These Are Delhi’s Best Martinis, From Classic To Dirty To Downright Wild

There are two kinds of people at a bar: the ones scanning the cocktail menu for something new, something experimental, and something up with the times—an Instagram-favourite, if you will. The other half? The ones who already know their go-to order before they even plan the night, and you’d best believe it’s going to be a martini. Be it dirty, bone-dry, espresso-based, or with a twist, nothing hits quite like a bunch of ice-cold martinis that keep coming through the night. Yes, it’s not just a drink, it’s a personality trait—one that James Bond himself agreed with!

Delhi, despite all its love of flashy cocktails and over-the-top presentations, has never looked away from the classics. Today, they’re only getting better and more creative. You’ll find everything from fruitier, sweeter versions, briny pickled ones, and unexpected infusions with an onion twist. It’s less about reinventing the martini and more about pushing it just enough to keep things interesting.​

So if you’re the James Bond in your own group of friends and can’t get enough of that dirty martini, consider this your cheat sheet to the best ones around the city. Whether you like yours clean and classic or dirty enough to raise eyebrows, we promise that these martinis are borderline addictive.

Upstairs by Indian Accent

Upstairs is tucked above one of Delhi’s most sought-after restaurants and is a cocktail hotspot worth visiting at least twice. Here, the drinks come with a side of low lighting, smooth jazz, and a whole lot of experimentation. The entire space is built around the idea of the martini, not just as a drink but as a bar ritual. Touted as a martini bar, there is no better place to grab yourself a martini—as you like it, be it dirty, dry, espresso, or fruity—and keep it coming through the night.​

The highlight is their now-iconic martini trolley, which quite literally rolls up to your table and turns ordering into an experience, serving drinks tableside. The best part? Instead of sticking to just the classics, Upstairs introduces Indian ingredients and touches to the cocktail, while keeping its structure intact. Up for grabs is a Desi Dirty Martini, stirred with nimbu-achaar brine for a tangy, slightly spiced edge, and a French martini reworked with kokum and gooseberry foam. Even the espresso martini is unique at Upstairs—clear as water but layered with coffee, coconut, and nannari notes.

At Upstairs, you go in thinking you’ll have a martini, and leave debating which version you’d come back for next!

Address: The Lodhi, Lodhi Rd, CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110003

Timings: Monday to Sunday (12–2:30 pm, 6:45–9 pm, 9:45 pm–12 am)

Price for two: INR 5,000

Sidecar

Renowned as one of the best bars in Delhi, Sidecar sets the standard for drinking out in the capital. Named after the eponymous cocktail, you best believe no one does a mean sidecar quite like this spot. Tucked into GK-II, you’re likely to spot your favourite cocktails in their classic, most delicious form.

When it comes to martinis, think icy-cold, spirit-forward ones that respect the fundamentals, backed by a bar program known for in-house infusions, bitters, and tinctures. You won’t necessarily find a menu screaming “15 martini variations,” but what you will get is a bartender who knows exactly how to tailor one to your mood—be it clean and classic, slightly dirty, or tweaked just enough to make it feel like your drink.

In a city full of experimental cocktails, this is where you go when you want a martini that doesn’t try too hard, and still ends up being one of the best you’ve had.

Address: M29, GK2, M Block Market, Greater Kailash-2, Right, 110048, next to HDFC Bank, New Delhi, Delhi 110048

Timings: Monday to Sunday (10 am–1 am)

Price for two: INR 3,000

Hoots’

This bar has built its reputation on craft, consistently ranking among Asia’s top cocktail spots, focusing on precision cocktails that speak for themselves.

The drinks are usually minimalist, focusing on technique, balance, and layered flavours rather than flashy reinvention. Interestingly, here, the drinks menu is numbered instead of named, with the sole intention of highlighting the craft. Classic options like martinis are made with the same careful attention, served clean and spirit-forward by highly-skilled bartenders. Here, the goal is to perfect the basics rather than chase trends.

What sets Hoots’ apart is the environment it creates for that kind of drinking. With intimate, dimly lit, and intentionally quiet interiors, it’s closer to a classic cocktail room than a high-energy bar. And so, you’re actually paying attention to what’s in your glass. If you’re the kind of person who orders a martini and cares about how it’s stirred, not just what’s in it, this is exactly where you want to be.

Address: 18-A, 1st floor Market, Basant Lok, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110057

Timings: Tuesday to Thursday ( 6 pm–12:30 am), Friday to Sunday (6 pm–2 am)

Price for two: INR 2,500

The Library Bar

At The Library Bar, the martini comes with a side of literature. Here, there are leather-bound books, low lighting, velvet seating—the kind of space that makes you instinctively sit a little straighter and order something classy. If you know what I mean when I say it exudes “gentleman’s club” energy, then you’ve got the vibe of the place right.

On the cocktails front, it’s all about refined, decadent twists on the familiar, and the martinis are no different. Case in point: their Honeycomb Martini, which layers vodka with pineapple and honey for something plush, smooth, and indulgent, without straying too far from the classic format. There’s also a Smoked Honeycomb Martini variation that brings in cigar smoke and caramelised notes.

My favourite part about this bar is its commitment to storytelling through each cocktail. Here, the menus are all inspired by classic literature, and each drink is designed to feel like an ode to your favourite classic, rather than just another pour.

Address: The Leela Palace, Africa Ave, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110023

Timings: Monday to Sunday (5 pm–4 am)

Price for two: INR 7,500

 Lair

At Lair, the martini gets a full-blown personality. A moody, monochrome, modern speakeasy in Vasant Vihar, Lair is the kind of bar where every drink feels like it’s intentionally thought through, not just poured. And the space itself sets the tone—low lighting, reflective surfaces, a little bit of mystery—and the cocktails follow suit.

Their martini game? Playful yet precise. The standout has to be the Madurai Martini, which swaps the predictable citrus of your average martini for curry leaf, bringing a savoury, aromatic Indian twist that still somehow feels true to the classic format. And then there are their espresso martinis, which go the dessert route: frothy, slightly nutty, and richer than your standard late-night pick-me-up, thanks to additions like orgeat and herbal liqueurs.

Come here if you like your martinis with a little edge and a lot of character.

Address: 15, Market, Basant Lok, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110057

Timings: Monday to Friday (5 pm–1 am), Saturday & Sunday (1 pm–1 am)

Price for two: INR 4,000

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