We visited India’s best bar, Lair, in its Gurgaon avatar, and came away satiated with unique worldly cocktails and delicious pan-Asian fare, as we soaked in its dark, pulsating interiors.

Lair's dark interiors

Lair, as the name suggests, is the home of the bear. A dark façade at the ground level of Gurgaon’s Global Foyer Mall, a dark wooden door that opens to reveal a tiny lobby with two hostesses who greet you warmly, and usher you into a dimly lit, low-ceiling space, with black tables and chairs, and alcove lighting that shows a rock textured wall. A bar on one end conjures up cocktails from around the world – something that has won Lair accolades – its older sibling Lair Delhi won the title of Best Bar in India 2024, and it’s also placed 8 on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025. No mean feat!

The bar, where the magic happens

While Lair Delhi has captured a loyal following of patrons, Lair Gurgaon made its debut earlier this year with an unconventional, cozy experience and mixology skills that have already put it leagues ahead of its competitors. Co-Founded by Dhruv Raj Vij and Jairaj Singh Solanki, Lair is a bar for a group of friends, the perfect place to take your date, or a restaurant for a family meal, as I experienced.

A Picante

What I liked about the Gurgaon location is how the ‘lair’-like space feels to visitors. The dynamic ground-floor bar sets the tone, with a high-energy DJ set that picks up its rhythm as the night wears on. Take a small staircase to the floor above, and a mezzanine omakase bar offers a fresh perspective, anchored by a live sushi counter.

A Passiflora Punch

At the heart of Lair lies the innovative cocktail program, directed by Navjot Singh and Amay Bisen. The idea is to feature cocktails from all over the world, crafted with precision, from house-fermented elements with zero-waste garnishes. From Passiflora Punch with vodka, lime, granadilla, and sparkling wine to a Beijing Negroni with gin and a Caspian with Singleton 12 and cherry and amaretto bitters, the cocktails are perfectly balanced in taste, and one of a kind.

Final touches on a hawker noodle dish at Lair

The food menu, led by Chef Vikram and Chef Jiwan, draws inspiration from global influences while remaining rooted in ingredient-forward philosophy. With signature robata offerings, delicate dim sums, and seasonal sushi specials, there is a lot to choose from. We had Chicken gyoza, Thai Matsaman Curry, Mixed Vegetable rolls, Hawker style vegetable noodles, and Crystal dim sums.

That’s the appeal of the Lair.

An Espresso Martini.