UDAIPUR, India — India’s hospitality industry took centre stage as the inaugural Tatler Best India 2026 awards celebrated some of the country’s leading restaurants, bars, hotels and rising talents.
The historic first edition was held at the Fairmont Udaipur Palace, marking the expansion of the regional hospitality awards programme into India.
A total of 86 awards were presented across the restaurant, bar and hotel sectors. The awards included 60 venues featured in the inaugural Best 20 lists, along with 26 Best-in-Class trophies recognising excellence in areas including service, design, innovation and individual talent.
The winners were selected following a year-long assessment involving industry experts, editors and critics.
Masque Named Restaurant of the Year
Mumbai’s Masque claimed one of the night’s biggest honours, taking home Restaurant of the Year.
Since opening in 2016, the restaurant has become a major name in modern Indian dining, known for combining contemporary techniques with ingredients and culinary traditions from across the Indian subcontinent.
Its constantly evolving and seasonal approach to food has helped establish it as one of India’s most influential contemporary restaurants.
Goa’s Boilermaker Wins Bar of the Year
The title of Bar of the Year went to Boilermaker in Siolim, Goa.
The venue was recognised for its relaxed and distinctly Goan identity, combining elements of a beach shack, dive bar and craft beer destination.
Its drinks programme focuses on local ingredients and regional flavours, giving its cocktails a strong connection to Goa rather than following a standard international formula.
The result is a bar experience designed around place, personality and local culture.
Taj Falaknuma Palace Crowned Hotel of the Year
In the hotel category, Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad was named Hotel of the Year.
The former Nizam’s palace stands high above the city and is known for its royal heritage, historic interiors and collection of artefacts, manuscripts and European antiques.
Guests can also experience the property’s grand sense of history through traditions such as horse-drawn carriage arrivals and heritage dining experiences.
The award recognised a property where luxury and history continue to exist side by side.
Newcomers Also Take the Spotlight
Three new establishments were also recognised for making an immediate impact on India’s hospitality scene.
Best New Restaurant: Kaspers
Mumbai’s Kaspers won Best New Restaurant for its unconventional menu.
The restaurant combines culinary influences that cross different regions and traditions, including Basque techniques, Bengali flavours, French bistro classics and Kerala spices.
Best New Bar: Barbet & Pals
Barbet & Pals in New Delhi was named Best New Bar.
Its cocktail programme takes a personal approach, with drinks inspired by memories and places.
The concept aims to turn cocktails into stories, giving guests an experience that goes beyond simply ordering a drink.
Best New Hotel: Ran Baas The Palace
Ran Baas The Palace in Patiala took home Best New Hotel.
The property was created through the restoration of an 18th-century royal guesthouse that had remained derelict for around six decades.
The transformation has given Punjab a new luxury heritage destination while preserving an important piece of architectural history.
Rising Stars of Indian Hospitality
The awards also recognised emerging talent across India’s restaurant and bar industries.
Johnson Ebenezer of Farmlore was named Rising Star in the restaurant category.
His work focuses strongly on seasonality and sustainability, with a significant portion of the restaurant’s ingredients grown on a 37-acre organic farm near Bengaluru.
In the bar category, Gracy Chourey of Soka received the Rising Star award for her creativity and precision in modern mixology.
She has become known for combining traditional Indian flavours with contemporary cocktail techniques.
Individual Talent Also Recognised
Several hospitality professionals received special awards during the ceremony.
Kevin Rodrigues of Indian Accent Mumbai was named Best Sommelier, recognised for his extensive wine knowledge and ability to make complex information accessible to guests.
Meanwhile, Pooja Dhingra of Le15 Patisserie won Best Pastry Chef.
Dhingra has played a major role in popularising French macarons in India and has built a successful patisserie business that has influenced a new generation of pastry professionals.
India’s Hospitality Industry Steps Onto a Bigger Stage
The inaugural awards come as India continues to strengthen its reputation as a major global destination for food, drinks and luxury travel.
The country’s hospitality industry has been growing alongside domestic tourism and the emergence of a new generation of chefs, bartenders, hoteliers and entrepreneurs.
The awards programme aims to recognise not only established names but also innovation, design, sustainability and emerging talent.
India’s hospitality story is no longer limited to traditional luxury — it is increasingly being shaped by bold new restaurants, creative bars and restored heritage properties.
Winners Head to Asia-Pacific Awards
The recognition will not end with the India ceremony.
Winners from the Best 20 and Best-in-Class categories will become eligible for the Tatler Best Asia-Pacific Awards, scheduled to take place in Shanghai this October.
The regional event will give India’s winning venues and hospitality professionals an opportunity to gain greater international recognition.
The Bottom Line
The inaugural Tatler Best India 2026 awards have put the spotlight on the people and places shaping the future of Indian hospitality.
From Mumbai’s Masque and Goa’s Boilermaker to Hyderabad’s Taj Falaknuma Palace, the night’s biggest winners represented the diversity of India’s restaurant, bar and hotel scene.
Newcomers such as Kaspers, Barbet & Pals and Ran Baas The Palace also showed that a new generation of hospitality destinations is rapidly emerging.
With 86 awards presented and India’s top venues now set for possible recognition on the Asia-Pacific stage, the country’s hospitality industry appears ready to make an even bigger global impact.
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