10 chic spots for marking International Women’s Day with your tribe

The perceptible and imperceptible battles for equality, breaking glass ceilings while challenging and navigating ingrained patriarchy, and shifting generational attitudes might be a 365-day task for her. But 8 March is a day when she can take ten, put her feet up or let her hair down. This is a day to not only celebrate herself but her entire tribe – perhaps over a great cup of coffee in the morning, relaxed conversations along with a brunch, or a complete night of partying. Here’s a list curated to help her make the most of the day. Or the week. For, extended celebrations are the best.

2. Café Grumpee (Vasant Vihar)

How about a perfect start to the day in a quaint little picturesque setting, with aromatic cups of coffee and freshly baked croissants? There are pancakes, eggs and tacos too! One of the few places in the city that opens at 7:30 am; share stories and slices of pesto pizza with burrata and rocket salad. Add to the cosy note with artisanal ice cream from owner Malika Batra’s passion project Olivia Creamery.

3. OMO Soul Food Community (Sector 28, Gurugram)

Chef Vanshika Bhatia-driven place basks in its ingredient-first approach and their contemporary interpretations. Be it travelling to the North East for chillis and black rice, getting beagle beans from Kashmir, or lesser-known millets from various parts of the country, season reigns supreme here. The vegetarian-forward place with it earthen tones and cheery settings has made fans out of hard-core meat lovers too.

4. Elina Vara (Chattarpur Farms)

This farm-to-fork brasserie was a result of interior-exterior stylist Simran Kocchar’s struggles with her daughter’s numerous food allergies. Elina Vara, meaning pure blessings, gets its fresh ingredients from their farm. The bakery uses natural yeast. Check out the positive vibes of beige-brown decor and nature’s green against pristine white, alfresco area with a koi pond, as the whole week is Women’s Week here.

5. Hilton Garden Inn (Saket)

Starting from 8 March, ‘Her Gourmet Vitality’ food festival would revolve around women’s health and wellness. The menu will highlight the benefits of ingredients like ashwagandha, shatavari, kale, triphala, saku tuna, wild yam, and more, in a woman’s diet and lifestyle. Might sound medicinal to some, but the festival, to continue till 24 March at India Grill, is expected to address a lot of health and wellness queries with research-based delectable preparations.

6. Haveli Dharampura (Chandni Chowk)

The old-world elegance of this place is captivating to a fault. The evenings are a definition of spectacular. As the sun sets on the horizon, this UNESCO-awarded heritage haveli gives a memorable view of Old Delhi from its terrace. With kathak performance and classical music adding to the ambience, the rich food and drinks actually make you feel like royalty. And, if Haveli Dharampura director Vidyun Goel is around, she would gladly share some interesting tales too.

7. Radisson Plaza (Mahipalpur)

Well, culinary pampering also counts! Pakhtun Trail at The Great Kabab Factory here is bringing flavours from the tribal kitchens of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa right to your table. Influenced by Afghani and Pakistani cuisine, the Pakhtuni preparations reflect the minimalism of the region. The dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, hence, are seemingly simple yet abundantly flavourful, with the drinks being equally charming. The festival is on till 10 March, with the menu varying every day.

8. Quarter Plate (Sector 98, Noida)

This one is for the younger generation and the young at heart. The celebrity chef, Kunal Kapoor’s tapas-style take on Indian dishes is in symphony with the multi-dimensional ambience. While the windows could almost make it seem like a European setting, metal heavy decor and exposed ceiling lend it an industrial flair. Almost too perfect a setting for sharing beautiful plates of food and rainbow drinks one after another.

9. Guppy (Lodhi Colony)

There’s a reason why this is among the best places for Japanese food with a twist. The calming pastels, bursts of colours here and there, and Instagram-able nooks and corners, all become secondary the moment perfectly arranged food arrives at the table. The finesse in each and every cut, balance among different flavours, and that Love Lolita just transport the soul to a gastronomic heaven. Alas, the real world beckons thereafter.

10. Silly Delhi (Lado Sarai)

Brainchild of a young entrepreneur Karan Nohria, Silly had already wowed Mumbai. The Delhi outpost, though, goes one up with a rooftop boasting of a magnificent view of Qutub Minar. This isn’t just any other resto-bar. For, it not just gives a free pass to be ‘silly’, to let your hair down, it does so well with its symphony in flavours from across the globe and alchemy of cocktails.

11. Cilantro, Trident (Shankar Chowk, Gurugram)

Still, if the week passes you by, behold, the high arches and crimson dome of Cilantro are calling. Or cap the week-long celebration of woman power with a multi-cuisine brunch here on Sunday. Think wood-fired pizzas, chaats, kebabs, sushi, pies, tiramisu, and more. And, if the moving trolley of martinis, mojitos, only made you pine for more, just let the day graduate into an evening of sundowners and music under the stars at Lyrah.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.