Cicada Kabini

If you have taken time off from your work, have about ten thousand bucks with you to spend and are a nature lover, you just HAVE TO head to this place.

Cicada Kabini in actual is just as beautiful and picturesque as it seems on print. It has been ranked No.2 by Outlook Traveller in the 18 best wildlife holidays in India. They believe in luxury in the midst of the green forests in and around Kabini. Recommended itinerary would be to leave early morning , reach by noon, stay for another day and leave on the third day noon. By doing this, you will get to experience, not only the classy and a very aesthetic resort, but also the treks and the jeep and the boat safaris.

The rooms actually are cosy cottages exactly as shown in the pictures on their website. All the cottages face the river on the backside balcony. They believe in experiencing wildlife, which is why sorry guys! no TV in the rooms. No intercom facility. Barely any mobile reception. Even the ringtones of the phones of guys who work there are the sound of birds chirping, the water ripples etc.

The service is great. The food, especially breakfast is great. Unlike Jungle Resorts, they do provide electricity all throughout the day.

Its a lovely 5 to 6 hour drive from Bangalore. I would highly recommend this to anyone who needs a leisure trip. It has only about 8 – 12 cottages only, I am not sure. Book them in advance. Winters get too cold. Summers would be a better time to visit. Also, in summer, all the animals especially the elephants congregate in large numbers on the banks of Kabini and its sight to behold!

Nature lovers, this ones a feast!

Visit their website for sure – http://www.cicadaresorts.com/kabini.html

13th Floor

Those of you who have been following my posts would have figured that I am a big fan of any place that offers a great night sky and a view of Bangalore night lights. What better than 13th floor!

To make the best of the experience, choose to sit outside on the bar table stools as they, being on the edge, offer the best view of all directions of the city, as seen in the picture above. It is still an old favorite. Ignore the reviews that you find on the net that complain about the food in this place, because the atmosphere makes up for all of it.
Please do not sit inside if you’re planning to pay a visit here!

Vaayu

A sky lounge that will take your breath away! On the terrace of Eva Mall, this lounge has got a fantastic ambience. Perfect for the typical cloudy Bangalore skies, you can enjoy a lovely time over drinks, some great starters and hokaahs. Their barbeque section is also popular although I haven’t tried it. Come here for the lounge experience more than for the sake of gorging.

The lazy yet classy, chic yet fun set up is a great choice to unwind during the weekend. Come to enjoy the decor, come to enjoy a date, come to laugh with friends , come to enjoy the view, come to experience a classy lounge experience. The music played varies right from the 70’s classics to the contemporary hip hop numbers.

For more, visit http://bjngroup.in/restaurants/vaayu.html

Valet parking is available, its safer to have reservations and definitely wiser to be in the mood to splurge

Paparazzi

Paparazzi is one gorgeous dining experience. Not many people know that it has been listed in the 82 world’s best restaurants. Located on the 10th floor of Royal Orchid Central, its top down glass walls provide a beautiful panoromic view of the city.

The grand entrance instantly impresses with an elegant staircase and big stocked bar. The classy decor with a tinge of turquoise blue and candle lights all around immediately assure you of the beautiful evening lying ahead. The variety in the menu showed it had something for everyone. A huge screen is available for sports lovers. The music is compiled by the DJ for night.

But what leaves a lasting impression is the view of the city at the backdrop. Taking the place that overlooks the glass windows is a must. Its definitely more of a place for a date for two than for a big get together.

All you diners, this is a must-do.

Madira

Madira is a lounge bar in the F&B hotel off St. Marks road. Lesser known than other lounges in the city, it actually makes a really cute small lounge space. It is usually never crammed and has two floors. I would recommend the seating on the outside of the upper floor if its an evening for two to four people.IPL was on at the time of my visit, and they had a big screen projection for the same.

Parking is taken care of,service is good, the airy sit out is great. A quiet relaxed evening to unwind with liqour and finger food, Madira truly lives up to it.

Take 5

Take 5 is one of my favorite picks if you want to enjoy a few drinks and starters with friends after a long day of work. Dinner should not be on your agenda. If you’re a big fan of Jazz, then this place is meant for you. Right from the portraits of Jazz artists on its walls, to the music they play, to the dim lights – the mood is set for a nice relaxed evening.

As it is located on the 100 ft road Indiranagar, parking is almost never a problem with the residential neighborhood.

I personally love the bar area and the seating towards the left that overlooks the road through the glass. It may be a little heavy on the wallet but for a pleasant rendezvous, its worth a shot!

Olive Beach

This is by far one of the most romantic fine dining restaurants I have been to. Located in a quiet residential area, it has been converted from an old bungalow and it boasts of an elaborate Mediterranean cuisine. Well, the food and drinks are for all of you to experiment. Although, I can vouch for the ambience, especially if a romantic evening is on your mind.

If you want to escape the chilly air, you can choose to dine inside. The crisp white walls with pleasantly colored interiors ,dim lighting along with candles on every table and some beautiful jazz in the background do everything right for you to have a very elegant, mellow dining experience.

However, if you are in the mood for a little more casual and fun, for sure choose to sit outside. You can even treat yourself to some live Jazz that happens once in a month.

All in all, if are looking forward to spend a pleasant lovely evening with someone special, you cant go wrong with this one. It has a charm and an elegance quite like none other of its kind.

Make sure you have reservations and a loaded wallet. It does have valet parking.