THE PARTY ON THE ROOF

Kebabs on the plate and monuments all around. Cocktails by infinity pools. Dining in a rotating restaurant. TMS spotlights three terraces, old and new, that Delhiites are stepping into so as to be part of a social rhythm under the sky as the city lights come alive

- S KEERTHIVAS

A sushi knife flashes in the sharp kitchen light of The Flying Trunk at Novotel at the Community Centre, Jnandewalan, slicing through salmon.

Behind the bar, a mixologist pours a chai spritz into a glass. Plates are assembled quickly, almost theatrically, ready to travel up 25 floors where Delhi waits with open curiosity.

In the open kitchen of Gumbad Café, a chef spreads silky hummus. Paprika, chickpeas, and parsley finish the plate. Fresh pita, tears easily to scoop the creamy blend—tangy, nutty, and perfect while the Jama Masjid minarets glow in the background.

At Parikrama Sky Lounge, also in the heart of Delhi, a chef shaves thin ribbons of Parmesan onto a pizza, the crust bubbling as the view outside shifts. These kitchens in the sky are scripting a new kind of nightlife. Delhi has always been a city of crossroads—empires, revolutions, malls, flyovers—but in recent times it is discovering the cultural power of eating from above. Rooftops have climbed from fringe to phenomenon, offering perspective with every plate. TMS visits three terraces, to figure out how.

A heritage view