Manish Mehrotra Launches Nisaba; Olive Garden Comes to India; Goa Gets Three New Gins

Joanna Lobo rounds up all the biggest news in F&B in January-February 2026.

The world is in the throes of another war, and it has predictably impacted the food space.

With Israel closing crossings into Gaza indefinitely, humanitarian groups feeding much of the population say the supplies will only last a few more days. In Dubai, food prices have tripled as people are resorting to panic buying.

In other parts of the world, tech is proving to be an issue especially when it comes to using AI and algorithms to undermine farmers in choosing what the world eats. A report by the thinktank International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) says tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM and Alibaba and industrial agriculture firms are “playing with the food system”.

Mobility platform Rapido has launched its standalone app, Ownly, in Bengaluru with no commissions for restaurants, no inflated menu pricing, and no layered platform fees for consumers — users pay for the food and a delivery charge — nothing more. In other news, Inippu Indulgence, a new female-founded, heritage confectionery brand launched recently with a signature heritage toffee.

Internationally, Danish restaurants are creating a buzz. Noma (@nomacph) pops up in Los Angeles for its highly anticipated 2026 Los Angeles residency, from March 11 to June 26. Reservations went live on January 26 (and sold out instantly) and the menu is priced at $1,500 per person. CONVERGENCE was a five-day global event in Copenhagen hosted by Alchemist, which saw 60 chefs from 26 countries and six continents — all of them ranked on the Top 100 list by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants — collaborate for an exchange of culinary voices. Chef Varun Totlani of Mumbai’s Masque restaurant represented India at the inaugural event. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ 2026 awards, will be hosted in Abu Dhabi in November 2026. In the run up to the awards, they announced that Mumbai’s Masque won the Art of Hospitality Award 2026.

New Launches: Manish Mehrotra opens Nisaba; Olive Garden debuts in India

The biggest launch of this quarter, Manish Mehrotra’s Nisaba, which is his first standalone restaurant. The food draws inspiration from across the country.

Delhi and around: American Italian restaurant brand, Olive Garden, will be launching soon at Aerocity. Baroak, a newly opened European and Asian culinary destination in Noida. Daily Drama is a multi-roaster cafe. Mamma Rose is a European streetside bistro, and Louve is a modern European space. Sobombae showcases the city’s diverse heritage. India’s first Time Out Market will open at Aerocity and will have 11 kitchens, and 2 full-service bars.

Baroak is an European and Asian spot in Noida.

Mumbai: Hybrid hospitality space BARE has a cocktail bar, a 11-seater Chef’s Table, a rotating art gallery, and an espresso bar by Boojee Café. Soraia is a new space in Mahalaxmi Racecourse, showcasing cuisine from India's coastlines to Europe's countryside; MIRAI blends Japanese and Korean cuisine; Aahii does contemporary North Indian; and Ammakai serves up homestyle coastal fare from Mangalore. Smackin’ Burgers is a no-frills burger spot doing American-style smash burgers with a desi soul; Samaa at Fairmont Mumbai is a Mediterranean escape; Ummrao Saaj is a contemporary celebration of Awadhi cuisine at Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport. Food Matters Group’s Loud Mouth is a delivery-only brand serving bowls and wraps. The international airport now has Gordon Ramsay’s Street Pizza making its debut in India. JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu’s newest lounge, Reflections, transforms from a workspace into a contemporary bar, while Bodega 39 is an upscale cocktail den; Fielia is an invite-only bar; and PUBLIC is a new beer hall and snack bar.

Bangalore: The biggest news in the city is that after 6 years at Domlur, NĀVU moves into the heart of the city, a 50-seater space on MG Road. Elsewhere, there is Suka, a Zanzibar-inspired tropical brewery; Watson's Cantina inspired by Latin food culture; Marriott Executive Apartments Bengaluru UB City launched The Roof–Asian Bar & Grill, a refined rooftop dining and nightlife destination; Nila is a chef Rahul Sharma’s new restaurant that wants to highlight lesser known regional cuisines — the first menu is an exploration of Northeast India. Yoichi by Shiro offers Southeast Asia’s culinary street culture. Naked & Famous is a new cocktail bar. Smoor is completing ten years in India by launching a Chocolate Experience Centre. Mumbai’s Mezcalita makes its way to Indiranagar. Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center launched a new Nikkei restaurant, Tomo Kei.

Smoor’s new chocolate experience centre.

Kolkata: Cove is a is a high-energy restaurant and bar doing global flavours. La Soirée is a new fine-dining and lounge destination. Chef Auroni Mookerjee’s new bar and restaurant Yokocho is inspired by the street food alleys in Asia. Yours Truly is a coffee destination with with an education-first hub, an artisanal bakery by Lavonne Academy.

Cove is a high energy bar and restaurant.

Goa: The state saw the launch of Sabores, a contemporary dining destination inspired by Goa’s Goan–Portuguese culinary heritage; Drop Dead Sexy, a new bar in Assagao with a seasonal bar programme. Wakao Foods launched their first QSR space. Mumbai restaurant, Bonobo, launched in a heritage home in Anjuna. Pincode Bungalow is the newest outpost of Pincode by Kunal Kapur, and features Indiroom, a contemporary Indian cafe created in collaboration with Caarabi Coffee Roastery, Baar-Bar, a cultural bar and The Glasshouse doing nostalgia-led Indian food. R Lounge at Renaissance Goa is a contemporary bar concept centred on hyperlocal ingredients. Vaarta is a fine-dine space offering Indian street food — there’s a make-you-own-gola cart, and puchka counter.

Everywhere else: The Primo in Ahmedabad brings together three distinct restaurants — Sora, Vyanj, and Sahtain — alongside the brand’s signature M&S Banquet. Burma Burma marks its 21st launch in India, with a new place in Chandigarh. Hyderabad saw the launch of Yuzu, claiming to be the first pan-Asian dining space in the city to feature Nikkei cuisine. Dore is a new bar in Udaipur.

Vyanj is one of the three restaurants that are part of the dining experience, The Primo in Ahmedabad.

High Spirits: Goa gets new gins and a spiced rum; Godawan wins big

The India Bartender Show just concluded its annual conclave at Le Méridien Gurgaon, bringing together 29 brands and 1,900+ industry professionals (including bartenders, bar owners, beverage innovators, and global industry leaders). This year’s sessions’ covered topics like South Asian spirits, agave, flavour science, AI in hospitality, and long-term team development.

Godawan Artisanal Single Malt Whisky wins triple gold for three expressions at the International Taste Institute’s Superior Taste Awards 2026.

Third Eye Distillery launches a spiced rum in Goa.

Godawan won triple gold at International Taste Institute’s Superior Taste Awards 2026

Third Eye Distillery launched their new tropical spiced rum, Lost & Found. It is currently available in Goa and will soon roll out across Maharashtra, Haryana and Karnataka. Independence Brewing Company released Newcastle, a European Light Lager and part of their ongoing English Premier League Brew series; available at all IBC outlets in Pune and Mumbai. Sector Gin unveiled two new expressions — Raw Mango Chilli and Orange & Cacao. Gracia Cero is a zero-alcohol, sugar-free, and low-calorie agave drink available in mango, and pineapple flavours. Satiwa Alco Bev launched Satiwa Baby, a new fruity pink gin.

Joanna Lobo is an independent journalist from Goa who enjoys writing about food, her Goan heritage, the freelance life, and other things that make her happy. She is also the Consulting Editor at Goya. Follow her on @thatdoggonelady.

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