Raising the bar ~ Life Stylzz

Back after some travelling, which often meant eating my way through places, I've picked a bar rather than a restaurant for this week.

And what better than the swanky new spot at the ITC Royal Gardenia.It's high on looks, fitting perfectly in with the scale and design of this impressive-looking hotel. Smart lighting, back-lit colour panels, striking bottle displays and, most important, comfortable seating making this a fab bar. It's a huge space and I presume it will really rock when it's full of martini drinkers and single malt connoisseurs.

And Highland Nectar lives up to its name, focusing a great deal on enhancing the single malt experience. The collection, when it's complete, will boast of some 100-plus labels, and be the largest in Bangalore. Meanwhile, you can sip on the Ardbeg 10 YO, the Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or, or splash out on the Bunnahabhain 18 YO at Rs 1150 for a pour! There's a corner dedicated to single malts, with a tasting kit, collectors' items and the like.

Then there are the premium whiskies, luxury vodkas, cognac, beers from across the world and stout as well. The wine list, too, should please even the most demanding, though prices, I find, are steeper than in other five-star bars.

The cocktails are classy things here. There's a perfect Bellini and one titled Grape Escape, with muddled California grapes and cognac topped up with champagne. The fruit concoctions all eschew synthetic syrups and use fresh produce; I thoroughly enjoyed the Passionfruit Martini. They also shake up drinks with fresh berries.

I'm also impressed with the bar snacks here, with Chef Madhu Krishnan's propensity for combining classic things with the cool and the trendy. Where else do you get a small platter of raclette to dip into with your drink, and very well made wasabi prawns? Or greenpea hummous and mini pita breads? It's all very different and enjoyable.

Service is spot-on, ITC class. An evening out for two with a couple of drinks each and something to eat will cost about Rs 4500 — definitely not for the budget-conscious.