2025 in partnership with Unify Foodworks, a food and beverage franchising company focused on bringing global brands to India in a way that actually makes sense for the local market.

Global Favourites Meet Indian Flavours

What makes Carvel's India menu interesting is that it doesn't just transplant its global offerings, it builds on them. You'll find the classics like Flying Saucers®, Shakes, Carvelanches®, and Dashers® alongside India-first creations that have been thoughtfully put together. Think Banoffee Pie Dasher, Indian Filter Coffee Dasher, Caramel Bliss Carvelanche, Matcha Dip Soft Serve, and a Strawberry Cheesecake Sundae, flavours that feel familiar and exciting at the same time.

Steven Yang, Senior Vice President, APAC at GoTo Foods, said, "Seeing the response to Carvel in India has been incredibly encouraging. With the opening at DLF Promenade, we are deepening our presence in one of Delhi's most vibrant retail destinations and bringing our signature soft serve experience closer to consumers who are looking for indulgent yet familiar dessert moments."

Sumer Sethi, Founder of Unify Foodworks, added, "Our expansion into DLF Promenade marks an important step in Carvel's India journey. Delhi has embraced the brand's mix of nostalgia and innovation, and this new location allows us to engage with a wider, experience-driven audience while continuing to introduce flavours that feel both global and distinctly local."

The Bigger Picture - 100 Stores and Counting

The DLF Promenade launch isn't just another store opening,  it's part of a much larger plan. Carvel is eyeing 100 stores across India over the next few years, steadily building its presence city by city. For a brand with 390 locations across 16 countries, India clearly represents a serious growth opportunity  and the early response from Delhi consumers seems to be backing that confidence up.

If you're around DLF Promenade and haven't tried Carvel yet, now's a pretty good time to fix that.


Keen Mustard Ventures Unveils ‘Golden Embrace’ Dessert for a Cause This Women’s Day

Keen Mustard Ventures Unveils ‘Golden Embrace’ Dessert for a Cause This Women’s Day

By Hariharan U

Published on March 5, 2026

This Women’s Day, Keen Mustard Ventures is blending indulgence with impact. The Bengaluru-based hospitality collective has introduced ‘Golden Embrace – Hazelnut Toffee Pudding,’ a limited-edition dessert available exclusively on March 8 across its brands Daysie, Serious Slice and Quarter House.

More than just a celebratory sweet, the initiative carries a deeper purpose. A percentage of proceeds from every portion sold will be donated to Shri Balabyraweshwara Educational & Charitable Trust, a Bengaluru-based organisation focused on strengthening educational access and infrastructure in rural Karnataka.

Golden Embrace is designed as a layered, flavour-forward creation. The dessert features a warm hazelnut toffee pudding with a molten chocolate centre, lightly dusted with icing sugar and finished with a dark chocolate drizzle. It is paired with banana caramel ice cream and praline crumble, bringing together richness and texture in every bite.

At Keen Mustard Ventures, we see hospitality as more than just dining - it's about building experiences that feel alive and connected to the communities around us. With Golden Embrace, we wanted to mark Women’s Day in a way that goes beyond symbolism. By supporting Shri Balabyraweshwara Educational & Charitable Trust and its work in strengthening rural education infrastructure, we’re contributing to an initiative that creates tangible, long-term impact,” said Anirudh Kheny, Founder of Keen Mustard Ventures.

Established in 2010, the Trust works closely with government and rural schools across Karnataka to improve basic facilities and create better learning environments for students from underserved communities. Through this partnership, Keen Mustard Ventures hopes to support sustained educational development while encouraging guests to participate in meaningful change through a simple dining choice.

The Golden Embrace – Hazelnut Toffee Pudding will be available only on Women’s Day across all participating outlets in Bengaluru, turning a festive indulgence into a shared contribution towards a larger cause.


Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach Unveils GDV 2.0 at Gadda Da Vida

Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach Unveils GDV 2.0 at Gadda Da Vida

By Hariharan U

Published on March 5, 2026

The beachfront landmark Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach has unveiled GDV 2.0 at its iconic outlet Gadda Da Vida, marking a refreshed culinary direction rooted in bold coastal flavours and refined cocktail craftsmanship.

More than just a menu update, GDV 2.0 leans confidently into a seafood-forward narrative. Signature highlights include Lobster Tail with Mustard Butter, Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter, Caribbean Blackened Snapper with Plantain Purée and Miso Glazed Seabass. From Charcoal-Grilled Prawns in Jerk Marinade to Fish Cafreal with Smoked Potato Mash, the dishes focus on fresh ingredients, layered seasoning and contemporary presentation.

The menu also introduces interactive shareable plates designed for social dining. Fennel-Smoked Fried Prawns, Jerk Chicken Skewers and Crispy Calamari Rings sit alongside inventive vegetarian options such as Malvani Soy ‘Tacos’ and Truffle Mushroom Xacuti Tartlets. The coastal story continues into desserts with Tropical Fruit Pavlova, Coconut Mango Panna Cotta and Espresso Tiramisu.

Complementing the cuisine is a curated cocktail programme crafted to enhance the seafood-led menu. Signature drinks including Angel's Delight, Synapse Sour, Temple Smoke, Gadda's Secret and Plumnori feature progressive infusions, layered aromatics and vibrant flavour profiles. Contemporary plating and mixology theatre add visual drama, transforming sunset dining into a multisensory beachfront experience.

Kunal Shanker, General Manager, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, said, “With GDV 2.0, our vision was to go beyond a menu refresh and reimagine the entire beachfront experience at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach. Gadda Da Vida has always been synonymous with sundowners, and this change allows us to align the culinary narrative more closely with our seaside setting. With this menu revamp, we aim to elevate the value proposition of our F&B portfolio while reinforcing our standing as one of Mumbai's most dynamic beachfront hospitality destinations.”

With GDV 2.0, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach strengthens its position as a vibrant seaside hotspot, blending curated cuisine, cocktail innovation and high-energy social ambience into a refreshed sundowner destination.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.