Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026: Mumbai’s Masque Named India’s Best; Himalayan Newcomer Naar Debuts In Top 50
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Masque takes No. 15 while Prateek Sadhu’s Naar makes a stunning top-30 debut.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026: Mumbai’s Masque Named India’s Best; Himalayan Newcomer Naar Debuts In Top 50
While the neon-lit skyline of Hong Kong provided the backdrop for the 2026 Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, the real electricity in the Kerry Hotel’s grand ballroom came from a subcontinental surge. On the evening of March 25, as the industry gathered in Hung Hom for the first time, the narrative was ostensibly about the host city’s dominance—The Chairman reclaiming the No. 1 throne and Wing soaring to No. 2. Yet, for those watching the shifting tectonic plates of Indian gastronomy, the night felt like a definitive “coming of age” for the country’s diverse culinary landscape.
The Vanguard: Masque And Naar
In the upper echelons of the top 50, Mumbai’s Masque (No. 15) proved that it is no longer just a “rising star” but the gravitational center of modern Indian dining. Reclaiming its title as the Best Restaurant in India, the Mahalakshmi powerhouse also took home the prestigious Art of Hospitality Award. It is a testament to Aditi Dugar’s vision and Chef Varun Totlani’s ability to weave technical rigor with a ten-course narrative that feels both deeply intellectual and immensely soulful.
The night’s most poetic debut, however, belonged to Naar (No. 30). Nestled in the foothills of Kasauli, Prateek Sadhu’s “Himalayan-forward” project made a thunderous entry into the list. For a restaurant located between Chandigarh and Shimla to command such international attention speaks to a broader shift: the world is finally ready to look beyond the urban hubs of Delhi and Mumbai to find the true soul of Indian terroir.
The Extended Ensemble: 51-100
The depth of India’s culinary bench was perhaps most evident in the 51–100 ranking. These aren’t just “runners-up”; they represent the specialized niches and daring experiments currently defining the Indian palate.
Papa’s, Mumbai (No. 66): Chef Hussain Shahzad’s intimate, “fine without the fuss” dinner party concept is a masterclass in playful subversion, proving that high-end dining can be as much about the “hang” as it is about the mawa khaja.
The Table, Mumbai (No. 73): A Colaba icon that remains as relevant today as it was a decade ago, continuing to set the gold standard for global-meets-local farm-to-table excellence.
Inja, New Delhi (No. 75): Chef Adwait Anantwar’s daring “Italo-Japanese” (In-Ja) fusion, think lobster rasam chawanmushi, continues to challenge the very definition of borders on a plate.
Farmlore, Bengaluru (No. 83): Bringing the garden to the glasshouse, this 18-seater destination in the South is a quiet, radical testament to sustainability and hyperlocal sourcing.
March 25, 2026, 22:17 IST
